Which river is the longest east-flowing river in Africa?

The Zambezi is the longest east-flowing river in Africa. It is also Africa’s fourth-longest river and the largest African river flowing into the Indian Ocean.

The river rises in northwestern Zambia and follows a huge arc through or along Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Near its lower course, it crosses Mozambique before reaching the Indian Ocean. Its basin supports farming, wildlife and major hydroelectric projects, including Kariba and Cahora Bassa dams.

The Zambezi is especially famous for Victoria Falls, where the river plunges across a dramatic basalt gorge on the Zambia–Zimbabwe border. A common mix-up is to choose the Nile or Congo: both are longer, but the Nile flows generally north and the Congo generally west, so neither fits the east-flowing description. The Zambezi’s alternative spellings include Zambesi and Zambeze.