Exploring Zimbabwe And Angola's Proximity

Angola and Zimbabwe are two landlocked countries in South Central Africa. Angola is located on the western coast of Southern Africa and is bordered by Namibia to the south, Zambia to the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north and northeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Zimbabwe is also a landlocked country, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia to the northwest, and Mozambique to the northeast, east, and southeast. Angola and Zimbabwe are close neighbours, with their closest point of contact being the Kazungula border town in Zambia, where the territories of Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, and Namibia nearly meet at a quadripoint. The shortest distance between the two countries is approximately 1,100 kilometres (683 miles) by air, although the actual driving distance may vary due to road conditions and other factors.

Angola is located on the west coast of South Africa, Zimbabwe is landlocked in South Central Africa

Angola is located on the west coast of Southern Africa and is bordered by Namibia to the south, Zambia to the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north and northeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. It is officially known as the Republic of Angola and is the seventh-largest country in Africa. Angola has a diverse landscape, ranging from the semi-desert Atlantic littoral bordering Namibia's "Skeleton Coast" to the densely populated towns and cities of the northern coast and north-central river valleys. Its capital and most populous city is Luanda, a large port city that blends Portuguese-style colonial landmarks with traditional African housing styles and modern industrial complexes.

Zimbabwe, officially known as the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country in South Central Africa. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia to the northwest, and Mozambique to the east and northeast. The country is elevated, consisting of a central plateau that stretches from the southwest northwards, with altitudes ranging from 1,000 to 1,600 meters. The extreme east of the country is mountainous, known as the Eastern Highlands, with Mount Nyangani as the highest peak at 2,592 meters.

Zimbabwe and Angola are not neighbouring countries, but they are located in the same region of Africa. Angola is situated on the west coast of the continent, while Zimbabwe is landlocked in South Central Africa. The distance between the two countries is significant, with Angola bordering Namibia to the south and Zimbabwe being bordered by Zambia to the north.

The flight distance between the nearest airports in Zambia and Angola is 1,100.51 miles

The flight distance between Zambia and Angola is 1,100.51 miles (1,771.11 km), with an approximate flight time of 2 hours and 35 minutes. This is the distance between the nearest airports in the two countries, Lusaka (LUN) in Zambia and Luanda (LAD) in Angola. The initial bearing on the course from Zambia to Angola is 280.67° and the compass direction is west. The geographic midpoint between the two countries is located in Zambia's North-Western Province, 341.92 miles (550.26 km) from both points.

The straight-line distance between Zambia and Angola is 1,113.9 miles (1,792 km). This is the total distance between the two countries as the crow flies, without taking into account any road or terrain variations. If you were to travel at a consistent speed of 50 km per hour, it would take approximately 35 hours and 51 minutes to cover this distance.

The fastest way to travel between Zambia and Angola is by air, with flight times ranging from 8 hours 58 minutes to 29 hours 29 minutes, depending on the route and stopovers. The cheapest option is to take a bus, which costs between €100 and €240 but takes approximately 2 days and 9 hours.

The Beira-Lobito Highway is a 3,523km road network crossing Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique

Angola and Zimbabwe are neighbouring countries in South Central Africa. The Caprivi Strip in Namibia comes within 150 metres of Zimbabwe, nearly forming a quadripoint with Zambia, Botswana, and Namibia.

The Beira-Lobito Highway, or TAH 9, is a 3,523km road network crossing Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. It is part of the transcontinental road network being developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the African Development Bank (ADB), and the African Union. The route links mining areas in DR Congo, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, as well as agricultural production areas in Angola, Zambia, and Zimbabwe to the Atlantic port of Lobito and the Indian Ocean port of Beira.

The highway begins in Lobito, Angola, as part of the EN100 route, and becomes the EN250 route as it heads eastwards through Cuíto, to Moxico Province, where it crosses the Kasai River Borderline into the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the town of Dilolo. From here, the route heads eastwards as the N39, through Kolwezi, and then becomes part of the N1 route southeastwards through Likasi and Lubumbashi, to the border town of Kasumbalesa in the DRC's Copperbelt Region.

Crossing the border into Zambia, the route becomes the T3 and continues southwards through Chingola, Kitwe, and Ndola to the town of Kapiri Mposhi, where it becomes the T2 route, Zambia's Great North Road. The highway then heads through Kabwe and Lusaka to the border town of Chirundu, where it crosses the Zambezi River into Zimbabwe. From Chirundu, the highway goes southeast as the R3 highway to Harare, where it becomes the R5 highway southeast to the city of Mutare. Here, the route passes through various suburbs and crosses the Machipanda Border Post into Mozambique and the town of Machipanda. The final leg of the journey goes eastwards as the N6 route, through Manica and Chimoio, ending in the city of Beira.

