The 1,402-kilometer border between Mozambique and Zimbabwe is dominated by a single, vital economic lifeline known as the Beira Corridor. This transportation route is the most direct and essential path for landlocked Zimbabwe to access a seaport, making the border a place of immense strategic and commercial importance.
Your primary crossing will be at the Forbes (Zimbabwe) and Machipanda (Mozambique) border post. This is a bustling and constantly busy crossing, handling a steady stream of trucks carrying Zimbabwean minerals and agricultural products to the port of Beira, and returning with fuel and imported goods. A railway line also runs parallel to the road, forming a critical part of the corridor.
The crossing at Forbes-Machipanda is a business-like affair. The procedures are well-established for the high volume of freight, and passenger formalities are handled separately. The road on both sides is mountainous and scenic, winding through the Vumba mountains. Several smaller, more remote crossings exist, but they are not as well-equipped for international travel.
This border has been a geopolitical focal point for decades. During the Mozambican Civil War, Zimbabwean troops were deployed to protect the corridor from attack. Today, it is a peaceful and vital artery, a clear illustration of how dependent a landlocked country is on its coastal neighbors.