‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ – (the smoke that thunders) is the local name for Victoria Falls. This is one of Africa’s most enduring sights – one of the seven Natural Wonders of the World and a World Heritage Site.
At most times of year the Falls is an inspiring sight: 1,708 metres wide and drop between 90 and 107 metres into the Batoka Gorge. An average of 550,000 cubic metres of water per minute plunge over the gorge and at high water times the spray can be seen from 20-30 kilometres away. The Batoka Gorge forms the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. David Livingstone, the first European to see Victoria Falls in 1855 (and who named them after Queen Victoria) reported ‘Scenes so lovely, they must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight’.
Today, visitors come here not only to look at the Falls themselves but also to try the various adventure activities available in the area – white water rafting, river boarding, jet boating, bungi, microlighting, helicopter flights, sunset cruises and elephant back safaris to name a few. Most tours spend several days in the area, just outside Livingstone, the nearest town, giving opportunity to view the Falls themselves and to try some of the adventure activities available.
