About Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

The local Kololo tribe called it "Mosi-oa-Tunya" or the Smoke That Thunders and it is affectionately called "Vic Falls" by those who return again and again to what has become one of the top tourist destinations in the world.

map

Click to view map of Victoria Falls

fact

Victoria Falls was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1989 for being one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world.

The Victoria Falls is situated in Southern Africa - on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia - and occurs where the powerful Zambezi River plunges down a series of basalt gorges in a breathtaking display of several waterfalls. Mist from the waterfalls can be seen more than 20 kilometres away and the thundering roar can be heard long before the falls can be seen.

  • When the river is in flood, the falls are the largest curtain of falling water in the world
  • Between 20 000 and 500 000 cubic metres of water a minute crash into the Batoka Gorge
  • Consists of seven waterfalls
  • The spray from the thundering water is partly responsible for sustaining the "rainforest" opposite the falls
  • The falls and town are situated in a 23,4km² national park
  • There are six national monuments within the park, including the falls
  • Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park (in Zambia), together with Victoria Falls
  • National Park (in Zimbabwe) were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1989.

fact

  • Victoria Falls will be one of the few places on earth where a total eclipse can be seen on 4 December 2002
  • The path of totality (from which a total eclipse of the sun will be visible) crosses Southern Africa, the Indian Ocean and Australia
  • The total eclipse will last no more than two minutes and four seconds
  • Those in areas within the moon's penumbral shadow - but which fall outside the narrow path of totality - will still see a partial eclipse
  • The penumbra will be 6900km in diameter

 

Victoria Falls has subsequently become known as the adrenaline capital of the world because of the vast array of exciting activities on offer: from white water rafting on the Zambezi to the world-famous bungi jump into the breathtaking gorge.

The local Batonga people had known about Mosi-Oa-Tunya for many years, but it was after David Livingstone "discovered" them that people from all over the world travelled to Zimbabwe to see the stunning attraction. Livingstone named the falls after the British Queen Victoria and was enchanted by "scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight." The current "Flight of the Angels flight over the falls, took their name from this entry in his diary.

Vic Falls is also a favourite with honeymooners from around the world. The sundowner cruises, nearby game farms and additional safari opportunities have firmly ensured that Victoria Falls has become one of Africa's most visited attractions.