largest waterfall on Earth! Victoria Falls
largest waterfall on Earth! Victoria Falls
There are many incredible places in Africa, and they are getting more popular thanks to the impressive natural locations and tourism activities the continent has to offer. A great example of this is the largest waterfall on the continent. This amazing location has everything you need and want for your trip. Are you interested? Well, here we brought you everything you need to know about Victoria Falls.
What is Victoria Falls?
Victoria Falls was first made worldwide recognized by David Livingstone, a Scottish explorer, and a missionary, who translated its original name in 1855 to honor Queen Victoria, who found it much more impressive than the Ngonye Falls located further upstream. After a while, word spread and Victoria Falls is currently one of the must-visit natural attractions in the continent.
Originally, this place -located in the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe- was called Mosi-oa-Tunya, which literally means the smoke that sounds really strong or thunders, and its 5,000+ feet wide and 350+ feet high makes it the widest waterfall and largest falling water sheet in the entire continent and the whole world.
This means that it is twice as high as the Niagara Falls and twice as wide as the Horseshoe Falls, rivaled only by the Iguazu Falls, located somewhere between Brazil and Argentina. That’s why both names of this place have been listed as part of the World Heritage.
What Makes Victoria Falls Unique?
Victoria Falls is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. More than 550 million liters of water run through the 1-mile wide innate structure. Honestly, this is not something you’ll get to see in every corner.
As this is such a magnificent structure, this place attracts lots of wildlife and vegetation. So, many tourists visit this place to see some of the rarest animals in the world including the big five. There are nearby protected wildlife areas around Victoria Falls such as Victoria Falls National Park, Zambezi National Park, and Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. Game-viewing wildlife include:
- Hippos
- Buffalos
- Elephants
- Rhinos
- Multiple bird species
- Different kinds of fish
- If you are lucky enough, you might even get to see lions, cheetahs, and leopards -these last ones tend to be a little shy.
Those who like meeting other cultures can make some earrings and get to meet local native African people. Even though their mother language is Bantu, most of them also speak Portuguese and English. Getting to see how other cultures live is a great way to think about our own lives and the way everything is correlated in this world.
Honestly, there are tons of reasons that make this place unique and we barely named a few. You just have to look for the adventurer within yourself and see it with your own eyes. It will be an unbelievable and unforgettable experience.
Why Travel to Victoria Falls?
If everything that makes this place unique isn’t reason enough, don’t worry. There are tons of other experiences in Victoria Falls, but it will definitely depend on your likes and needs, some prefer to get the most adrenaline, while others prefer to make it more romantic. So let’s get a little deeper into some case scenarios.
For adrenaline-lovers, Victoria Falls can be a great place. Some people like rappelling or climbing the mountain, others will do rafting on the river and you’ll also get to see people doing bungee in the impressive bridge that connects both sides of the current. For the extreme daredevil, you can take a swim in Devil’s Pool. Considered one of the most thrilling, exhilarating, and amazing experiences at Victoria Falls. Just name it and you’ll probably find the exact type of extreme sport you are looking for.
If you are more of a romantic, there are also plenty of activities for you. For example, you can have a nice dinner on a river cruise, while you see the incredible African sunsets in the back. Also, you have many family-oriented activities, like canoeing or taking the historic tram and having lunch on the bridge.
It doesn’t matter if you go alone, with your partner or the entire family. There are a couple of activities that you should not miss. On the one hand, the helicopter flight over the falls. It will be magical and there are honestly no words to describe how beautiful and privileged is the sight. On the other, you cannot miss a Safari in this place. It doesn’t matter if it is a walking or driven safari, it will definitely worth it.
When is the Best time to Visit Victoria Falls?
There are many arguments about this question, but the answer is very simple: at the end of the rainfall – beginning of the dry season (February to May). The reason is that during this time of the year, the river will be plenty enough to see the fall in the best possible scenario and the weather is not as difficult for tourists.
This doesn’t mean that other seasons are bad. They are beautiful as well, but it is by far the best time of the year to visit the waterfall. If you are planning to visit Victoria Falls on any other season, the best you can do is look for professional tourism companies that will make the most out of your time for you to get the best possible experience during your trip.
Is There a Difference when visiting the Zambia Side Versus the Zimbabwe Side?
Both sides are incredibly beautiful! But sadly, there are differences in both of them. The Zimbabwe side tends to be a little bigger and the water flow is sustained throughout the whole year, while the Zambia side is easier to access and it has Livingstone, which is a large town with lots of history.
Now, this shouldn’t turn you off. This place is almost country-less and both sides will have incredible tourism offers you shouldn’t miss. In the end, they are a ride away from each other and you’ll get to enjoy them if you ask for a uni-visa.
Here are some activities or places and the side on which you can do them depending on the side you are:
- The Knife-edge bridge
- The Devil’s pool
- Livingstone, a large town with a bunch of other falls
- Riverfront lodges across the Zambezi
- More viewpoints of the Main Falls
- Elephant Hills Hotel with an 18-hole golf course and incredible accommodation choices
- A better option for shopping and taking a nice dinner
- You can pay in any currency, including dollars, euros, pounds or rands
Either way, you should consider taking a vacation to Victoria Falls. It is an incredible place and you will enjoy your trip! So, take out your passport and let us help you plan the experience of your lifetime.