Which major rivers drain Southern Africa?

Southern Africa is drained by several major river systems, many of which are characterized by highly seasonal flows due to the region's climate. The most significant rivers include:12

• Zambezi River: This is the fourth largest river basin in Africa. It flows eastward for approximately 2,200 miles from the Central African Plateau to the Indian Ocean, crossing or forming the boundaries of six countries.3
• Orange River: Rising in the Lesotho Highlands, this river flows westward across South Africa to the Atlantic Ocean. Together with its principal tributary, the Vaal River, it forms a vital drainage basin for the region.41
• Limpopo River: This river system drains the plateau north of the Witwatersrand ridge. It flows in a semicircular course toward the Indian Ocean, forming borders between South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe.15
• Okavango River: Along with the Zambezi and Orange, the Okavango is noted as a major perennial river that carries water from areas of higher rainfall into the region's drier zones.2

Additionally, numerous smaller river systems, such as the Tugela River, drain the areas between the escarpment and the sea.1