Visiting Victoria Falls

In 1840, a Scottish missionary and physician arrived in Africa with the intention of exploring this unknown continent and providing aid wherever possible. Aged just 27, David Livingstone embarked on a series of exploits that helped make him one of the most famous explorers of the 19th century. A scuffle with a lion in 1843 cost Livingstone the use of his left arm, but that did not deter him. He continued exploring the African continent, particularly the Zambezi River before he stumbled upon something truly magnificent.

In 1855, he found himself on what is now known as Livingstone Island – a land mass positioned in the middle of the Zambezi River in Zambia. It was here that David Livingstone uncovered a quite exceptional landmark. A huge expanse of falling water - which had previously been known by the indigenous Tonga name ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ (The Smoke That Thunders) - left David Livingstone truly speechless.  When combining the width of 1,708 metres with the height of 108 metres, this is truly considered to be the largest waterfall on earth.

Being the first European to have reportedly seen the magnificent sheet of falling water, he named his discovery in honour of Queen Victoria. Expanding into both Zambia and Zimbabwe, this magnificent natural wonder gained UNESCO World Heritage status in 1989 and remains a highly-coveted bucket-list landmark to this day. Fred.\ Discover operate a number of tours that enable you to visit both the Zambian and Zimbabwean sections of this magnificent natural wonder and, this week, we take a closer look at what you can expect to see from each section.

Zambia

A number of Africa tours, many of which start in South Africa, also incorporate the Zambian section of Victoria Falls. Selected tours will enable you to visit Livingstone, which is nestled on the banks of the glistening Zambezi River. A short walk across the lush-green hotel grounds will enable you to admire Victoria Falls in all its beauty.

Livingstone was once the capital of Zambia before the title was later given to Lusaka. The falls and surrounding city of Livingstone present a number of options for activities, should you choose to partake in them. During a free day in the city, you may choose to embark on an elephant safari along the Zambezi River, marvel at Victoria Falls from above via helicopter flight, or retrace the footsteps of Dr Livingstone on Chief Mukuni’s Village Cultural Tour.

Zimbabwe

As well as being the name of this magnificent natural landmark, Victoria Falls is also the name given to a Zimbabwean town situated just across the Zambian border from Livingstone. From here, you can admire this amazing landmark, which is twice as tall as Niagara Falls. While two-thirds of the falls within Zambia, the Zimbabwean section of Victoria Falls is where you can partake in a number of extreme activities including canoeing and white water rafting.

A day within this area will also provide the opportunity of a lifetime for thrill seekers – the chance to bungee off of one of the world’s highest jumps. Alternatively, if you are seeking a more relaxing option, you may prefer a peaceful sunset cruise.

TravelQuest's range of Africa tours can offer a unique insight into a range of natural landmarks, a plethora of wildlife, unique cultural settlements, and fascinating historical sites that you simply can’t find anywhere else on earth. To find out more about the range of tours available, contact us via the freephone number above or complete the online enquiry form.