DAY 15 - VICTORIA FALLS (Zimbabwe, Zambia)
MOSI-OA-TUNYA NATIONAL PARK (Zambia) 
10 July  2004

 

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SOUTHERN AFRICA 2004 


The Victoria Falls  is one of the most spectacular natural wonders of the world. The local people call it "Mosi-oa-Tunya" -- the smoke that thunders.  It is a magic standing there, in the towering column of spray , and looking down into the deepness of the terrifying abyss.

The Victoria Falls is 1 708 meters wide, making it the largest curtain of water in the world. It drops between 90m and 107m into the Zambezi Gorge and an average of 550,000 cubic metres of water plummet over the edge every minute. Zambezi is 2700 km long, and it is the third largest river of Africa.

The spectacle is really breathtaking, either from the Zimbabwean or from the Zambian side.
David Livingstone ‘discovered’ the falls in 1885 and named it after his Queen.

When visiting the waterfalls make sure to have a long, waterproof raincoat, and also waterproof coverage for your camera.

 

VICTORIA FALLS (Zimbabwe, Zambia)
  

We spent the night in Camp 'Vic Falls', on Zimbabwe side.
There are terrible, difficult problems there, but Vic Falls is such an important source of tourist revenue that the area felt extremely safe.


In the camp we could see the columns of spray (painted golden by the rising sun) and hear the thunderous roar of water.

A giant baobab tree not far from Victoria Falls.


The calm, blue water of river Zambezi.

The first breathtaking photo from the Zimbabwe side.

Rainbow in the water spray

The gorge is 1700 m wide, and 90-107 meters deep.

This part is called the Devil's Cataract.


The Devil's Cataract.

This is the Main Fall

This is the Main Fall

A The Victoria Falls Park has nice walking paths, and with rich vegetation of  fascinating rain forest.

Looking into the gorge.

Border crossing through the bridge: going from Zimbabwe to Zambia.

This is the bridge over the Zambezi: border between Zim and Zam, and also a place for bungy jumpers.


This is the Eastern Cataract, which is a spectacular sight from Zambia.

This was a small bridge over the gorge, with an incredible raining! Anything below the edge of our raincoats got soaked through! At this point breathing was difficult, as the air was so much full of water spray. The big column of water spray.

Another nice rainbow The Zambian side of river Zambezi, just before the water falls down into the deepness. Another large baobab tree, with a built viewpoint. Since the stairs were destroyed, we did not climb up. The amazing Zambezi River.

MOSI-OA-TUNYA NATIONAL GAME PARK (Zambia)
Mosi-ao-Tunya National Park is divided into two sections; a game park along the riverbank and the staggering Victoria Falls, each with separate entrances. The Game Park is a small wildlife sanctuary (66 square kilometres) running along the north bank of the Zambezi. It is worth a short visit as the river side is very spectacular, and the lucky ones can spot rhino in the park. ..... We could not :(

Giraffes on the road A sleepy-looking giraffe A vervet monkey Zebra

Another monkey The beautiful Zambezi River Hippos on the river side Late afternoon view of the river

CROSSING ZAMBEZI  BY FERRY

From Zambia we went back to Botswana by crossing  river Zambezi, by ferry.
(from Kasane to Kazalunga) 		We were waiting for the ferry less than half an hour. On the ferry... Sunset over Zambezi