Straddling the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe is one of the greatest treasures of the African continent. The Zambezi River plunges 110 metres in a spectacular curtain of water that can reach up to 1,700 metres across. This exceptional place is Victoria Falls, known locally as “Mosi-oa-Tunya”, meaning “The Smoke That Thunders”, or The Smoke that Thunders. In English, Victoria Falls.
Let's look at some of the features of the Victoria Falls that make the place a key point if you travel to Africa.
It's one of the 7 wonders of the world.
It couldn't be any other way. The Victoria Falls or Victoria Falls are among the 7 Wonders of the World, putting them alongside Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and the Grand Canyon in United States. Victoria Falls has also been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1989, protecting an area of 8,780 hectares.
Evergreen rain forest
Spray constantly rises from the falls and settles gently on the Zimbabwean side in the Rainforest. Fine precipitation waters the area all year round. Although the mist decreases in the dry season, this is described as the world’s only place with perpetual rain, supporting fascinating plants and wildlife.
The discovery of the Victoria Falls
No one really ‘discovered’ the falls: local people had known them since time immemorial. From a Western perspective, David Livingstone deserves mention as the first European to reach them in 1855. He named them Victoria in honour of the British queen.
The Zambezi River flows into the Indian Ocean
The Zambezi is the longest river flowing into the Indian Ocean and Africa’s fourth longest after the Nile, Congo and Niger. It rises at 1,500 metres in Zambia, near the borders with DR Congo and Angola, and crosses Angola, Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique before emptying into the Indian Ocean in an enormous 12,000-kilometre delta. First, it passes two major dams, several waterfalls and the six bridges spanning its course.
Victoria Falls Bridge
Built between 1904 and 1905, the bridge links Livingstone in Zambia and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe across almost 130 metres of river. Steel components were shipped from the UK to Beira, Mozambique, then taken by rail to the site for assembly and welding.
The Devil's pool for the most daring
During the dry season those who are not afraid can bathe in what is known as the Devil's Pool in Victoria Falls. The low level of the waters allows you to enter the course of the river and bathe on the edge of the cliff. Many are those who boast about such a thing by uploading the required images on social networks. We are not very much in favour of taking this unnecessary risk, because a simple slip can be fatal.
What to do in Victoria Falls
Simply taking in this extraordinary place is a fantastic experience: rainbow colours fanning across the sky, the thunder of falling water and enveloping spray. Adrenaline seekers can jump from Victoria Bridge, go rafting, ride an elephant or fly over the falls by balloon, microlight or helicopter. A gentler option is a sunset boat trip on the Zambezi above the falls. The “African adventure capital” offers countless ways to enjoy its surroundings.
Do you want to know the Victoria Falls?
In Viajes Tuareg we have designed several small-group routes whose final highlight is the Victoria Falls.
- Botswana: through the heart of Africa
- Namibia and Botswana: the Okavango Route
- Namibia and Botswana: Safari Ittene. Namib Desert, Etosha National Park, Chobe and Victoria Falls
- South Africa, Namibia and Botswana: Grand Explorer: From Cape Town to Victoria Falls