Wow. You don’t even mean to say it, your astonishment just slips out. And as you stand there, mouth agape at the spectacle that is Victoria Falls, you realise why the great exploring pioneer, David Livingstone, reacted to the natural wonder in the way that he did. Because it’s true, back in 1855, no one could: “imagine the beauty of the view from anything witnessed in England”. Of course today, glossy sales brochures, Instagram’s smug wanderlust bloggers and intrepid travel magazine editorials have provided you with a glimpse of “the smoke that thunders”, but nothing can prepare you for the enormity of the real thing. This is a site that you have to witness for yourself. This is a destination that bucket-lists were made for.
Deep in the heart of Southern Africa, straddling the continent’s two Z’s – Zimbabwe and Zambia – there is a definite rumble in the jungle (or rainforest in this case). It’s here, encased by national parks, that the world’s largest waterfall beats its heavy drum. 1,700 m wide and 108 m high, Victoria Falls’ incredible curtain of water is nothing short of mighty – hence why it has joined the likes of Mount Everest and the Great Barrier Reef as one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
This force to be reckoned with is the product of the meandering mass of the Zambezi River meeting the dramatic plunge of the rugged Batoka Gorge. Whether viewing it in your bathers as you take a dip in the rather disconcertingly named ‘Devil’s Pools’, catching it cross-border on Victoria Falls Bridge – a bungee jumping hotspot for only the most daring of daredevils – or admiring its immensity from a tranquil sunset river cruise, it’s a sight that will never get old.
And, if you’re lucky enough to have timed your visit alongside a full moon, you may just catch a lunar rainbow. One of the few places where this natural phenomenon occurs in the world, an additional evening Falls trip is a must – just think of the travel kudos!
What’s more – just in case this destination couldn’t get anymore magical – on this quick visit to Zimbabwe you’re likely to get in some big wildlife must-sees too. Think hippos, elephants and a whole array of exotic birds.
Just remember to pack your mac because Victoria isn’t picky about who she catches in her spray.