There is no sight quite like Victoria Falls. This massive waterfall in Southern Africa already has quite the reputation, but I will add just a bit here for you.
First off, the falls are called Mosi-oa-Tunya in the local dialect, which means, “The Smoke that Thunders,” which is a very appropriate name. Second, not only are the falls big, but the width is something that is hard to grasp: 5,604 feet long (or 1,704 meters). There are falls in the world that are taller and wider, but none combine such great heights and widths; Victoria Falls has the world’s largest sheet of falling water due to these factors.
The volume of water differs throughout the year, as the Zambezi River experiences a rainy season and a dry season that affect the flow. The spray from the falls reaches great heights (over 1,300 feet but can be double that) and can be visible from up to 50 kilometers away. When the falls are in full force, you will: a) not be able to see the bottom of the gorge, b) get pretty wet on your tour, and c) understand why the small area around the falls is considered a rainforest.Victoria Falls (Jason Maynard)Victoria Falls (Jason Maynard)
When it is time to take your tour of the falls, please opt for the private tour. You’ve probably traveled a great distance to get yourself to Zimbabwe; the extra thirty bucks for the private tour is well worth it so you can set your own pace inside the national park and have the full attention of your guide. Yes, the Falls (on the Zimbabwe side) must be visited by entering Victoria Falls National Park. Inside, not only is there multiple viewing options for the falls, but the rainforest allows for great bird watching (a birder in our group was hoping to spot Livingstone’s Tauraco while I enjoyed seeing the trumpeter hornbill). Of course, you can run across other animals while in the park (from monkeys to elephants) so always listen to your guide.
Depending on when you visit, you might need to prepare to get wet. The spray during certain months (the rainy season) will soak you even if it does not rain. The falls are impressive, and so is the mist they generate. Also, the stone paths can get slippery, so wear solid footwear. If you have a fancy camera, take the necessary precautions to keep it from getting too wet.
I would recommend you schedule your visit to Victoria Falls in the morning (the earlier the better). You’ll find it less crowded where you can appreciate the spectacular views and the awesome power of nature roaring in your ears and filling your eyes. Plus, once you are done, you can head to The Lookout Cafe for lunch overlooking the spectacular Batonka Gorge and views of the Victoria Falls Bridge.
Me at the Lookout Cafe overlooking the Batonka Gorge (Jason Maynard)
Excellent travel advice and service
This is my second experience working with Adventure Life. I’m sold. Jess Heuermann is an experienced traveler and provides a lot of useful information when planning a trip. These are the questions I like to ask at the outset - What’s it like to go here, there, what would you suggest, what do people report, can we add any additional side trips? Jess took the time to answer my questions and seek additional information to share with me. Petchie Colina is outstanding in helping with travel logistics and final preparations. Adventure Life has excellent guides and offers private guides and small group adventures. We enjoyed the opportunity to talk with the guides and drivers to learn more about their countries, cultures and histories. A highlight was having the guides pick local restaurants where we could share meals together. Highly recommend.
Claire Cordon
5 days ago
Our six-day tour in Iceland went smoothly with one exception. We had asked for two rooms each night. Somehow we were booked with one room with three beds. It could not be fixed at the first hotel in Reykjavik because the hotel was fully booked. Once informed of the problem, however, Adventure Life rebooked for two rooms for the remainder of the trip. As an 85-year-old traveler, I appreciated that one could participate at different physical levels at many of the stops. Iceland is a great place to visit but on the expensive side.
Mary Warren
6 days ago
Jess was very easy going and answered all our questions. It’s not easy dealing with 6 people at once but she did an outstanding job!
Diane Foster
1 week ago
Kassandra and the Adventure Life team have been incredible! Kassandra was very knowledgeable and attentive to our asks while making sure we kept within our budget. This was our first experience with a travel agent and we were blown away by the booking/initial exploration service. We will use Adventure Life again.