Victoria Falls is created when the mighty Zambezi River plunges into a great cataract and down a series of basalt gorges, creating a billowing spray visible for miles. The deafening thunder of its waters can be heard long before actually seeing the waterfall. When the Zambezi River is in flood, Victoria Falls is the largest waterfall in the world. The Falls combined are almost a mile wide (over 1½ km) with a drop of over 330 feet (100 – 116 m) into the gorge below.

David Livingstone was so impressed by the beauty of Victoria Falls that he named it after his Queen, Victoria. The local people however describe Victoria Falls with more passion and call it Mosi-oa-Tunya, the “Smoke That Thunders”. In 1989 it was named a World Heritage Site. One of the most awe inspiring waterfalls in the world, it dwarfs the Niagara Falls and compares favorably with Iguassu Falls on the Parana River in South America.

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Rain forest
The perpetual spray created by the water crashing over the Falls supports a surrounding mile-long swathe of rainforest, providing a haven for lush flora and exotic fauna.

Best Times to Go
January through Mid July is when the Falls are at their best, with April and May being peak flood season. The six Falls – Devil’s Cataract, Main Falls, Horseshoe Falls, Rainbow Falls, Armchair Falls and Eastern Cataract – together form the largest curtain of water in the world. During the high rainfall season, February through May, up to 500 000 cubic meters of water a minute tumble into the gorge. In the drier months of September through November, the Zambezi River slows to less than 20 000 cubic meters a minute, with little water passing over the Falls.

Adventure tour activities at Victoria Falls
A helicopter or micro-light flip over the Falls is probably the best way to appreciate the magnitude of Victoria Falls, but paths and bridges in the area all provide unique views and are well worth exploring. Remember that some take you close to the Falls and getting wet from the spray is very likely but always refreshing.

River rafting enthusiasts will find their piece of heaven in the swirling rapids of the Zambezi River as it enters the Batoka Gorge. Rafting is not the only sport on the river, which also offers boogie boarding of the rapids, canoeing on quieter waters, sunset cruises, jet boating, fishing and more. On dry land there are the ever popular elephant back safaris, horse riding, abseiling, flying fox, bungee jumping, craft village and tribal dancing shows. From the water to land and up into the air for helicopter flips and micro lighting, Victoria Falls has deservedly earned its reputation as one of the adventure capitals of Southern Africa.