Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls
Overview
The mighty Victoria falls is the world's largest waterfall, this magnificent fall holds the sight of incredible sheets of water torrenting down into a gorge over a hundred meters below. This gorge forms part of the Zambezi river, which separates Zimbabwe and Zambia. Victoria Falls was known as 'Mosi-oa-Tunya'–The Smoke that Thunders, by the Kololo tribe living in the area around the 1800s. Around 1855 a Scottish missionary by the name of David Livingstone discovered the fall and named it after the British Queen Victoria. Today it's known as the greatest curtain of falling water in the world.
Around 500 million liters of water per minute falls across a 1,708-meter-wide edge creating a spectacular sight. This constant pounding of water has cut through the rock and fissures carving up to 8 successive precipices, currently, a ninth one is being created. Around 1.5 million years ago our ancestors would've seen a different Victoria Falls.
Highlights
- Visit the colossal Victoria Falls, the world's largest Waterfall.
- Enjoy rafting or canoeing in the Zambezi river.
- Go wild with bungee jumping and ziplining activities.
- Swim on the edge of the Fall in the devil's pool.
- Get a bird's eye view of Victoria Falls from the skies in a helicopter.
- Go on a Safari to top Safari destinations
Why Go?
The region that encapsulates Victoria Falls is known as the Adventure Capital of Africa. The area is filled with amazing adventures, from guided tours of Victoria Falls to helicopter sightings of the Fall from the skies. Additionally, if you are up for a more thrilling adventure you can get into the water by canoeing or rafting, or enjoy a more relaxed cruise on a boat.
Wait there's more, you could leap off the historic bridge on a bungee jump or swim in the notorious devil's pool, which is a pool on the extreme edge of the fall. For a more calm adventure, you could meet some orphaned elephants, shop at the souvenir market, learn an in-depth history of the Falls, or just marvel at the magnificence of Victoria Falls.
With popular Safari destinations in the region, you could easily combine a visit to Victoria Falls with a Safari experience at Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park or Zambia's Luangwa National Park.
When to Go?
The best time to visit Victoria Falls is between February to May, this season follows a heavy rainy season, making it the ideal time as the large sheets of water are at their optimum. However, some of the activities may be affected by this season, for instance, white water rafting and swimming in the devil's pool may be too dangerous to undertake due to the level and velocity of the waters. In addition, checking out some Safaris during this time is not ideal, as it's not the best time to visit Safari destinations such as Hwange in Zimbabwe or Luangwa in Zambia.
Visiting from October to November is not ideal, as this is the end of the dry season meaning the water level is at its lowest and the weather is quite hot and humid. If you want to get the most out of this region then we recommend visiting between July and August, the water levels are low allowing for rafting and swimming activities as well making it a great time for safari visits.
Where to Go?
When visiting Victoria Falls you can either choose to visit the Zimbabwean or Zambian side of the Zambezi river. The Zimbabwean side has amazing views of the Falls while the Zambian side has many activities to choose from. However, visiting both sides is recommended to get a full experience of the Falls.
There is plenty of accommodation and lodges with a variety of activities upon arrival. On the Zimbabwean side, there is a nearby town that provides plenty of shuttles to and from the Falls, while on the Zambian side there are plenty of lodges close to the falls making it possible to visit the Falls by foot.
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