[2] The ecoregion is home to six mangrove species: Avicennia marina, Bruguiera gymnorhiza, Ceriops tagal, Lumnitzera racemosa, Rhizophora mucronata, and Xylocarpus granatum.

At Kosi Bay on the South Africa–Mozambique border (27°S), six species are present – Avicennia marina, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Rhizophora mucronata, Ceriops tagal, Lumnitzera racemosa, and Xylocarpus granatum.

[2] The mangroves are an important habitat for sea life, birds and animals such as turtles and crocodiles.

The mangroves are a breeding area for at least 48 species of birds, including lesser flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor), great white pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus), pink-backed pelican (Pelecanus rufescens), grey-headed gull (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus), Cape shoveler (Spatula smithii), yellow-billed duck (Anas undulata), pied avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta), saddle-billed stork (Ephippiorhychus senegalensis), yellow-billed stork (Mycteria ibis), and Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia).

Many areas of mangrove in southern Africa have been cleared for timber, urban and industrial development, including tourist facilities, and this is ongoing.