The river begins north of Gurúè and flows south to the Indian Ocean.

At the city of Mocuba, the Licungo is joined by the Lugela river flowing from near the border with Malawi.

The river then forms the border between Namacurra and Maganja da Costa districts.

[1] Floods in January 2015 had 64 fatalities and the bridge for National Road 1 in Mocuba collapsed.

[2][3] In 2018, the basin is the focus of mapping initiative by the National Institute for Disaster Management (INGC),[4] supported by the World Food Programme.