It's one of the most beautiful sights in the world. It is the largest waterfall, at over 5,600 feet wide and over 350 feet high. It falls into one of the longest and steepest gorges in the world to house a waterfall. It is deemed to be largest because of the combination of it's measurements and the sheer amount of water that falls over it. Welcome to Victoria Falls. One of the true natural wonders of the world and a spot that fell straight onto my friend Jenn's bucket list.
There's so much to talk about when it comes to Victoria Falls, where do I start? Those of you who know me, know that waterfalls are one of my passions, and Victoria is definitely one of the waterfalls on my bucket list. It sits on the Zambezi River in central Africa directly on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. The name that the falls now goes by, Victoria, was given by the British Dr. Livingstone who was credited in Europe for being the person to discover the waterfall. Europeans being credited with discovering waterfalls and islands and such often renamed the discovered items, even though there were always native folks right there that had known about the place for a lifetime and had named it centuries before. Mosi-oa-Tunya is what the locals have always called it, meaning "The smoke that thunders."
Waterfalls are beautiful natural wonders, and Victoria tops a very elite list. One of the great things about the falls is the accessibility. There are many activities you can do at Victoria Falls. There's a walk out observation platform right on the top, and the water at the top of the falls in some places is shallow enough that you can go right out and sit in it almost at the edge of the falls. You can do a drive by, or a fly over in a helicopter. There are many ways to see and enjoy this mighty wonder.
Let's start by getting right in the water. As I said, you can sit up top right in the water. I don't have to tell anyone that's ever visited a large waterfall what the view is like from the top. At Victoria Falls you can also take a rafting trip, a jet boat, paddle boards, or a dinner cruise. They all take place in different areas, some above the falls and some below. Depending on your individual preference, there is a boat that will be just right for you. Check with tour companies before you go to make sure you know which side of the border your activity is on.
Another option is to sail over the falls. As I said before, you can fly over it in a helicopter. That's pretty standard. There are a couple of other options. There is a company that will take you up in what's called an ultralight. This is a plane that barely qualifies as a plane. My godfather built one in his back yard many years ago. It is a thrill to fly over anything in a tiny ultralight and you get an amazing view of the falls.
Then there's the road bridge. It gives you an amazing view of the falls gorge when you drive over it. If you stop in the middle of it, you can bungee jump. That's right, that amazing bridge high above the falls gorge has a bungee jump right in the middle. I don't think you can get a more bird's eye view of the falls gorge than from a bungee cord.
Remember, this is the heart of Africa. The safari is alive and well here. There are several companies that will be happy to take you on a real African Safari. There are also luxury lodges that provide these services in the area. The British tradition of luxury and nature together is a long standing one in Africa and is still going on today.
No matter how you look at it, Victoria Falls is a wonder. There's a lot to do and see in the area as well. It's always good to look into a tour in an area like Victoria Falls. Anything that sits directly straddling an international border can come with issues. When visiting an area like this, you may find that you need to literally run back and forth across the border to do everything you wish to do. Sometimes a planned tour where someone else in in charge of managing border crossings is a good thing.
I have to interject a plug for some friends of mine here. Charley Boorman and Billy Ward are two of the most knowledgeable guides in the business for southern Africa and Victoria Falls. They lead a motorcycle tour from South Africa to Victoria Falls and one the other way round every fall. It is an adventure tour, but it you want to meet someone that knows all about bungee jumping that gorge, they're your guys. Compass Tours was the company that offered the tours in the past, but covid-19 ran them out of business and when it's all over, Charley and Billy are planning to run the tours on their own. So, something to look forward to.
So, as I move down my friends' bucket lists, I'm finding some tremendous places. Victoria Falls has always been on my bucket list. There are dozens of activities and it is one of the best known natural wonders in the world.
Before I go, I have to put the cautions out there. Number one, as I said, look into a tour company. It straddles an international border, and you may want the convenience of a tour company. Number two, you can't run off to this area on a whim. You may need shots before you can go there. Always check and check with the Department of State for any inconveniences that may be going on in the area as well. Number three, watch out for criminals. Nothing major, but as with any world famous tourist attraction, there will be those running around just trying to take advantage of naive travelers. Plan well and get good information and advice.
All that being said, Victoria Falls is beautiful from any angle, and you can see it from most of them while you're there. It is a once in a lifetime experience to visit the largest waterfall in the world. Be prepared when you go, take advantage of all the opportunities, and enjoy!
