Short Breaks to Victoria Falls

A short guide about Adventure travel to Victoria Falls

The Victoria Falls or Mosi-oa-Tunya (the Smoke that thunders), are the most beautiful waterfalls in Africa, the largest in the world, being unusual in form and having the most diverse and easily seen wildlife of any major waterfall site. The Falls are situated in southern Africa between the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe, about 1000 km from the source of the Zambezi River in western Zambia.

The towering column of spray when the river is high can be seen from over 20 km away, and the thunder of the falling water will take your breath away. Politically speaking the Victoria Falls is the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. You can visit the falls on both sides, but the Zimbabwean side is considered by many to be the more beautiful with direct viewing of the "Devil's Cataract" and "Rainbow Falls". The Devil’s Cataract is a naturally formed safe swimming pool known as the Devil's Swimming Pool, accessed via Livingstone Island. During the months of September and December, people can swim as close as possible to the edge of the falls without falling over.

There are many safaris that can be taken in the area (some stay in Zimbabwe or Zambia, and some will travel up the river into Botswana to see even more large game), and if you like whitewater rafting, one can't pass the opportunity to "raft the gorge" on the Zambezi below the falls. For those of you looking for even more of a thrill, there is a bungee jump set up on the bridge crossing between Zimbabwe and Zambia (you have to leave the country through immigration to get there). Visitors can kayak, canoe, fish, go on guided walking safaris; ride on horseback, lunch on Livingstone's Island, or take the well-known "Flight of Angels".

The Victoria Falls became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1989 and has several game viewing opportunities in the area. Tourabout has an amazing range of holiday packages travelling to Victoria Falls during the best times, as the flow during the dry season can be very minimal and the heavy spray of the peak flow obscures the Falls, maintaining a rainforest surrounding.