Mozambique–South Africa border
Two separate stretches, split by Eswatini: a long line down the Lebombo Mountains past Kruger National Park, and a short one to the Indian Ocean. Along Kruger, parts of the fence have come down to let wildlife cross into Mozambique.
Written from cited sourcesLast checked 29 September 2026Suggest a correction
See it on the globe:Mozambique →South Africa →
Portugal, the Boers and Britain
A treaty of 29 July 1869 between Portugal and the Boer South African Republic (Transvaal) set the northern part of today’s line, running along the summit of the Lebombo Mountains towards the Limpopo.[1] In 1875 France’s President MacMahon, arbitrating between Portugal and Britain, gave Portugal Delagoa Bay and the land south of it.[1]
In the south, an Anglo-Portuguese treaty of 1891 let Portugal’s sphere extend to the parallel of the Pongola–Maputo confluence, and Britain’s annexation of the Transpongola territory and Amatongaland in 1895 made the Great Usutu (Maputo) river the border for about 17 miles. That sector was marked in 1897. Later exchanges of notes fixed the Swaziland tripoint in 1927 and the Southern Rhodesia tripoint on the Limpopo in 1940.[1]
A park across the border
On 9 December 2002 the heads of state of Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe signed a treaty at Xai-Xai, Mozambique, creating the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park.[2] The 35,000 km² park links Mozambique’s Limpopo National Park with South Africa’s Kruger and Zimbabwe’s Gonarezhou.[3]
Almost 5,000 animals have been moved from Kruger to Limpopo National Park, and 50 km of fence has been dropped, so that more than 1,000 elephants and buffalo have crossed on their own. The Giriyondo access facility, opened on 16 August 2006, lets visitors cross between the two parks.[2]
Timeline
186929 July 1869
Transvaal treaty
Portugal and the South African Republic agree the Lebombo line.[1]
1875
MacMahon award
France’s president gives Delagoa Bay to Portugal.[1]
189111 June 1891
Anglo-Portuguese treaty
Portugal’s sphere south of Delagoa Bay is set.[1]
1897
Southern sector marked
A joint commission demarcates the line to the sea.[1]
19276 October 1927
Northern sector approved
Notes fix the Swaziland tripoint and approve demarcation.[1]
20029 December 2002
Transfrontier park
The Great Limpopo treaty is signed at Xai-Xai.[2]
200616 August 2006
Giriyondo opens
Visitors can cross between Kruger and Limpopo parks.[2]
More borders
Sources
- [1]International Boundary Study No. 133: Mozambique – South Africa Boundary · US Department of State, Office of the Geographer · 16 April 1973
- [2]Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park: Background · South African National Parks (Wayback Machine copy)
- [3]Great Limpopo · Peace Parks Foundation
Map geometry from Natural Earth via world-atlas. See credits.