24 May 2018
The Victoria Falls – between Zambia and Zimbabwe
At 1,708m wide and 108m high she might be neither the highest, nor the widest waterfall in the world, but the combination of the two make her the largest one….and this makes a visit to the Victoria Falls an absolute treat for the senses.
The Smoke that Thunders
The Tonga people call her Mosi-Oa-Tunya (The Smoke that Thunders), and, before you even enter the gates of the national park, it is easy to see and hear why. A big plume of ‘smoke’ appears to be rising from the ground and there is a definite rumbling to be heard. To stand and watch the sheer volume of water, especially at high water, come crashing over is something that needs to be seen to be believed. The water appears to bubble and boil at it lands creating a swirling pot of white water. Affectionately called the rainbow maker, it is easy to see why as you stroll around and take in her majestic beauty. The natural light reflects and refracts through all the tiny water droplets in the air, creating spectacular arcs of colour as you look around. If you are lucky enough to be visiting around full moon, you might even get to do the night tour and see the magical moonbow.
As you stand and take in her beauty, you can feel the vibrations the water makes crashing down running through your body. And the sound is amazing. It is almost as if the Zambezi River has collected stories along her journey from the source to this point, and she takes the opportunity to shout them out as she cascades over the rock face……..giving her the opportunity to start collecting again afresh as she makes her way from the rapids below and onto the sea.
The spray rains down on you, and you get to taste the water as it falls on your face………and at that moment you are touched by her. Then the sunshine slowly warms you and dries you again. It makes you feel alive.
The rainforest created by the spray offers you the chance to see, smell and touch some incredible plant life as you walk along. And if you are lucky you might see a shy bushbuck or two standing in the shadows, or a warthog eating the tasty grass on offer near the edge of Danger Point. The vervet monkeys might take a moment to entertain you along the way.
Water levels
High water is generally from February to May, and at this point the volume of water falling over is so big that you quite often cannot see the water at the bottom due to all the spray coming off the Falls. Low water is considered to be September to January, and up to half of the rocky faces become visible offering a totally different view of the Victoria Falls.
High water, low water, rainy season, dry season….it doesn’t matter when you visit, it only matters that you do. The magical and majestic Victoria Falls is definitely one to add to your bucket-list. But be warned…… once you have been there, you will want to go back.
Visiting the Falls
Click here for our tours that visit the Falls on the Zimbabwe side
Click here for our tours that visit the Falls on the Zambian side