Victoria Falls 1mile Beauty

Victoria Falls or “Mosi-oa-Tunya” (“the smoke that thunders”) is the largest waterfall in the World; with the biggest curtain of falling water in the world. It is about 1.7 km (1 mile) wide with a 108 m (360 ft) vertical drop. It is located in Livingstone, Zambia’s tourist capital. Victoria Falls Zambia, Victoria Falls Africa, should be on your bucket list.

Moonbows at Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls

Moonbows, or lunar rainbows, are rare and breathtaking natural phenomena. They are rainbows at night, that can only be seen under specific conditions.

An extremely dark sky
The moon at no more than 42 degrees from the horizon
Preferably a full moon
The right amount of moisture to refract the moonlight through the water droplets
Water source must be in the opposite direction of the Moon
2 to 3 hours before sunrise or 2 to 3 hours after sunset.

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Victoria Falls, Zambia and Cumberland Falls near Corbin, Kentucky are the two places in the world, you can consistently see moonbows.

Victoria Falls a UNESCO World Heritage site

Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls is one of the 1121 UNESCO World heritage sites. This is because of its stunning, exceptional geological and geomorphological features, and active land formation. Mosi-oa-Tunya is protected under the National Heritage Conservation Act 1998 and the Zambia Wildlife Act.
The area includes the 3779 hectares Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park (Zambia), and areas of the Zambezi River upstream of the waterfall.

Seven natural wonders of the world

The Victoria falls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and the only one of the seven in Africa. The other six wonders are the Aurora Borealis, the Harbour of Rio de Janeiro, the Grand Canyon, the Great Barrier Reef, Mount Everest, and Parícutin (a cinder cone volcano, in Mexico).

Where is Victoria Falls?

It is about 10 km from Livingstone, which is in the Southern province of Zambia, on the Zambezi river. It is 1350 km from the source in the North-western province, Zambia. A lot of people will ask the question, where is victoria falls, it borders Zambia and Zimbabwe. Victoria falls Zambia and Victoria falls Zimbabwe are the same “victoria waterfall”.

The peak flow is in mid-April and it is driest in October. It is, however, advisable that you visit Victoria Falls around May to be able to see the animals in the game parks as well.

Victoria Falls Marathon

The Victoria Falls Marathon is an AIMS (Association of International Marathon and Distance Races) registered event. It is run in Zambia and Zimbabwe across the Victoria falls bridge. It consists of a full 42.2km marathon, 21.1km half marathon run and a 7.5km fun run is available.

Victoria Falls Devil’s pool

The Victoria Falls devil’s pool is the ultimate infinity pool experience, right on the edge of the might Victoria falls and accessible from Livingstone Island. Tours available during the drier months (around late August to early January).

The Livingstone Island tours are operated by professional and experienced guides provided by Tongabezi Lodge.

Other Victoria Falls key attractions

Located above the Victoria Falls and just touching the lip of the falls, it is the point at which explorer David Livingstone stood when he first saw the mosi-oa-tunya (1855); becoming the first non-African to view the spectacular wonder. It is now a World Heritage site.

Guided tours, to the island, are available covering its history from ancient times when it was used as a sacrificial site to the present day. Exclusive and unique picnics on the edge of the Falls are also offered (Tongabezi). Tours are in the drier months (around late June to early March).

It is usually open when Devil’s Pool isn’t, around mid-March to mid-June, when the water level is high. It is also accessed through Livingstone Island.

Originally called the Zambezi bridge, the bridge is 128 metres above the Zambezi river an exhilarating view of the Victoria Falls eastern cataract and the main gorge.

The boiling point allows you to see the falls from below. There are several zig-zag gorges after the Victoria fall, seven in total. The “Boiling Pot” is a result of water entering the second gorge making a sharp right turn and having carved out a very deep pool. It is accessed from the Zambian side down a steep path with a great view back up the falls.

There is an enormous, slow swirl and heavy “boiling” turbulence.

Victoria Falls bridge

The bridge is built across the second gorge, of the Victoria Falls, over the Zambezi river, joining Zambia and Zimbabwe. Is was part of Cecil Rhode’s grand and unfulfilled Cape to Cairo railway scheme, and was officially opened on 12 September 1905, by Professor George Darwin, son of Charles Darwin and President of the British Association (now the British Science Association).

Victoria Falls bridge view from the Boiling pot

Historical guided tours focusing on the construction of the Bridge that include a walking tour under the main deck, are available.

Bungee jumping, including a bungee swing and zip-line, is available on the bridge. The bungee jump is about 111m (364ft).

<strong>Rafting on the Zambezi</strong>

Rafting on the Zambezi is truly a thrill of a lifetime. The Mighty Zambezi river is never short of mesmerising outdoor experiences for its visitors that range from beautiful natural bank sceneries full over different types of wildlife that form part of kits ecosystem to thrilling adrenaline packed sporting activities such as white-water rafting. When you visit Livingstone town in Zambia on your holiday, vacation or work, the fun does not just end at seeing the magnificent Victoria Falls.

