Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls town lies on the southern bank of the Zambezi River at the eastern end of the Victoria Falls themselves.
The Victoria Falls constitutes one of the most spectacular natural wonders of the world. The local people call it "Mosi-oa-Tunya" -- the smoke that thunders. There is a magic about them manifested in the towering column of spray when the river is high, the thunder of the falling water, the terrifying abyss and tranquil lagoons upstream in which hippo and deadly crocodiles lurk.
The Victoria Falls is 5600 feet wide, making it the largest curtain of water in the world. It drops between 300 and 350 feet into the Zambezi Gorge and an average of 145,000,000 gallons of water plummet over the edge every minute!
Remarkably preserved in its natural state, Victoria Falls inspires visitors as much today as it did David Livingstone in the 1860's. The falls and the surrounding area have been declared National Parks and a World Heritage Site, thus preserving the area from excessive commercialization.
The river's annual flood season is February to May with a peak in April. The spray from the falls typically rises to a height of over 1,300 ft, and sometimes even twice as high, and is visible from up to 30 miles away.
As the dry season takes effect, the islets on the crest become wider and more numerous, and in September to January up to half of the rocky face of the falls may become dry and the bottom of the First Gorge can be seen along most of its length.
A number of adrenalin activities can be undertaken. The 'Flight of Angels' provides a fabulous vista of the falls, the upstream river and its many islands and for the more adventurous there is micro lighting, canoeing, kayaking, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, guided walking safaris and bungee jumping.
