| 0;Scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon | | | | To fully appreciate the Victoria Falls experience |
| by angels in their flight” – David | | | | you have the option of staying on either the |
| Livingstone | | | | Zimbabwe side or the Zambian side. The Zambezi |
| Victoria Falls, known by the locals as | | | | River forms the border between these two |
| ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ which means | | | | countries. The view of the Falls is more |
| ‘the Smoke that Thunders’, is | | | | magnificent from the Zimbabwean side but the |
| regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the | | | | Zambian side does offer some truly unique, |
| World. The Victoria Falls span some 1700 m | | | | beautiful, all-inclusive luxury lodges right on the |
| across making it the largest curtain of water in | | | | waters edge. Victoria Falls town on the |
| the world during high water. It drops about 100m | | | | Zimbabwean side is more geared for tourists than |
| over a sheet of basalt rock rumbling and crashing | | | | Livingstone is on the Zambian side, offering a |
| like thunder into the Zambezi Gorge below. The | | | | large range of accommodation options suitable for |
| vast cloud of mist that it creates can reach 400m | | | | various budgets. Victoria Falls offers a vibrant, |
| high and be seen from 40 km away. | | | | welcoming and friendly atmosphere. |
| Remarkably preserved in its natural state, Victoria | | | | Some of the best African arts and crafts can be |
| Falls inspires visitors as much today as it did David | | | | found at the local arts and crafts markets in both |
| Livingstone in 1855. The Victoria Falls and the | | | | Livingstone and Victoria Falls. The vendors are |
| surrounding area have been declared National | | | | often pushy so be prepared to stand your |
| Parks and a World Heritage Site, thus preserving | | | | ground, but they are happy to bargain with you |
| the area from excessive commercialisation. The | | | | and often you are able to exchange a t-shirt or |
| continuous spray creates a rainforest ecosystem, | | | | some piece of clothing for the African art. |
| a nature sanctuary rich in fauna and flora. | | | | ‘Money matters’ is quite an |
| You may ask what the best time of the year is | | | | important topic to understand before visiting |
| to see Victoria Falls. The Victoria Falls and its | | | | Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwean economy is in |
| spectacular flow of water can be enjoyed | | | | turmoil. The best is to take US dollars and/or |
| throughout most of the year. The volume of | | | | South African Rand cash with you. These are |
| water cascading over the falls is entirely | | | | accepted everywhere. Many of the major hotels |
| dependent on the rainfall in the catchment area of | | | | will take visa credit cards and some will take |
| the Zambezi River. | | | | American Express but some take none at all. |
| High water is from February to mid July: | | | | Many of the restaurants do not take credit cards |
| The Victoria Falls is at its highest and most | | | | and payment must be in cash. Preferably take |
| spectacular, thundering over the edge and | | | | smaller denominations with you to pay for things |
| creating its thick cloud of mist. Prepare to be | | | | like tips, drinks, visas at the border post, as you |
| drenched when viewing the falls! River rafting and | | | | may get change in Zimbabwe dollars and this |
| river boarding down the Zambezi River is | | | | currency completely worthless even in Zimbabwe |
| sometimes closed between mid March and early | | | | because it depreciates daily. |
| May because the river becomes unsafe. I believe | | | | On the news: Victoria Falls has over the years |
| this is the best time to enjoy a scenic helicopter | | | | successfully remained completely free of incidents |
| and microlight flight over the falls to get the full | | | | of political disruption. It’s a little hub all on |
| appreciation of the Zambezi’s immense | | | | its own in the far northwestern corner of |
| power. | | | | Zimbabwe distant from Zimbabwe’s 2 |
| Low water is from July to end January: | | | | largest cities, Harare and Bulawayo around which |
| Low water season has its advantages too as | | | | the unrest happens frequently. The latest |
| visitors are able to fully appreciate the geological | | | | outbreak of cholera is also concentrated around |
| formation of the falls as visibility will be clear. This | | | | central and southern Zimbabwe and to date, no |
| is also of course when river rafting and river | | | | cholera incidents have been reported in Victoria |
| boarding is at its most adventurous, rushing | | | | Falls area. |
| adrenalin through your body like no other activity | | | | Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana are in a malaria |
| has ever done or will ever do! Regarded as the | | | | zone and it is strongly suggested that |
| world's greatest white water rafting adventure, | | | | prophylactics are taken when visiting these |
| rafting down the mighty Zambezi is an experience | | | | countries. |
| like none other. | | | | Cultural festivities include the Nyaminyami Festival |
| Victoria Falls is not renowned as Africa’s | | | | held each year in September to honour the River |
| Adventure Capital for nothing! The adventure | | | | God who, as claimed by the local Thonga people, |
| activities available to you here are endless. | | | | has supernatural powers. It is believed that the |
| We’ve mentioned white water rafting and | | | | River God became angry when he and his wife |
| river boarding down the mighty Zambezi and | | | | were separated when the Kariba dam wall was |
| helicopter and microlight flights over the Victoria | | | | constructed and caused it to collapse killing 86 |
| Falls, but there is plenty more such as canoeing | | | | workers. The locals believe the River God is a |
| safaris on the Zambezi, kayaking, walking with | | | | dragon-like being resembling the body of a snake |
| lions, horse-back and elephant-back safaris, game | | | | and the head of a fish and in Victoria Falls area |
| drives into Zambezi National Park, gorge swing, | | | | many vendors will sell small wooden carved |
| bunji jumping (111m drop!), sunset cruises, jet | | | | Nyaminyamis to be worn as a pendant on a |
| boating, abseiling and fishing. There are also guided | | | | necklace. |
| tours of Livingstone and Victoria Falls town as well | | | | So in conclusion, it’s a captivating |
| as day safaris to Chobe National Park in Botswana | | | | destination in which to spend a couple of days |
| and Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe. So I | | | | before heading off on your African safari |
| would recommend a minimum of 3 nights in | | | | adventure deep into the Okavango Delta in |
| Victoria Falls to experience what it’s all | | | | Botswana or the South Luangwa National Park in |
| about. | | | | Zambia. |