Victoria Falls -- is one of the most amazing sights in the world. Just a few miles outside Livingstone and Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe), the Falls are twice as tall as Niagara Falls, and several times longer.
The big question is which side - Zambia or Zimbabwe? - the answer is quite simply Zimbabwe - If you are travelling through Zambia then Zimbabwe's reputation may put you off - but it shouldn't - although the US$30 visa and US$20 entry fee (US$10 for SADC residents) to the Falls may do more to deter you if you are only coming over for the day. Still it is another African country to brag about visiting and the visa has an impressive hologram on it! That said, the money from the visa may well go to support the Mugabe government, which might should give tourists pause.
It took thousands of years of erosion for Victoria Falls to appear as and where it does now. Mosi-oa-Tunya, or "the smoke that thunders” only became known to the western world as Victoria Falls after David Livingstone first set eyes on this astonishing natural wonder in 1855, a heartbeat ago in geological time.
The discovery of coal in Hwange and reports of copper in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) brought an influx of people into the area around the Falls. The Victoria Falls Bridge was commissioned by Cecil John Rhodes in 1900, as part of his ambitious plan to build a Cape to Cairo railway. The railway line never made it as far as Cairo, but the bridge was completed in 1905, opening up the area to colonisation. An interesting snippet of information about the railway bridge is that the first living creature to cross it was a leopard.
PLACE TO VISIT
The park is open year-round, but you will get a much different experience depending on the season in which you visit.
In the rainy season (November to March), the water volume will be higher and the Falls will be more dramatic. You are guaranteed to get wet if you cross the bridge or walk along the trails winding near the Falls. On the other hand, it is precisely because the volume of water is so high that your viewing of the actual Falls will be obscured -- by all the water!
In the dry season, (April to October), the water volume will be lower, and Victoria Falls might just be a trickle. You will get a clearer view of the rocky ledge beneath the Falls, which is pretty spectacular unto itself, but "the Falls" might be somewhat underwhelming.
There are some great hotels in Livingstone (Zambian side). There are some expensive resorts that are operated by Sun International, but various others a little distance from the falls.
WHAT TO DO
Upper Zambezi Canoe Safari
Golfing
Visit the Wild Horizons Wildlife Sanctuary and Orphanage
Bungee
White water rafting (Grade 5, Grade 6 being commercially un-runable!)
Cruise up the Zambezi upstream of the falls. This is a must do. Utterly beautiful.
Take a microlight flight over the falls.
Experience a Wild Horizons Elephant Back Safari
Craft shopping in Vic Falls Town. Be prepared to bargain hard.
Gorge Swing! Zip Line! Flying Fox or Abseil
Experience the Steam Train Bridge Run at Sunset
A Full Day Trip to Chobe
Horse Ridin
A Helicopter Flip of the Falls
HOW TO REACH
ACCESS to Victoria Falls Zimbabwe is assured with 24 international flights every week – 21 from Johannesburg and three from Namibian capital, Windhoek. These are complemented by a daily flight from Harare by Air Zimbabwe, plus a good road network from the South African border at Beit Bridge right through to the Falls. Additionally Air Botswana flies into Kasane, Chobe, just a 90-minute road transfer (and often a game drive itself) to the Falls and BA Comair and SAA all fly into Livingstone, Zambia, just a 30-minute transfer across the bridge border into Zimbabwe. And Air Zimbabwe is gearing up for the building momentum – they have approval to buy four more modern jets – two 767s and two 737s.
