Mosi-oa- Tunya or the ‘Smoke That Thunders’ was the name of the ancient African tribe of Kolo for the Victoria Falls. David Livingstone, the first European to behold Victoria Falls named it after his monarch, Queen Victoria of England. From the Pyramids of Egypt to the Victoria Falls, Africa has much to offer. African countries including Zambia, on whose border with Zimbabwe the Victoria Falls lie are popular tourist hubs. There is a choice of Zambian luxury hotels and the star class accommodation options such as Anantara Hotels, Resort and Spa with their luxury living amidst rugged Zambian beauty would be a good preferred.
The Victoria Falls, dubbed the World’s Seventh Natural Wonder by CNN lies on the river Zambesie and is the world’s largest curtain of water. It is 100 meters high and 1688 meters (almost 2 km) wide. The fall’s spray can be seen from miles away as it thunders over a wide basalt cliff to a gorge approximately one hundred meters below. At the height of the rainy season, over five hundred million cubic feet of water tumble over the edge to the gorge. During the drier months of the year the Zambezi’s water levels drop considerably and from mid-August to mid-January it is possible to walk along the lip of the Falls from the Zambian side. The rock pool on the very edge of the sheer drop is known as the Devil’s Pool. It also is a vantage point to view the Falls as is Knife –edge Bridge, the Falls Bridge or the Boiling Pot where the Zambesi turns to head down Batoka Gorge, and the Look out Tree all of which offer panoramic views of Victoria Falls. The sheer basalt wall opposite the Falls is capped with mist soaked rain forest and a walk along the path at the edge offers stunning views of the torrent of water rushing down the opposite cliff. The Victoria Falls Bridge offers guided tours of it and have a small museum on the Zambian side.
Fritzjames Stephen is a travel writer, who writes content based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life.
