the country is divided into two regions by the zambezi river. to the north of the zambezi river, the narrow coastline moves inland to hills and low plateaus. further west are rugged highlands, which include the niassa highlands, namuli or shire highlands, angonia highlands, tete highlands and the makonde plateau, covered with miombo woodlands. to the south of the zambezi river, the lowlands are broader with the mashonaland plateau and lebombo mountains in the deep south.