Downstream on the Zambezi, immediately after the Victoria Falls plunges into the Batoka Gorge, the river boasts of one of the world’s best white water rafting and kayaking stretches which cover over 40 kilometres (25 miles) with rapids that range from Class 1 to Class 6 rapids as classified on the International Scale of River Difficulty. The Zambezi rapids in the Batoka Gorge are renowned as one of the best spots in the world for white water rafting and kayaking with spectacular natural surroundings and the site is considered by many as one of the world’s wildest white water rafting experiences one can ever run through on a river.

The Zambezi rapids

The Wall is the first rapid as you exit the famous Boiling Pot. The wave on the rapid looks quite easy but if you are not careful, this might be your first flipping point of the day.

Rapid Number 2 is situated right below the Vitoria Falls Bridge hence you can enjoy the view of bungee jumpers swinging overhead as you ride over the relatively easy rapid. It is called “Between Two Worlds” because its position under the Vitoria Falls Bridge marks the boundary between Southern and South-Central Africa.

The Morning Glory also known as the Wake-Up Call is the first biggest rapid of the journey down the Zambezi in the Batoka gorge and is considered by many as the starting point of the thrilling adventure across the rapids of the gorge.

Named after Led Zeppelin’s song “Stairway to Heaven”, the river drops over 9 metres (30 feet) at this rapid, which is nearly the height of a two-storey building, making it one of the largest commercially run drops in the world.

This rapid is situated on a narrow constriction of the river between the gorge walls and has two large waves which might get challenging if not handled well.

The Gulliver’s Travels is the longest of all the rapids in the Batoka Gorge and is a Class 5 rapid.

The Midnight Diner, featuring the Muncher offers a three-course menu of navigation lines to choose from depending on how you want to go through the rapid. The three available potential lines are the “Kentucky-Fried Chicken”, the “Might Muncher” or the “Star Trek”. The choices that visitors have on the course of a line to take is what rightly gives Rapid No. 8 its suitable name, the Midnight Diner.

This is an aggressive Class 6 rapid hence all guides and visitors walk past it as it is not commercially viable for rafting due to its many hidden dangers.

This is a relatively smooth rapid with shallow rocks at the bottom.

The Creamy White Buttocks are also known as Overland Truck Eater is another rapid which changes its nature depending on the water levels of the Zambezi. The wave has stunning scenic views within the Batoka gorge and when the tide is high, it becomes ideal for surfers and kayakers. It is a nice spot in the gorge for taking photographs to keep memories of such a great adventure.

The 3 Ugly Sisters lie on a stretch of about one kilometre, over a continuous flow of white water with three rapids close to each other.

Once you come out from the 3 Ugly Sisters, you run into one of the highlights of Zambezi river rafting, Rapid No. 13, known as the Mother and let not the name deceive you. The Mother has enormous waves that push you to the right side of the river with five continuous rapids which provides a tremendous fun filled experience of white-water rafting.

The Washing Machine has a series of easy waves which as a result of recirculating of the river’s water form a huge hole in the middle.

These rapids are famous for their huge waves when the water level is high.

Rapid No. 17 is known as the Double Trouble as it is like the Washing Machine but in this case, there are two large holes situated at the middle of the river.

The Oblivion is a world famous rapid which is one of the highlights of the Zambezi white water rafting experience. It has three large waves with the third being responsible for many raft flips during the runs down the Zambezi.

The following is a summary of the classification from the International Scale of River Difficulty of rapids that you need to be aware of if you decide to participate in white water rafting or kayaking:

Class 1: Flat water with small waves with no obstacles that require manoeuvring around. (Skill Level: None)

Class 2: Small to medium waves with little or no obstacles hence might require manoeuvring. Therefore, correct equipment and guides should be used to safely navigate. (Skill Level: Basic Paddling Skill)

Class 3: Medium waves, dropping between 1 to 1.5 metres (3 to 5 feet) with most cases some rocks. Careful manoeuvring with experienced guides is required. (Skill Level: Experienced paddling skills)

Class 4: Many white-water irregular waves with considerable drops and rocks hence sharp manoeuvres may be needed. An experienced guide required. (Skill Level: Advanced Whitewater Experience)

Class 5: Large white-water irregular and continuous waves with large rocks and hazards and sometimes a large drop requiring precise manoeuvring. Failure to execute a specific manoeuvre at a specific point may result in serious injury or even death. (Skill Level: Expert)

Class 6: Refers to rapids that are commercially unrunnable and any attempt to do so would result in serious injury, near-drowning or death. If a rapid is run that was once thought to be impassable, it is typically reclassified as Class 5 Commercially. At such rapids, people portage (carry) or line rafts around these rapids.

What to Prepare

Rafting on the Zambezi (past victoria falls) is wild and wet hence you need to bring along your swimsuit and/or shorts. As the adventure happens outdoor in the tropical sun, it is highly encouraged that you bring along some sunscreen for protection against the sun’s rays as well as some comfortable walking sandals. A water bottle with its carrier should also be part of the package and if resources allow, you can bring along your Go-pro camera to catch all the action to keep for your memories.

Safety

Even though white water rafting is a dangerous venture, the companies that provide rafting services on the Zambezi do everything possible to ensure the safety of everyone who participates in the adrenaline-filled adventures.

Victoria Falls 1mile Beauty

Moonbows at Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls a UNESCO World Heritage site

Seven natural wonders of the world