About Victoria Falls

There is a profound magic about the Victoria Falls, with its towering column of spray, thunder of falling water and terrifying abyss of the Zambezi gorge below, offset by tranquil lagoons and islands teeming with wildlife above. Thousands of visitors each year continue to be moved by its beauty, whilst explorer and missionary David Livingstone, who named the falls after his queen in 1855, was moved to write: "Scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight".

Dubbed 'The Smoke that Thunders', Victoria Falls are the largest falling body of water in the world, with 550 000 cubic meters of water cascading over its lip every minute. At its widest, the Falls are 1.7 km across, with the height of the drops ranging from 100-116 metres. Few other major waterfalls can be viewed from such close quarters on foot, and virtually the entire width can be viewed face on from as close as 60 metres. Adding to the experience is the wide range of wildlife and birds in the National Park surrounding the falls, which is maintained in pristine condition by Zimbabwe's National Parks. Despite its massive tourism appeal, this UNESCO World Heritage Site has thankfully avoided excessive commercialisation.

The Victoria Falls are spectacular throughout the year, but the heaviest flow and volume of spray occurs after the rainy season, from February onwards. The dry season, from August onwards, offers the most exciting white-water rafting, with the Zambezi Gorge's turbulent waters boasting the biggest commercially navigable rapids in the world.