Victoria Falls (Mosi-oa-Tunya)

Victoria Falls Mousepad

Victoria Falls (also known as Mosi-oa-Tunya, which translates to "the smoke that thunders" in the language of the Kololo Tribe, which were present in the 1800s) is possibly the largest waterfall in the world. David Livingstone, the first European to see the falls, named it in honor of Queen Victoria in 1855. So awestruck was he that he described the falls saying "scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight."

There's lots to say about this waterfall. Click on one of the following links to jump to the section you're interested in...

• About the Falls
• Photos of the Falls
• When to go
• How to get there
• Planning and Preparing for Your Trip
• Activities
• Which side is better?
• Have you been to this waterfall?

ABOUT THE FALLS

In fact, it's a UNESCO World Heritage site as it boasts some mind boggling dimensions. The falls itself is basically where the mighty Zambezi River drops its entire width (about 1.7km or just over a mile) over a 108m vertical wall into a narrow gorge. The volume of water over the falls typically ranges between 300-3000 cubic meters per second (annual mean volume is said to be just over 1000 cubic meters per second or 38,000 cubic feet per second or 1 million liters per second). Mist generated by the falls can be seen and felt from several kilometers away.

But given the size of the falls, there is no one all-encompassing view of the falls or even sections of it from the ground. To get that, you'll have to take to the air.

In the vicinity of Victoria Falls, the Zambezi River also marks the political boundary between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Given the fact that the falls plunges into a narrow gorge, there are parks with walkways and viewpoints looking across the misty chasm directly opposite the falls. The falls is also visible from the Livingstone Memorial Bridge, which spans the river between the border posts of both countries.

Experiencing the falls heavily depends on timing.

Come at a time when the Zambezi River is in high flow and nearly all viewpoints become a misty mess obscuring views and drenching onlookers. Though the falls may be the most impressive at this time, you may find photography and just plain viewing the falls from the ground a bit difficult. This would be the time to see the falls from the air to truly appreciate its immense scale and get around the problem of its mist obstructing views.

Come at a time when the Zambezi River is in low flow and the falls segments into several smaller, narrower waterfalls exposing the immense basalt wall underneath. This is the time when more activities concerning the falls become available though the magnitude and visual impact are dimished. We happened to come when the flow was relatively high so the photos you see on these pages are what you might be able to expect under such conditions.

When conditions permit (it wasn't for us), Livingstone Island (the island where David Livingstone first gazed upon the falls) allows onlookers a different edge-of-the-world view of the falls.

Like all waterfalls, the water's flow recedes the underlying layer of rock making it "move" upstream over time. What makes Victoria Falls unusual and different from other waterfalls (like Niagara and Iguazu) is that instead of moving continuously upstream over time, this waterfall creates cracks in its underlying basalt wall which eventually form a new chasm and wall as the falls strives to position itself further upstream. The result is a series of gorges (some 6 or 7 of them with the oldest ones being furthest downstream) zig-zagging further downstream from the falls' current position while a new crack has started to form on the Zimbabwe (western) side near the section known as the Devil's Cataract.

Also like its other Big 3 counterparts, Victoria Falls has named sections such as the just mentioned Devil's Cataract, the Main Falls, Horseshoe Falls, and Rainbow Falls. They're typically segmented by islands above the brink of the falls (namely Cataract Island and Livingstone Island). However, some of these tend to blend together (especially during high flow) into a singular wall of water so the average visitor may not even be able to tell let alone care about which section is which (despite the help of signs).

While I can go on and on about various aspects of the falls, perhaps photos have more impact. So without further adieu, check out the photos below to see more of this world wonder.



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PHOTOS OF THE FALLS

View from an overlook on the Zambian (eastern) side of the falls

View from an overlook on the Zimbabwe (western) side of the falls

Most views are directly opposite the chasm

If there is too much water, mist can obscure your view

More aerial views of the falls

More aerial views of the falls

View from the Livingstone Bridge

Smaller waterfall completely fed by Victoria Falls' mist

Wide wall of water and lots of mist

You can only see sections at a time

Barbed barriers keep you from getting too close to the edge in some viewpoints

The Devil's Cataract

Another look at the Devil's Cataract

How misty can it get? Maybe this view of the Knife Edge Bridge gives you an idea

All that mist is bound to yield rainbows

Aerial profile view from the Zimbabwe side

Aerial profile view from the Zambia side

Hard to see the bottom

Sometimes it's so misty that reading signs becomes difficult

Every once in a while, you might spot monkeys around Victoria Falls

Livingstone Statue

Aerial view upstream from the falls as we approach it

The Livingstone Bridge

Looking down at the Boiling Pots whirlpool from the Livingstone Bridge

Share your experience.

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Memories 
Having spent my childhood in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, we visited the Victoria Falls on many occasions. I have black and white photos taken on my old Brownie ...