The Area - Overview
Victoria Falls, popularly known as Vic Falls, is a small resort city in Zimbabwe. It lies on the southern bank of the mighty Zambezi River that flows along the boundary between Zambia and Zimbabwe, under the railway bridge that connects the two countries, thundering over the Victoria Falls and through the dramatic Batoka Gorge. The river, falls and bridge provide opportunities for cruising, canoeing, rafting, bungee jumping and more.
The quaint riverside ‘city’ of Victoria Falls provides entertainment, lodging and a home for its 35,000 residents. The town prides itself on sharing the space with the region’s wildlife. There are dedicated wildlife corridors through the city, and pavements are occasionally filled with a troop of baboons, or traffic halted for an elephant.
The area is also home to many local communities in and around the city. These villages, often known as ‘townships’ are home to many of the city’s tourism workers, as well as artists, crafters and entrepreneurs. In Chinotimba Township, for example, you will find Dusty Road, a vibrant cafe serving tasty local dishes.
The nearby Zambezi National Park and Victoria Falls National Park are home to a magnificent range of birds and wildlife, from buffalo to crocodile, lion and wild dog. These parks border the city and are easily accessible. Hwange National Park, a few hours drive from Victoria Falls offers deeper wilderness experiences for a longer stay.
The local Makololo name for this extraordinary and sacred place is “Mosi-oa-Tunya” – The Smoke that Thunders. At the height of the river flow in May, the spray that rises up from the falls looks like smoke. It can reach 400 metres high and is visible from 50 kilometres away.
The falls are 1,708 metres wide and range between 61 and 98 metres high. As with any semi-tropical river, the flow level fluctuates throughout the year based on seasonal rainfall. It peaks in April and reaches its lowest levels in November. Due to the geology of the waterfall the Eastern (Zambian) side of the Victoria Falls can dry up completely in the low water season. However with the minimum recorded water flows of 390 cubic metres (390,000 litres) per second there is still an incredible amount of water flowing over the falls.
Victoria Falls was awarded city status in 2020, but retains its warm, laid-back personality. This is a place that has been marked by history, withstood many challenges, and is immersed within nature, living alongside wildlife every day. The city has long been known as the ‘heart of adventure’ in Southern Africa, but few people know about its world class spas, cocktail bars, distilleries, yoga retreats and art galleries. This is a vibrant town with a soul that will surprise you.
Named after the famous Victorian missionary explorer, Dr David Livingstone, who explored this area extensively, Livingstone Town was established in 1905. From Livingstone you can see a different perspective of the falls and access the ‘Devil’s Pool’ – a natural bathing pool right on the edge of the falls. A day trip to Livingstone is easy to do, crossing the railway bridge, and a KAZA uni-visa allows for multiple entries for up to 30 days.
The Zambezi National Park is located upstream from Victoria Falls stretching for 50 kilometres along the riverfront. This beautiful gem of a National Park is still fairly unknown despite its proximity to the world famous Victoria Falls. The Park is bisected by a road which runs between Victoria Falls and the Kazangula border post, dividing it into two sections - the Zambezi River Game Drive, and the Chamabondo Game Drive.
The park is home to mammals such as lion, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra and several antelope species including Zimbabwe’s national animal, the majestic sable. Along the river, pods of hippo wallow during the day, emerging from their watery retreats at night to graze along the riverbanks. Crocodiles are regularly seen lurking along the rivers edge, waiting for antelope to come down to the banks to drink. An estimated 400 species of birds have been recorded within the Zambezi National Park making this a bird lovers' paradise, with specialities which include the Pel’s Fishing Owl, African Skimmer, Collared Palm Thrush, Lanner Falcon, Goliath Heron, Kori Bustard, African Fin foot, Rock Pratincole and Long-toed Lapwing.
The arresting Batoka Gorge zigzags downstream from the falls, a geomorphological monument carved by the might of the Zambezi River. The gorge offers adventurous hikes, rafting on rapids up to Class V, the fabled gorge swing, canopy walkway, and extraordinary views for those with more relaxation in mind. The LookOut café provides an excellent viewpoint of the dramatic scenery and landscape as well as the activities taking place along and within the Gorge.
The largest park in Zimbabwe covers an immense 14,650 sq km, with the main entrance located a two-hour drive or 30-minute flight south of Victoria Falls. The park is named after a local Nhanzwa chief and was once the royal hunting ground for the Ndebele warrior-king Mzilikazi, before being classified as a protected National Park in 1929. There are two distinct landscapes in the park, each with abundant different species, and providing a different experience. The park is one of the world’s last great elephant sanctuaries, with around 100 other mammals and 400 bird species.
News
Area related news
