Victoria Falls, also known as Mosi-oa-Tunya ("The Smoke That Thunders"), is a spectacular waterfall located about midway along the course of the Zambezi River, at the border between Zambia to the north and Zimbabwe to the south.
Epic First Helicopter Ride Over Victoria Falls!
Key Facts About Victoria Falls
- Location: Border of Zambia and Zimbabwe
- River: Zambezi River
- Width: 1,708 meters (5,604 feet)
- Maximum Drop: 108 meters (355 feet)
- Mean Flow: Almost 33,000 cubic feet (935 cubic meters) per second
- Local Name: Mosi-oa-Tunya ("The Smoke That Thunders")
Discovery and History
Archaeology and oral history describe a long record of African knowledge of the site. Although known to some European geographers before the 19th century, the British explorer David Livingstone was the first European to see the falls on November 16, 1855. He named them for Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. Livingstone designated the falls as Victoria in honor of the reigning Queen of England at that time.
African tribes inhabited the region for generations prior to Livingstone’s arrival. Archaeologists have unearthed fossils and implements suggesting that early humans, including Homo habilis, inhabited the vicinity of the falls approximately 3 million years ago. The Batoka ultimately supplanted these Stone Age inhabitants, subsequently joined by the Matebele and Makolo tribesmen. Their progeny continue to reside in the region presently.
The indigenous tribes harbored a profound terror of the falls, and few ventured to approach them near. Among the native guards escorting David Livingstone, only two shown the courage to accompany him close the falls. This apprehension led to the waterfalls being largely unexamined by the indigenous tribes.
Geological Features
The Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls is the world’s greatest sheet of falling water and significant worldwide for its exceptional geological and geomorphological features and active land formation processes with outstanding beauty attributed to the falls i.e. the spray, mist and rainbows.
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For a considerable distance upstream from the falls, the Zambezi flows over a level sheet of basalt in a shallow valley, bounded by low and distant sandstone hills. The river's course is dotted with numerous tree-covered islands, which increase in number when the river approaches the falls. The falls are formed where the full width of the river plummets in a single vertical drop into a transverse chasm 1,708 metres (5,604 ft) wide, carved along a fracture zone in the basalt plateau.
The depth of the chasm, called the First Gorge, varies from 80 metres (260 ft) at its western end to 108 metres (354 ft) in the centre. The only outlet from the First Gorge is a 110-metre-wide (360 ft) gap about two-thirds of the way across the width of the falls from the western end. Two islands are situated on the crest of the falls: Boaruka Island (or Cataract Island) near the western bank, and Livingstone Island near the middle. At less than full flood, additional islets divide the curtain of water into separate parallel streams.
The Gorges
The waters of Victoria Falls do not drop into an open basin but rather into a chasm that varies in width from 80 to 240 feet (25 to 75 metres). This chasm is formed by the precipice of the falls and by an opposite rock wall of equal height. The chasm’s only outlet is a narrow channel cut in the barrier wall at a point about three-fifths of the way from the western end of the falls, and through this gorge, which is less than 210 feet (65 metres) wide and 390 feet (120 metres) long, flows the entire volume of the Zambezi River.
At the gorge’s end is the Boiling Pot, a deep pool into which the waters churn and foam at flood time. Just below the Boiling Pot, the gorge is spanned by the Victoria Falls (Zambezi) Bridge, which carries rail, automobile, and pedestrian traffic between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Map of Victoria Falls Gorges
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Hydrology and Climate
The River Zambezi, upstream from the falls, experiences a rainy season from late November to early April, and a dry season the rest of the year. The river's annual flood season is February to May with a peak in April.
The spray from the falls typically rises to a height of over 400 metres (1,300 ft), sometimes up to twice as high, and is visible from up to 50 km (30 mi) away. At full moon, a "moonbow" can also be seen. When the dry season takes effect, the islets on the crest become wider and more numerous. From September to January, up to half of the rocky face of the falls may become dry, allowing the bottom of the First Gorge to be seen along most of its length. At this time, it becomes possible (though not necessarily safe) to walk across some stretches of the river at the crest.
It is also possible to walk to the bottom of the First Gorge at the Zimbabwean side. The minimum flow, which occurs in November, is around a tenth of the April figure; this variation in flow is greater than that of other major falls and causes the Victoria Falls' annual average flow rate to be lower than might be expected based on the maximum flow.
The Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls is the largest curtain of falling water in the world; it is 1708 m wide and with up to 500 million litres per minute descending at 61 m (Devil’s Cataract), 83 m (Main Falls), 99 m (Rainbow Falls), 98 m (Eastern Cataract).
Ecosystem and Wildlife
In addition to the falls themselves, which now attract tourists from all parts of the world, the surrounding Victoria Falls National Park (Zimbabwe) and Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park (Zambia) abound with large and small game and offer recreational facilities.
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Species of acacia, teak, ivory palm, fig, and ebony are characteristic of the forests, and the alluvial flatlands are dominated by mopane (Colophospermum mopane). Klipspringers (a type of antelope) and hippopotamuses are commonly seen near the falls, and roaming the forests and grasslands are elephants, giraffes, zebras, gnus (wildebeests), lions, and leopards. The rock cliffs are home to falcons, eagles, and buzzards.
Tourism and Activities
Victoria Falls is an increasingly popular tourist destination. There are a number of unique aspects to the region, which perhaps further explains its appeal.
To experience the intriguing aspects of Victoria Falls, it is essential to engage a reliable tour operator with comprehensive knowledge of the area; Visit Victoria Falls offers customized itineraries designed to accommodate individual interests and tastes. Their seasoned guides and personnel are committed to providing a smooth and unforgettable experience for tourists, managing all facets of the journey from lodging reservations to activity coordination.
If you’re a particularly daring traveller, you might enjoy swimming up to the edge of the Falls at Devil’s Pool with your guide. This is not something that should be attempted without proper consideration, as it involves a swim in the Zambezi and a reliance on the water to carry you. Once you reach the edge, however, the feeling is exhilarating. Consider it as the best infinity pool in the world!
Some popular activities include:
- Bungee jumping off the Victoria Falls Bridge
- White-water rafting on the Zambezi River
- Helicopter tours ("Flight of Angels")
- Sunset cruises on the Zambezi
- Game drives in the surrounding national parks
Conservation and Management
The transboundary property extends over 6860 ha and comprises 3779 ha of the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park (Zambia), 2340 ha of Victoria Falls National Park (Zimbabwe), 741 ha of the riverine strip of Zambezi National Park (Zimbabwe).
The property is protected under the National Heritage Conservation Act (1998) and the Zambia Wildlife Act on the Zambia part and the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Act Cap. 20. 14 of 2008 (revised) on the Zimbabwean side. This principal legislation provides for legal protection of the resources within the property.
The Plan addresses specifically questions of transboundary coordination, management of urban and tourism facilities and funding schemes. It is divided into three administrative zones (High, Medium and Low Ecologically Sensitive Zones), each with specific prescriptions that best protect the specific resources and values found in each zone.
Visa Requirements
To traverse the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, it is necessary to present your passport to the immigration officials. Notify them of your intention to remain for one day or an extended duration. A double-entry visa is necessary for a day trip. Upon finalizing the paperwork, you will obtain an exit stamp on your visa and advance to the no man’s land. One may take a taxi upon crossing; however, the majority opt to traverse the 1.6-kilometer span across the bridge to reach the border post of the adjacent country.
You must submit your passport once more and pay for a one-day visa, which is approximately $20.
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