One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Victoria Falls are a magnificent spectacle. Known to the locals as Mosi-oa-Tunya (the smoke that thunders) the Victoria Falls is the largest sheet of water fall in the world.
It falls from the great Zambezi River, which forms part of the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is the Zambezi that caters to some of the most extreme outdoor activities in the world, with the main base of activities organized and ran from Livingstone, a city 10km from the falls and the former capital of Zambia.
Named after the first European to discover and name the Victoria Falls – David Livingstone – Livingstone is a buzzing city full of backpackers, volunteers and holiday makers. It is the gateway to the Victoria Falls and all the activities it generates.
Victoria Falls – Go on a trail around the adjacent face of the falls to see them in all their glory. There’s a small fee to get into the trail, but it’s the best place to take those incredible photos. It is, however, also a baboon sanctuary and these powerful animals wont hesitate to come directly up to you and snatch your lunch straight out your hands. The best thing to do is stand your ground and imitate throwing a rock. If you show fear they will bully you. If they become violent, don’t hesitate to hand over any food and go to the nearest safe building. Don’t worry – 100’s of thousands of people visit each year and there are very few cases of baboon attacks.
White Water Rafting – The mighty Zambezi river is regarded as one of the greatest rapid runs in the world. It consists of 25 hair raising rapids, including one category 6 (all rafting tours make you walk around this one). The rafting adventures are run very professionally with a large and experienced crew. Most also provide professional and photography filming available for purchase after the wild experience. This is one experience you’ll never forget!
Bungee Jump – The 3rd largest bungee jump in the world! From the bridge that connects Zambia and Zimbabwe, free fall the 111m gaining a very unique view of the falls! Only for the brave! Minimum age is 14 years old.
Above is just a small sample of what is on offer at the Victoria Falls and Livingstone. Other activities include:
- Upstream sunset cruise of the Zambezi where you can view hippo’s and other wildlife
- Microlight flight over the falls, simply breathtaking
- Elephant back safari
- Gorge Swing/Zip Line/Flying Fox or Abseil (packages available)
- Swimming on the Devils Pool (a natural rock pool at the top of the falls, leaving you literally on the edge of the fall!)
The Victoria Falls is an experience of a lifetime, one of Africa’s greatest attractions.
