A choir of Zimbabweans in traditional attire welcomed us as we exited the small airport at Victoria Falls. The performance heightened our excitement to be visiting Zimbabwe. We were looking forward to seeing the Falls, considered one of the seven wonders of the world in its full glory.
The local people call it “Mosi-oa-Tunya” — the smoke that thunders,
referring to the considerable noise the water makes as it falls and the resultant column of spray that arises.
Victoria Falls and the surrounding area have been declared a National Park and a World Heritage Site. At over a mile wide and 351 feet high, the Falls are one-and-a-half times as wide and twice as high as the Niagara Falls. An average of nearly 20,000 cubic feet of water plunge over the edge into the Zambezi Gorge every minute.
Guided Tour of Victoria Falls
One can visit Victoria Falls all year round. From September to November, visibility is high, offering the finest views of the spectacular Falls. To experience the full impact of the Falls, one should go between February to May when the river is full. Remember to bring waterproof clothing since you will most certainly get wet with the spray. Plastic ponchos are available at the entrance.
After paying the admittance fee, one could easily do the Falls tour alone since there is a well-marked, paved path with several viewpoints. We decided on the guided tour since it would include transport to the Park, and it was a way of supporting the local community. It was also fun to talk to one of the locals and hear his stories.
We made a stop at the Big Tree, sometimes called Livingstone’s Tree. It is a colossal baobab or upside-down tree, 79 feet tall with a circumference of 74 feet. After buying one or two curios, we had to firmly fend off enthusiastic craftsmen pushing their wares under our noses, intent on getting more highly sought after American dollars.
David Livingstone Statue
We stood awhile at David Livingstone’s statue, the Victorian explorer, leaning on his walking stick, looking towards Devil’s Cataract before entering the magnificent rain forest. It was a real pleasure to see the impressive variety of plants and hear the bird calls as they darted from branch to branch.
We learned that geological upheavals caused a shift in the river systems. The rivers’ path changed, and the vast volume of water continually falling over rocks during millions of years formed the Falls.