The entire route from Lobito to Beira is 3,523km, with the Angolan section accounting for 1,157km, the DRC section for 823km, Zimbabwe for 655km, Zambia for 606km, and Mozambique for 282km.

Angola is bordered by Namibia to the south, Zambia to the east, and Zimbabwe is bordered by Zambia to the northwest

Angola is bordered by Namibia to the south and Zambia to the east. Zimbabwe is bordered by Zambia to the northwest. This means that Angola and Zimbabwe are neighbouring countries, with Zambia as the only country between them. The proximity of these three countries is further highlighted by the Caprivi Strip, a geographic salient protruding from the northeastern corner of Namibia. The Caprivi Strip is bordered by Zambia and Botswana to the north and Botswana to the south. Notably, Namibia, Botswana, and Zambia meet at a single point at the eastern tip of the Strip, coming within 150 metres of Zimbabwe and thus nearly forming a quadripoint.

The Caprivi Strip is of significant politico-strategic military importance due to its role in providing access to the Zambezi River and serving as a corridor for armed forces during conflicts such as the Rhodesian Bush War and the Angolan Civil War. The Zambezi River, the fourth-largest river basin in Africa, also plays a crucial role in shaping the geography and connectivity of the region. It flows eastwards from its source in north-western Zambia, turning west and south to run through Angola before re-entering Zambia. The river then forms the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, reaching its greatest width of over 1.3 kilometres before cascading over the majestic Victoria Falls.

The proximity of Angola, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is further emphasised by their shared membership in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). This regional bloc promotes economic integration and cooperation among its member states. Additionally, the three countries are connected by the Trans-African Highway network, specifically the Beira-Lobito Highway (TAH 9), which spans a total of 3,523 kilometres across Angola, the southern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and central Mozambique. This highway facilitates trade and transportation between the mining areas and agricultural production regions of these countries, linking them to the Atlantic port of Lobito and the Indian Ocean port of Beira.

While Angola and Zimbabwe do not share a direct border, their close proximity and shared connections through neighbouring Zambia and the Caprivi Strip underscore the interrelated nature of geography and regional dynamics in Southern Africa. The shared borders and proximity of these countries have undoubtedly influenced their historical, cultural, and economic interactions, shaping the broader landscape of the region.

Kazungula is a border town in Zambia where the territories of Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Namibia nearly meet

Angola is located on the western coast of South Africa, with Namibia to its south, Zambia to its east, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Atlantic Ocean to its north. Zimbabwe, on the other hand, is a landlocked country in South Central Africa, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia to the northwest, and Mozambique to the northeast, east, and southeast.

While Angola and Zimbabwe do not share a border, the two countries are relatively close to each other, with the distance between their closest points being around 650 kilometres (400 miles) or less.

Now, moving on to Kazungula, it is indeed a border town in Zambia, where the territories of Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Namibia nearly meet. This unique geographic feature, known as a "quadripoint," has been a source of fascination and controversy.

At Kazungula, the Chobe River, which divides Namibia and Botswana, flows into the Zambezi River, which forms the boundary between Zambia and Botswana. The confluence of these two rivers creates a complex border situation. Initially, there was uncertainty about whether a quadripoint legally existed due to shifting river channels and a lack of clear agreements. Botswana and Zambia claimed a direct border, while Zimbabwe and the then South Africa, which occupied Namibia, disputed this, arguing that a quadripoint existed.

The dispute over the existence of a quadripoint had significant geopolitical implications. If a quadripoint existed, South Africa and Rhodesia (present-day Zimbabwe) would control all cross-river traffic between Zambia and Botswana. This led to an armed confrontation in 1970 and the Rhodesian Army sinking the Kazungula Ferry, which linked Zambia and Botswana, claiming it was being used for military purposes.

However, the completion of the Kazungula Bridge in 2021 transformed this border zone. The bridge, curving gently to avoid the borders of Zimbabwe and Namibia, connects Zambia and Botswana and has the potential to revolutionize transportation and trade in the region. While the quadripoint may not exist in reality, the close proximity of the four countries' borders remains a unique geographic feature.

Frequently asked questions