Lichinga is the capital city of the Niassa Province in Mozambique. It is situated on the Lichinga Plateau at an altitude of 1,360 metres (4,460 ft), located to the east of Lake Niassa.
The town was originally founded as Vila Cabral, established primarily as a military and farming settlement. The city serves as a regional hub for the province, which shares a border with the Ruvuma Region in Tanzania. Transportation to the area is facilitated by Lichinga Airport.