Victoria Falls Facts, Location, Map, Height And Significance
Victoria Falls Facts, Location, Map, Height, Significance, Country, Photos, History, Discovery.
The common natural wonder of Victoria Falls is protected in two different national parks in Zambia and Zimbabwe, respectively: Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park in Zambia and Victoria Falls National Park in Zimbabwe. These two parks work together to preserve the greatest waterfall on Earth.
Recognized as the world’s largest waterfall, Victoria Falls is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With a drop of 355 feet (108 meters) and a width of 5,604 feet (1,708 meters), these waterfalls form the world’s largest continuous sheet of falling water.
With an area of under 9 square miles (23.4 sq km), Victoria Falls National Park is even more compact than its adjacent Mosi-oa-Tunya. The falls get their water from the Zambezi River, which is also a border river between Zimbabwe and Zambia.
The five falls that make up Victoria Falls are spread out across two countries; four of them are in Zimbabwe. The Devil’s Cataract, Main Falls, Rainbow Falls, and Horseshoe Falls are all part of this group. The border with Zambia is where you’ll find the fifth Eastern Cataract.
The park offers short game drives where visitors can encounter elephants, buffalo, white rhinos, elands, hippos, and other antelopes. Seeing animals isn’t the main draw, but it does enhance a trip to the park. An enormous balboa tree is there as well, with a circumference of 52 feet (16 meters) and a height of 65.6 feet (20 meters).
Victoria Falls Actual Name
The locals call Victoria Falls “Mosi-oa-Tunya“ (‘the smoke that thunders’), and the rising mist, roaring noise, and gaping chasm into which sheets of water cascade add to the splendor and drama of a visit. On a monthly basis, our experts explore the falls from the Zimbabwean perspective in order to find the top attractions for your visit. They can suggest activities like taking a steam train trip along Victoria Falls Bridge at dusk or flying over the falls in a helicopter to get a feel for their size.
By a wide margin of 1,708 meters (5,604 feet), and with a height of 108 meters (354 feet), Victoria Falls is the biggest curtain of falling water on Earth. No matter which side of the border you visit—Zimbabwe or Zimbabwe—the falls will provide an unforgettable experience.
360° Victoria Falls – The Devil’s Pool | National Geographic
Victoria Falls
You can observe trumpeter hornbills darting across the gorge from one of the many small roads that wind around the basalt clifftop next to the falls. Walking amid the dripping fig, palm, and mahogany trees, you may appreciate close-up views of the tumbling water as you stroll through the rainforest-like ecosystem produced by the mist coming from the abyss. In addition to black eagles and falcons swooping overhead, you may spot vervet monkeys and baboons amidst the foliage.
Even when the water levels are low, a visit to the falls is rewarding because you can see the sheer face of the cliff and gaze all the way to the gorge floor. The best time to go is between January and April, when the waterfalls are at their highest.
When the water levels are low enough, you may also go white-water rafting down the rapids at the base of the falls with a knowledgeable guide.
One of the best ways to spend a Tuesday or Friday night in this town is to have dinner on board the Bushtracks Express, a restored steam train from the 1920s that operates along a section of the “Cape to Cairo” railway. Cecil Rhodes, a British colonialist, constructed the Victoria Falls Bridge in 1905, and the railroad passes through Victoria Falls National Park. The train will stop at a siding so you can capture sunset photos of the falls, and then it will serve a five-course supper.
Another option is to go on a sunset cruise along the Zambezi River while listening to a guide tell stories about the area’s folklore and mythology. As the sun sets and the river takes on a pinkish hue, you never know who might be swimming alongside you—elephants, hippos, or even crocodiles.
A game drive in Victoria Falls National Park offers a better chance of seeing animals, including zebras, giraffes, buffalo, eland, and impala. For a full-day safari in Botswana, you may go to Chobe National Park, which is around 1.5 hours away by car. An afternoon wildlife drive across the park’s lush floodplains follows a cruise along the Chobe River, where you can spot carmine bee-eaters, spoonbills, and ibises. This region is home to large herds of elephant, wildebeest, lion, and hyena.
