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on its edge, although nothing can beat a 'flight
of angels', to fully appreciate the size and
grandeur of the falls. There are many vantage
points on numerous paths, each giving a different
view and some giving a good dousing from the
spray. The Knife Edge Bridge is particularly
staggering as you stare into the eastern cataract
and the main falls towards the 'Boiling Pot'.
A resident troop of very cheeky baboons often
clamber around on this bridge and patrol it
like a toll gate.
As the Zambezi
enters the steep sided Batoka Gorge, numerous
frothing rapids churn into a frenzy. It is on
these rapids that people unleash themselves
in rubber rafts or even on boogie boards, for
a white-water thrill of a lifetime. Just about
any adrenaline sport can be attempted around
here, either on the Zimbabwean or Zambian side.
Many people say they prefer the Zambian side
of the Victoria Falls, as it is less commercial
than the Zimbabwe tourist hub.
WILDLIFE
RESERVE
This is a small
wildlife sanctuary (only 25.5 square miles (66
square kilometres) running along the north bank
of the Zambezi, encompassed in Mosi-oa-Tunya
National Park. It is worth a short visit not
only for the sight of what are probably Zambia’s
only remaining rhino, but also for some common
species.
Within this park
is the Old Drift cemetery where the first European
settlers were buried. They made camp by the
river, but kept succumbing to a strange and
fatal illness. They blamed the yellow/green-barked
'Fever Trees' for this incurable malady, while
all the time it was the malarial mosquito causing
their demise. Before long the community moved
to higher ground and the town of Livingstone
emerged.
Livingstone's main
street is dotted with classic colonial buildings,
and while some are decaying, many others have
been restored. Victorian tin roofed houses with
wooden verandas are a typical example of the
English settler architecture and there is also
a distinct art-deco influence. Livingstone is
a quiet lazy little town with much charm and
a feeling of optimism in the air.
ANIMALS
AND BIRDS
Baboons are frequently
seen on the paths leading to the falls and small
antelopes and warthogs inhabit the rainforests
that hug the edge of the falls. In the wildlife
reserve, the pastures and tall riverine forests
contain plenty of birds and a scattering of
animals including some white rhino, elephants,
giraffe, zebra, sable, eland, buffalo and impala.
SEASONS
Rain
Season: Peak flood season is in March
and April and the falls are at full power. This
also means that the full width of the gorge
is hard to see and photography is difficult
due to immense amounts of spray. The aerial
view at this time is spectacular.
Dry Season: The falls are at
their lowest around November and December. This
season's gift is the opportunity to appreciate
a clear view of the sheer cliffs and the abyss
into which the water falls.
LIVINGSTONE
- VIC FALLS SPECIALITIES
• Flight of angels over Victoria Falls
• Full moon lunar rainbow
• Baboons and warthogs in the Victoria
Falls rainforest
• Sundowner drinks on a boat on the Zambezi
• Attractive birdlife
• High adrenaline sports like white water
rafting and bungy jumping
• White rhino in the wildlife reserve
• Superbly positioned riverside lodges
FACTS
This
is a malarial area
It is possible to go from Zambia into Zimbabwe
and vice versa quite easily without additional
visa fees as long as you are listed as a guest
on a hotel manifest
There is a charge to enter either section of
Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park
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