by Kate Barba

Victoria Falls is the Seventh Natural Wonder of the World and truly lives up to the hype.  Unlike Niagara Falls, the geology of the park lends itself to up close viewing and many unobstructed vistas along the park path.  A series of faults and fractures break the volcanic basalt into a deep crack and the Zambezi River seems to disappears into it. The Victoria Falls National Park is on the opposite cliff, practically a stone’s throw away.  The path runs from one end to the other and the many viewpoints make for prime photography, from artistic landscapes to selfies.

The falls are a treat for all the senses, not just the eyes.  The sound is the loud continuous roar of all waterfalls, but magnified by the long parade of powerful falls, starting with the Devil’s Cataract, through Main, Horseshoe, Rainbow and Armchair Falls.  Birdsong from the rainforest and the exclamations from the crowd compete for your ears.

Surprisingly, it’s the sense of touch that is second only to the views.  Towards the center of the walkways the viewpoints get obscured by mist and the path gets slick.  Updrafts from the crashing water send water droplets flying back up the chasm towards unsuspecting tourists.  Cool droplets tease your face and suddenly drench your hair.  The sun disappears and a deluge of “rain” soaks your clothes!  Rain jackets or ponchos can help you stay dry, but if the weather is warm enough, why not experience the shower?

The upside?  Rainbows!  You can’t resist chasing them and trying to capture every new angle.  The deep canyon makes full vertical crescent rainbows possible and the spray from the falls makes double rainbows common, especially when the sun is low.  The entire experience was magical.

We stayed a short distance from town in the beautiful Victoria Falls Safari Lodge.  It sits above a large watering hole surrounded by a thorn tree forest.  Many animals visited while we were there including water buffalo, vultures, and impala.  The lodge is beautiful with friendly staff, comfortable rooms, and many levels of wood decking.  I thoroughly appreciated my Mother’s Day gift: a massage to work out the kinks of travel!  We all enjoyed the view and our sundowners in the loft at the top of the lodge.  

Happily, on this leg of the trip my sister Becky and brother-in-law Matt joined us on our adventure. They stayed in Lokuthula, a sister property a short walk away that also hosts the Boma Drum and Dinner Show which we enjoyed very much. Dancing, singing, and audience participation on African drums was fun for the whole family. Pete and Matt even ate the mopane “worm”, a local delicacy (it’s actually a caterpillar that feeds on the mopane tree).

After the short drive to town on the hotel shuttle we found an ATM, a grocery store, and pharmacy for snacks and sun cream before setting off to explore.  We politely but firmly discouraged the men aggressively selling trinkets on the sidewalks and instead went to the Elephant’s Walk Shopping and Artist Village. Their policy of no harassment or hard sells made for a much nicer browsing environment.  We met Ishumael Mhike and happily bought a warthog made from recycled cans for our usual Christmas tree ornament souvenir.  The kids also bought small wooden elephants and Dad taught them how to bargain.

We first visited the stunning falls in late morning with full sun and were surrounded by large tour groups.  The second time we were part of a smaller tour in the late afternoon, just before sunset.  Each time was beautiful and awe inspiring and if you can do it, I suggest both!  Make a reservation at the Lookout Cafe afterwards for a dramatic view of the river canyon below and outstanding food and drink.  You might even see some daredevils zip line or swing across the the swirling river canyon.

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe is not easy to get to, but I believe it’s absolutely worth the trip.  You could go there for a week and not be bored, maybe even two if you want to alternate active days and lazy days.  The area is known for high adrenaline activities, wildlife safaris, and scenic helicopter flights, in addition to the natural wonder of Victoria Falls.  We were there for two days before our Southern Africa tour started and were sad to go.

Thanks for reading to the end!  Don’t forget to check out our past stories and subscribe for future articles as well.  As always, if you are planning a trip to any location we visit we are happy to provide more details and opinions, so feel free to contact us!