“Scene so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight,” Dr. David Livingstone remarked of his initial impression of the falls, the first European to do so. As impressive as the falls are when seen from a distance, their true magnitude becomes apparent when viewed from above. Helicopter rides across the Upper Zambezi can take fifteen or thirty minutes, bringing you to the brink of the falls where you can peer into the misty chasm below.
Suggested itineraries featuring Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls Botswana Safari and Mauritius
Days: 13 | Nights: 12
Experience the water worlds of Botswana on boat safaris in Chobe and at the Okavango Delta, and spend time relaxing days on the beaches of Mauritius.
Victoria Falls And Gorilla Trekking Itinerary
Days: 6 | Nights: 5
With a safari to both Uganda and Zimbabwe included in this six-day luxury tour, you can see the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, up close.
Kruger, Victoria Falls and Okavango Delta Itinerary
Days: 10 | Nights: 9
Turn your dreams into reality with this Zimbabwe and Botswana Safari that packs in a whole gamut of experiences. The 10 Days Zimbabwe and Botswana Safari to Victoria Falls & Okavango Delta.
Victoria Falls Travel Advice
Visit our Zambia travel advice page for general information on visiting Zambia; our Zimbabwe travel advice page is for people staying on the Zimbabwean side of the falls.
Our simple, free traveler’s guide to Victoria Falls is packed with useful information, ideas, and recommendations, so you can plan your trip with ease.
Top Travel Tips for Victoria Falls
Choosing sides: Zimbabwe offers breathtaking views of the Main Falls, while Zambia offers a broader range of accommodations and activities along the Zambezi River. No matter which nation you end yourself staying in, make sure to leave enough time to see the Falls from both perspectives.
Plenty to do: Popular activities in Victoria Falls include beautiful helicopter or microlight flights over the falls, white-water rafting (seasonal), safaris on elephant backs, day trips to Chobe National Park, and Victoria Falls itself.
Don’t miss out: Although most hotels and lodges are more than happy to help you plan activities upon arrival, it is highly suggested that you book in advance to guarantee availability on elephant-back safaris, since they tend to be quite popular.
Bring the kids: An ideal family vacation spot, Victoria Falls offers a wide variety of kid-friendly lodgings, from sprawling resorts to individual villas with two or four bedrooms, and plenty of activities to suit all ages.
Go for tea: High tea at the luxurious Victoria Falls Hotel has been a tradition for than a century, attended by royalty and famous faces alike. As the mist from the Falls creates a picturesque backdrop, you can anticipate white-gloved servers, vast lawns, and carefully tended gardens.
Sundowner stop: The most famous place in Zambia to have cocktails while watching the sun go down is on the riverbank deck of the Royal Livingstone.
VICTORIA FALLS WALKING SAFARI
Victoria Falls Safari Lodge – Zimbabwe
Flights & Getting Around Victoria Falls
You may not be aware, but The Bespoke African Safari Co. also handles flight bookings. Check out our Flights section for all the details and answers to your inquiries.
Livingstone Airport (Zambia): Although there is a frequent flight from Lusaka, the most convenient route to fly into Livingstone is from Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport. A minibus or 4×4 will take you to your accommodation.
Victoria Falls Airport (Zimbabwe): This airport is conveniently located on the route of a flight between Windhoek and Maun, and it is also served by regular flights from Johannesburg. Also, visitors can fly into Kasane Airport from either the Okavango Delta or Maun Airport, and then take a car transfer to Victoria Falls, which is about 70km from the Botswana border.
Getting around Victoria Falls depends on which side you are based:
In Zimbabwe the town of Victoria Falls: can be easily navigated on foot. Many hotels offer convenient shuttle service to nearby attractions, including the falls, and the majority of rooms are either in the town itself or in close proximity. You may easily walk to Victoria Falls from a number of hotels due to their handy locations. Transportation to and from activities, by minibus or 4×4, is included in the price.
In Zambia the town of Livingstone: is situated nine kilometers from Victoria Falls, and unlike in the town proper, accommodation on the Zambian side is situated along the Zambezi River. While most lodges provide free shuttle buses to and from the falls, a handful are located within walking distance. It is common practice for guests of Zambian lodges to include a visit to Victoria Falls in their daily itinerary.
Several things may necessitate crossing the boundary, and it’s not hard to do so if you want to see the Falls from a new perspective.