Ports & Harbours of East and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands
YearMaps maps 43 harbours on East and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands, in 10 countries and territories. The largest by the World Port Index's harbour size are Durban, Muqdisho, Cape Town, Beira, Dar Es Salaam and Port Elizabeth. 2 are written up in full below, and every harbour is listed with its depths, tidal range and the largest ships it takes.
From Somalia to the Cape, Africa's Indian Ocean coast lies on the monsoon routes that brought Arab, Persian, Indian and, in the fifteenth century, Chinese ships to the Swahili towns of Kilwa, Mombasa and Zanzibar. Vasco da Gama rounded the Cape of Good Hope in 1497 on his way to India, and Durban and Cape Town became the great ports of the south. The harbours of Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion and the other Indian Ocean islands are listed here too.
- Harbours
- 43
- Countries
- 10
- Large Harbours
- 3
- Written Up
- 2
Map of the Ports of East and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands
Blue dots are the harbours of the World Port Index; tap or click one to open its entry. Use the layer panel to add trade routes, rivers and historical borders.
Harbours of East and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands in Detail
The 2 harbours of East and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands with an encyclopedia article, each with its figures from the World Port Index.
Richards Bay
Medium harbour · South Africa
The Port of Richards Bay is located in Richards Bay harbour on the Indian Ocean coast of South Africa, and contains the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) which is the largest coal export facility in Africa.
Although originally built to handle coal exports, the port has become South Africa's premier bulk port, handling other dry bulk in addition to coal, as well as liquid bulk and breakbulk cargoes. It is also South Africa's most modern port.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Port of Richards Bay (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Harbour size
- Medium
- Channel depth
- 16.5 m
- Anchorage depth
- 16.5 m
- Cargo pier depth
- 27.4 m
- Oil terminal depth
- 27.4 m
- Tidal range
- 2 m
- Largest vessel
- medium vessels
- Country
- South Africa
- Province
- KwaZulu-Natal
- Coordinates
- -28.8200°, 32.0800°
More about Richards Bay
History
The idea for a new harbour north of Durban began as far back as 1902 when a Cathcart W. Methen, Harbour Engineer, Durban, conducted a survey and advised the Natal Colony government in 1903, that Richards Bay would be a better choice than St Lucia.
The idea was again revised in 1921 when a proposed harbour was investigated by a group of engineers at Kosi or Sodwana Bay's. Sodwana's suitability was again investigated in 1922 by Sir George Buchanan. The two former bays were again investigated in 1923, this time by Jan Smuts. The idea for a northern harbour would again be revisited in the 1950s when Prime Minister D.F. Malan visited by air reconnaissance.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Port of Richards Bay (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Richards Bay: Key Facts
| Established | 1976 |
|---|
Facts from Wikidata Q138839485 (CC0).
Port Mathurin
Very Small harbour · Mauritius
The village of Port Mathurin (French pronunciation: [pɔʁ matyʁɛ̃]) serves as the capital of the island of Rodrigues, a dependency of Mauritius. Most of the population of Rodrigues is settled close to or in the city. It lies on the north coast of the Indian Ocean island and functions as the administrative, judicial and economic centre of Rodrigues. As the name suggests, it also operates the main harbour of the island.
Port Mathurin has a population of around 6,000 people (2006). Sights include its market, while the town also has the island's only bus station and a viewpoint on Mount Fanal, south of the town. There is a Roman Catholic church, an Anglican church, and a small mosque. Other landmarks of Port Mathurin include Marie, Queen of Rodrigues, a statue of the Virgin Mary located in Pointe Canon. The two ships of the Mauritius Cargo Handling Corporation, namely MV Mauritius Pride and Mauritius Trochetia, anchor at Port Mathurin five times every month.
On 1 May 1691, François Leguat and the first French landed on Rodrigues at the site of the future village, which was founded by French colonists in 1735.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Port Mathurin (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Harbour size
- Very Small
- Channel depth
- 42.1 m
- Anchorage depth
- 23.8 m
- Tidal range
- 4 m
- Country
- Mauritius
- Coordinates
- -19.6800°, 63.4200°
All Harbours of East and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands
43 harbours, the largest first by the index's harbour size. Channel depth and tidal range set the physical limit on which ships can call. 24 of them are recorded in the source with the city they serve.
