Majestic beauty and power, a never-ending rumble, a million splashes forming a cloud of vapor and fog, a sense of danger when standing on the edge, and above all this grandeur a dazzling rainbow - this is the picture you can see on the Victoria Falls, one of the biggest waterfalls in the world.

In the local dialect, the waterfall has two names - Mosi-oa-Tunja, which translates as "thundering smoke", and Chongguet, which means "the place of the rainbow." In general, both names quite accurately characterize the waterfall.

It is located on the Zambezi River, which runs along the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. It was discovered by the Englishman David Livingston, who quite rightly called the waterfall the most remarkable sight in Africa, and gave him the name of his queen afterwards.

Almost on its entire length, the Zambezi is a calm river, but its character changes dramatically when the basalt plateau along which it flows is completely unexpected, and the river falls swiftly down the precipice, dividing into several streams. And the height there is really rather big - 108 meters, which is very much for waterfalls of this width. Opposite the waterfall, another basalt cliff rises, completely covered with a rainforest.

Contents

  • 1 When to look
  • 2 Observation points
  • 3 Museum of the Victoria Falls
  • 4 Mosi-oa-Tunja National Park
  • 5 Entertainment and Excursions
    • 5.1 We also recommend

When to look

The speed and strength of the waterfall flow varies with the season and season. In the spring, when the water level in the Zambezi rises, the flow becomes powerful, rapid and impetuous. During the drought period, the nature of the waterfall becomes more gentle, the islets on the river and along the edge of the cliff are exposed. So you can choose how you want to see it and come at this time of year.

Waterfall from different angles

Observation points

Consider the waterfall is possible with a few points. One of the most successful points of view is on the bridge, which is called the "Blade of the Knife" - here you can see the Eastern stream, the Main Falls and the Boiling Cauldron, a turbulent place where the river makes a turn and leaves down to the Batoka gorge.

Equally convenient places are on the railway bridge, thrown over the waterfall, and at the "Observation Tree". Here you can fully appreciate the main waterfall in all its terrible beauty and look into its boiling emptiness.

Functions of the Victoria Falls, however, are not limited to the mere satisfaction of the eyes of millions of tourists, it also has a practical application - to energize many cities in Zimbabwe and Zambia.

The most unforgettable impressions can be obtained, of course, only after seeing the entire waterfall completely .Unfortunately, this can not be done from the ground level, but if you are not too limited in funds, you can resort to the help of many local companies offering excursions to the waterfall on helicopters, paragliders and small private planes .The route of such excursions, as a rule, runs along the river and, besides Victoria, opens and many other local beauties .Just be careful, you will not have much time to look at the waterfall .

Museum of the Victoria Falls

In the vicinity of the waterfall, near the parking lot, where tourists and travelers are brought, there is a museum dedicated to the history of the waterfall. The museum exposition tells how the waterfall changed over its thousand-year history, how the water gnawed and continues to gnaw out for itself all new plots in a soft and pliable breed.

Mosi-oa-Tunja National Park

Once near the waterfall, you will certainly visit the Mosi-oa-Tunja National Park (Smoldering Smoke), its area is small, but here you can see a large number of local animals - antelopes, zebras, giraffes, rhinoceroses. The animals here are extremely peaceful and not timid, as there are no predators here. From Zimbabwe there is another natural park, "Victoria Falls."

In the vicinity of the waterfall, near the parking lot, where tourists and travelers are brought, there is a museum dedicated to the history of the waterfall.

Entertainment and Excursions

During your stay on the waterfall, you can make other unforgettable excursions - for example, canoeing or a rubber raft, a boat trip on the Zambezi River, visiting a jeep safari in the national park or horse riding, and if in childhood you were always interested in how it's to ride an elephant, here you will have a great opportunity to figure it out on your own experience.

For lovers of adrenaline therapy there is another great entertainment - bungee jumping. Just imagine this breathtaking leap from the highest point of the waterfall on a rubber cable ... It's scary, but certainly worth it to try.

Well and in end of a trip it is possible to buy the friends of souvenirs which have remained in the native land. It will be more convenient to do this in the village of Mikuni located near the waterfall. For a complete list of hotels (both in Zambia and Zimbabwe) near the waterfall, look at the Victoria Falls page.
Fantastic view of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Victoria Falls
Fantastic view of the Victoria Falls
Malachite Water Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Victoria Falls
Malachite water of the Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls
View of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Victoria Falls
View of the Victoria Falls
Stormy waters of the Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Victoria Falls
The stormy waters of the Victoria Falls