 The
Falls
The falls are 1,7 kilometres wide and nearly 550 million litres
of water cascade 70 to 108 metres into the chasm below –
every minute – during the Zambezi River’s peak
flow. Victoria Falls is made of five different “falls”.
Four of these are in Zimbabwe: The Devil’s Cataract,
Main Falls, Rainbow Falls and Horseshoe Falls – and
one, The Eastern Cataract, is in the bordering country of
Zambia.
The Devil’s Cataract
The falls here are about 70 metres deep. They derive their
name from an adjacent island in the Zambezi River where it
is reported that locals used to conduct sacrificial ceremonies.
With the advent of the missionaries, this practice was frowned
upon and considered “devilish”, resulting in the
name of the area.
Main Falls
The falls at this point are at their most majestic. With a
wide curtain of water thundering down 93 metres into the gorge
below and peak water flows of 700,000 cubic metres per minute,
this section throws out a magnificent spray that continually
nourishes the evergreen rainforest around the area.
Horseshoe Falls
This section is horseshoe shaped and is 95 metres deep. This
section usually dries up at the height of the dry season between
October and November.Rainbow FallsA beautiful rainbow can
clearly be seen from this viewpoint. The falls are 108 metres
deep at this point and are the deepest of the whole series.
The Eastern Cataract
These falls are situated completely on the Zambian side of
Victoria Falls but have a stunning view from the Zimbabwean
side. They are the second deepest falls of the series at 101
metres deep.
Cataract Viewpoint
A unique view of the falls below can be found by descending
73 steps into the gorge.
 David
Livingstone Statue
The David Livingstone statue can be found at the left end
of the Falls near the spectacular Devil’s Cataract viewpoint.
On 16 November 1855, Livingstone (the first Western explorer
to view the Falls) wrote in his journal: “…scenes
so lovely must have been gazed on by angels in their flight.”
The Rainforest
The rainforest area of Victoria Falls is filled with many
unique species of flora and fauna. One can wander amongst
the Fig, Mahogany and Date Palm groves while gazing at the
falls from magnificent viewpoints. Many species of birds and
small mammals may be spotted beneath the protective canopy
of the forest.
The Boiling Pot
This place is appropriately named to describe the turmoil
where water from opposite sides of the falls collide in the
Zambezi River as it turns in a southeasterly direction passing
through several gorges.
The Big Tree
This is a large baobab tree near the Falls. The tree which
has withstood the test of time is 16 metres in diameter and
20 metres tall.
Victoria Falls Bridge
Having been designed in England, the bridge was transported
from Europe in pieces and was assembled on site, bridging
the Zambezi River and linking Zimbabwe and Zambia in 1906.
The bridge is also renowned for its popular bungee jumping.
The Game Park
Zambezi National Park together with Victoria Falls National
Park cover an area of 56,000 hectares. The northern border
of the Park is formed by the great Zambezi River which also
forms the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia for much of its
length. A wide variety of larger mammals may be found within
the Zambezi National Park including The Big Five: elephant,
lion, buffalo, leopard and white rhinoceros. In addition,
herds of sable antelope, eland, zebra, giraffe, kudu, waterbuck
and impala as well as many of the smaller species of game
can be viewed. The Zambezi River is home to a large variety
of fish and is famous for its bream and fighting tiger fish.Zambezi
National Park has two main game-viewing sections: the Zambezi
River Game Drive, with an extensive network of roads along
the river accessed through the main gate of the Park, and
the 25 kilometre Chamabondo Game Drive in the southern part
of the Park, which begins about 5 kilometres outside of Victoria
Falls town – just off the main road to Bulawayo.
Seasons
During the summer months (November to March) the weather
is hot and humid, whilst during the winter it is pleasantly
cool and dry – occasionally becoming cold at night.
Facilities
Lodges
The accommodation units at Zambezi Camp are self-contained
lodges on the river bank, situated 6 kilometres upstream from
Victoria Falls. The camp is served by a tar road and is open
all year around. The lodges are all fully equipped and each
has 2 bedrooms, a living room, bathroom and kitchen with stove
and refrigerator.
Fishing Camps
Three exclusive fishing camps: Kandahar, Siansimba and Mpala
Jena, are attractively situated on the banks of the Zambezi
just off the Zambezi River Game Drive. Facilities consist
of a flush toilet and cold shower; running water, a sleeping
shelter (with low side walls at Kandahar), cement table with
bench and braai unit. Fishing by boat is excellent in these
areas.
Camping Sites
For an unforgettable wilderness experience, there are 4 minimum
development camping sites available in the Park. Situated
on the banks of the Zambezi, these areas are unfenced and
completely in the wild and are equipped with a braai stand
and bush toilet only. Chundu 1 (25 kilometres upstream from
the reception office) and Chundu 2 (26 kilometres) are situated
in an acacia forest close to the river’s edge. Chomuzi
(40 kilometres) is sited near some rapids and Siamunungu (47
kilometres) is located at the end of the Zambezi River Drive
on a particularly lovely stretch of the river. Each camp can
accommodate a maximum of 12 people.
Picnic Sites
Upstream along the Zambezi River Drive, there are 25 numbered
sites where day visitors may picnic or fish. These sites are
attractively situated on the banks of the river and sheltered
beneath the beautiful shady riverine vegetation.
 Amenities
The town of Victoria Falls has most modern conveniences and
there are several world-class hotels, lodges and restaurants.
Supplies of fuel, food and provisions may be found here, as
well as hospital facilities and many curio and craft shops.
Activities & Attractions
Game viewing - visitors use their own vehicles for transport.
· Fishing - visitors bring their own fishing gear and
boats.· Walks – marveling at the splendour of
the Falls is, of course, the prime activity of the area. Visitors
should plan on viewing the Falls at several different times,
as the ever-changing mist and light can afford spectacularly
different views throughout the day. · Scenic views
· Boat cruises - daytime and sunset cruises on the
Zambezi River.· Moonlight viewing – an unique
opportunity to view the Falls and the Lunar Rainbow which
takes place during periods of the full moon· Other
activities include: guided tours, bungee jumping, whitewater
rafting, helicopter and micro-light flights over the Falls,
tribal dancing, etc
Why Visit Victoria Falls?
This is one of the 7 Wonders of the World· Victoria
Falls is one of the world’s most prolific and spectacular
waterfalls· Victoria Falls is a one stop destination
affording the visitor several aspects of tourism ranging from
prime game viewing, cultural tourism and the Falls themselves
 How
to get to Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls and Zambezi National Parks lie on the southern
bank of the Zambezi River. Visitors can travel by car, driving
440 kilometres northwest from Bulawayo or through Kazungula
Border Post with Botswana 90 kilometres to the west. The Victoria
Falls Border Post is within metres of the Falls for access
by road from Zambia. The road from Bulawayo to the Falls is
completely tarred and the roads around thee Falls can easily
be negotiated by all types of vehicles. Victoria Falls boasts
an international airport with services from Harare and many
regional and international destinations.
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