Zostera capensis is a species of dwarf eelgrass growing along the shores of the Indian and Atlantic oceans on the African coast.

Its range extends from southern Kenya, through Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar, and South Africa up to Angola .

The two largest meadows in South Africa are present in the Knysna lagoon and Berg river estuary.

[5] Further north in its distribution, Maputo bay in Mozambique is an important habitat for this species, containing approximately 4016 hectares of mixed Zostera capensis and Halodule wrightii on muddy flats.

[9] In addition, flooding of estuarine areas, pollution and sedimentation also present major threats to Z. capensis; bioturbation also poses a negative impact on populations with lower biomass and highly fragmented patches.