| Harbour | Country | Size | Channel | Anchorage | Tide | Largest vessel | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durban | South Africa | Major | 34.7 m | — | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Muqdishoserves Mogadishu | Somalia | Major | 34.7 m | — | 3 m | large vessels | |
| Cape Town | South Africa | Major | 23.8 m | — | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Beira | Mozambique | Medium | 49.4 m | — | 5 m | medium vessels | |
| Dar Es Salaam | Tanzania | Medium | 38.4 m | — | 3 m | large vessels | |
| Port Elizabeth | South Africa | Medium | 34.7 m | — | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Richards Bay | South Africa | Medium | 16.5 m | 16.5 m | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Saldanha Bayserves Saldanha | South Africa | Medium | 5.5 m | — | 2 m | large vessels | |
| Chinde | Mozambique | Small | 56.7 m | 49.4 m | 3 m | medium vessels | |
| Porto Belo | Mozambique | Small | 53 m | 34.7 m | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Mossel Bay | South Africa | Small | 42.1 m | — | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Pebane | Mozambique | Small | 42.1 m | 34.7 m | — | medium vessels | |
| Port Ouest | Réunion | Small | 38.4 m | 5.5 m | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Toamasina | Madagascar | Small | 38.4 m | — | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| East London | South Africa | Small | 34.7 m | — | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Port Louis | Mauritius | Small | 34.7 m | — | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Zanzibar | Tanzania | Small | 34.7 m | — | 3 m | medium vessels | |
| Port Est | Réunion | Small | 31.1 m | 5.5 m | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Antsiranana | Madagascar | Small | 27.4 m | — | 2 m | large vessels | |
| Chake Chake | Tanzania | Small | 27.4 m | — | — | medium vessels | |
| Tanga | Tanzania | Small | 20.1 m | — | 4 m | medium vessels | |
| Malindi | Kenya | Small | — | — | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Kilifi | Kenya | Very Small | 53 m | — | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Quelimane | Mozambique | Very Small | 53 m | — | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Antsohim Bondrona | Madagascar | Very Small | 42.1 m | 42.1 m | — | — | |
| Kismaayo | Somalia | Very Small | 42.1 m | — | 2 m | large vessels | |
| Manakara | Madagascar | Very Small | 42.1 m | 27.4 m | — | — | |
| Port Mathurin | Mauritius | Very Small | 42.1 m | 23.8 m | 4 m | — | |
| Simonstown | South Africa | Very Small | 42.1 m | 31.1 m | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Ibo | Mozambique | Very Small | 38.4 m | 34.7 m | 3 m | — | |
| Kilwa Kivinje | Tanzania | Very Small | 38.4 m | 42.1 m | 1 m | — | |
| Mahajanga | Madagascar | Very Small | 38.4 m | — | 4 m | large vessels | |
| Moutsamoudu | Comoros | Very Small | 38.4 m | 5.5 m | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Tolanaroserves Tôlanaro | Madagascar | Very Small | 38.4 m | — | 2 m | large vessels | |
| Toliara | Madagascar | Very Small | 34.7 m | — | 3 m | medium vessels | |
| Diego Garcia | British Indian Ocean Territory | Very Small | 31.1 m | 23.8 m | 2 m | — | |
| Iharana | Madagascar | Very Small | 27.4 m | 27.4 m | 8 m | medium vessels | |
| Saint-Pierre | Réunion | Very Small | 27.4 m | 5.5 m | 2 m | — | |
| Baraawe | Somalia | Very Small | 5.5 m | 23.8 m | 5 m | — | |
| Fomboni | Comoros | Very Small | 5.5 m | 20.1 m | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Mjimwema Terminal | Tanzania | Very Small | 5.5 m | 20.1 m | 3 m | medium vessels | |
| Moroni | Comoros | Very Small | 5.5 m | — | 3 m | medium vessels | |
| Saint-Denisserves St.-Denis | France | Very Small | 5.5 m | — | — | large vessels |
Port Cities of East and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands
The most populous cities with a harbour of East and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands within 25 km. Each city is listed with its country's other cities on the country page.
- Cape Town3.21 million
Capital of South Africa · Cape Town
- Dar es Salaam2.93 million
Capital of Tanzania · Dar Es Salaam, Mjimwema Terminal (12 km)
- Durban2.73 million
South Africa · Durban
- Mogadishu1.10 million
Capital of Somalia · Muqdisho
- Port Elizabeth1.02 million
South Africa · Port Elizabeth
- Port Louis595,491
Capital of Mauritius · Port Louis
- Beira530,604
Mozambique · Beira
- Zanzibar403,658
Tanzania · Zanzibar
- East London338,627
South Africa · East London
- Curepipe299,975
Mauritius · Port Louis (17 km)
- Kismaayo234,852
Somalia · Kismaayo
- Tanga224,876
Tanzania · Tanga
- Toamasina210,226
Madagascar · Toamasina
- St.-Denis190,047
France · Port Ouest (18 km), Port Est (14 km), Saint-Denis
- Quelimane188,964
Mozambique · Quelimane
- Mahajanga154,657
Madagascar · Mahajanga
- Moroni128,698
Capital of Comoros · Moroni
- Toliara115,319
Madagascar · Toliara
- Malindi94,016
Kenya · Malindi
- Antsiranana82,937
Madagascar · Antsiranana
- Kilifi80,339
Kenya · Kilifi
- Saldanha68,284
South Africa · Saldanha Bay
- Chake Chake49,959
Tanzania · Chake Chake
- Wete26,450
Tanzania · Chake Chake (20 km)
Countries with Harbours on East and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands
More Seas and Coasts
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East & Southern Africa: Quick Answers
- How many ports are there on East and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands?
- YearMaps lists 43 ports and harbours on East and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands, from the World Port Index of the US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Small fishing harbours and private terminals outside the index are not counted.
- Which countries have ports on East and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands?
- Madagascar (8), South Africa (8), Mozambique (6), Tanzania (6), Comoros (3), Réunion (3), Somalia (3), Kenya (2), Mauritius (2) and France (1).
- What are the largest ports on East and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands?
- By the World Port Index's harbour size, the largest are Durban, Muqdisho, Cape Town, Beira, Dar Es Salaam and Port Elizabeth.
- What are the main port cities on East and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands?
- The most populous cities with a harbour here are Cape Town (3.21 million), Dar es Salaam (2.93 million), Durban (2.73 million), Mogadishu (1.10 million) and Port Elizabeth (1.02 million).