The ecoregion encompasses several high mountains and plateaus north and east of Lake Malawi.

[1] The ecoregion has a tropical highlands climate, generally cooler and more humid than the surrounding lowlands.

Most rainfall occurs during the November to April wet season.

[2] The predominant plant communities include montane grasslands, shrublands, and evergreen forests.

Near-endemic mammals include the Black and red bush squirrel (Paraxerus lucifer), Swynnerton's bush squirrel (Paraxerus vexillarius), Greater hamster-rat (Beamys major), Grant's bushbaby (Galagoides granti), Desperate shrew (Crocidura desperata),[3] and Tanzanian vlei rat (Otomys lacustris)[4] The Rungwe dwarf galago, a newly-identified species in genus Galagoides, is found on Mount Rungwe and nearby in the Poroto Mountains and Kipengere Range in Tanzania.