Mount Namuli is the highest peak in the Zambezia Province

Zambezia Province

Zambezia is the most-populous province of Mozambique, located in the central coastal region south-west of Nampula Province and north-east of Sofala Province. It has a population of 3,794,509 . The provincial capital is Quelimane on the Bons Sinais River.Zambezia has a total area of...

 of Mozambique

Mozambique

Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...

. With 2,419 metre it is the second highest mountain of Mozambique behind the Monte Binga

Monte Binga

Binga is the highest mountain in Mozambique. It is located a few kilometres east of the border between Zimbabwe and Mozambique in the Chimanimani Transfrontier Park in the province of Manica. Its height is above sea level....

. The Namuli massif consists of a level plateau which rises 700 to 800 metre. The granite dome of the Namuli rises 1,600 metre above the plateau. The area above 1,200 metre measures 50 x 30 km. Mount Namuli is located 12 km north-east of Gurué

Gurúè

Gurúè is located in the northern part of Mozambique, near the center of the province of Zambezia. It is the country's largest tea estate...

 and about 160 km from the Mulanje Massif

Mulanje Massif

The Mulanje Massif, also known as Mount Mulanje, is a large monadnock in southern Malawi near the city of Blantyre, rising sharply from the surrounding plains of Chiradzulu, and the tea-growing Mulanje district...

 in south-eastern Malawi

Malawi

The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...

.

The forests of Mount Namuli are an important biodiversity hotspot

Biodiversity hotspot

A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region with a significant reservoir of biodiversity that is under threat from humans.The concept of biodiversity hotspots was originated by Norman Myers in two articles in “The Environmentalist” , revised after thorough analysis by Myers and others in...

 which means that they have a high biodiversity rate of threatened animals and plant taxa. Species like the Namuli apalis

Namuli Apalis

The Namuli Apalis is a small African passerine bird belonging to the genus Apalis in the family Cisticolidae. It was previously classified as a subspecies of the Bar-throated Apalis The Namuli Apalis (Apalis lynesi) is a small African passerine bird belonging to the genus Apalis in the family...

 (Apalis lynesi) and the Vincent's Bush Squirrel

Vincent's Bush Squirrel

The Vincent's Bush Squirrel is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is endemic to Mozambique. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes. It is threatened by habitat loss....

 (Paraxerus vincenti) are endemic to Mount Namuli. Other rare species are the Thyolo Alethe

Thyolo Alethe

The Thyolo Alethe is a species of bird in the Turdidae family.It is found in Malawi and Mozambique.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...

 (Alethe choloensis) and the Dapple-throat

Dapple-throat

The Dappled Mountain-robin or Dapple-throat is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family.It is found in Mozambique and Tanzania.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests....

 (Modulatrix orostruthus) which occur elsewhere too.

The lower slopes of Mount Namuli are dominated by tea plantations. The middle slopes are agrarian oriented. Indigenous forests are confined to corridors along stream courses. The nearest town is Gurúè

Gurúè

Gurúè is located in the northern part of Mozambique, near the center of the province of Zambezia. It is the country's largest tea estate...

 which is the largest tea estate of Mozambique.

Mount Namuli was discovered in August 1886 by Henry Edward O'Neill who was the British consul in Mozambique in 1879. It became notable in ornithological circles for the expedition by Hubert Lynes

Hubert Lynes

Rear Admiral Hubert Lynes CB, CMG was a British admiral whose First World War service was notable for his direction of the Zeebrugge and Ostend raids designed to neutralise the German-held port of Bruges, which was used as a raiding base against the British coastline by German Navy surface and...

 and Jack Vincent

Jack Vincent

Jack Vincent MBE was an English ornithologist.-Biography:Vincent was born in London. At age 21 he moved to South Africa where he worked on two farms in the Richmond district of the Natal Province. In the 1920s he went back to England where he became a bird collector for the British Museum in London...

 in 1931/1932. Due to the Mozambican Civil War

Mozambican Civil War

The Mozambican Civil War began in 1977, two years after the end of the war of independence. The ruling party, Front for Liberation of Mozambique , was violently opposed from 1977 by the Rhodesian- and South African-funded Mozambique Resistance Movement...

and poor road access, it was not until 1998 when a South African team of ornithologists were able to explore the forests of Mount Namuli.