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Known locally as ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’, meaning ‘the Smoke that Thunders’ Victoria falls on the Zambezi River in Southern Province is a spectacular 1700m (1 mi) wide drop of 108m (360 ft) falling into a deep zig zagging gorge below. At the height of the floods this is the largest sheet of falling water in the world with over 545 million liters a minute cascading over the rocky edge.

Victoria Falls became known to the European world on November 17th, 1855 when the Scotsman David Livingstone saw the falls on his journey to the mouth of the Zambezi river.  He was so impressed by the falls that he named them after Queen Victoria.


The unusual form of Victoria Falls enables virtually the whole width of the falls to be viewed face-on, at the same level as the top, from as close as 60 meters (200 ft), because the whole Zambezi River drops into a deep, narrow slot like chasm, connected to a long series of gorges. Few other waterfalls allow such a close approach on foot.


Victoria Falls are one of Africa's major tourist attractions, and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site (see box below). The falls are shared between Zambia and Zimbabwe, and each country has a national park to protect them and a town serving as a tourism center: Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park and Livingstone in Zambia, and Victoria Falls National Park^Wiki and the town of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.


The water flowing over Victoria Falls varies from season to season.  In the wet season the volume of water can be as much as 320,000 cubic feet per second, this is when the water falls over the cliff in a continuous line.  While the dry season in Africa can reduces the flow of water to a mere 12,500 cubic feet per second. The water falling over the edge of the cliff is reminiscent of that which trickles out of an over full bathtub during this season.  The height of the river’s flow is in the month of April, while the lowest ebb is in October.

The Zambezi basin above the falls experiences a rainy season from late November to early April, and a dry season the rest of the year. 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 400 metres (1,300 ft), and sometimes even twice as high, and is visible from up to 50 km (30 miles) away. At full moon, a "moonbow" can be seen in the spray instead of the usual daylight rainbow. During the flood season, however, it is impossible to see the foot of the falls and most of its face, and the walks along the cliff opposite it are in a constant shower and shrouded in mist. Close to the edge of the cliff, spray shoots upward like inverted rain, especially at Zambia's Knife-Edge Bridge.


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. At this time it becomes possible (though not necessarily safe) to walk across some stretches of the river at the crest. It is also possible to walk to the bottom of the First Gorge at the Zimbabwean side. The minimum flow, which occurs in November, is around a tenth of the April figure; this variation in flow is greater than that of other major falls, and causes Victoria Falls' annual average flow rate to be lower than might be expected based on the maximum flow.

This place is known and not without reason by the suggestive name "Diablo’s swimming pool because it is possible to take a bath without apparent risk near of the waterfall between September and December months of summer where the plentiful is weak. Each time more tourists are interested by exotic places!













A visit to the Victoria Waterfalls in Zimbabwe is a spectacular option, once you have reached the Caprivi. Coming from Katima Mulilo you first of all get to the border to Botswana near Ngoma Bridge (75 km). And from there it is another 80 kilometres to the border to Zimbabwe at Kasane and another 90 kilometres to the Falls. The road and the border crossing are not difficult and a 4x4 is not required.

Many of Africa's animals and birds can be seen in the immediate vicinity of Victoria Falls, and the continent's range of river fish is also well represented in the Zambezi, enabling wildlife viewing and sport fishing to be combined with sightseeing.

Generally one must be cautious when travelling Zimbabwe^Wiki at the moment. The Mugabe regime has ruined the economy. Due to a lack of foreign currency, the country can't afford enough fuel, so it's hardly ever available at the petrol stations. Even the most basic of foods are scarce. The once flourishing agricultural sector of this country now lies in shambles. Wheat has to be imported and paid for in foreign currency while bakers have realised it's not lucritive to bake bread which they would have to sell at a minimal price anyway (fixed by the government). In Harare and elsewhere, people are queuing for hours to get a loaf of bread.

      
Nevertheless, if you are determined to go to Zimbabwe, bring enough petrol and food. A visit to the Victoria Falls is generally not a problem. One should, however, afterwards return to Namibia or Botswana. At present we discourage visiting other parts and sights of the country.