"The thundering Vic Falls - 1" Victoria Falls Travelogue by Alain_Smeets


Victoria Falls Travel Guide: 488 reviews and 1,053 photos

This afternoon we are going back to Zimbabwe. We travel in our small bus towards Victoria Falls and we stay there in the Elephant Hills Hotel, this is a many star hotel with a view on the mighty Zambezi as they say. And indeed if I look out my window, I see the mighty Zambezi slowly passing the grounds. But these kind of hotels are normally not for me, I like the smaller hostels or even backpackers, but hey if this tour includes these grand hotels, I’m all for it.

The first thing we did, was going to see the Victoria waterfalls. A beautiful sight to see, you hear the noise of the falling water already long before you even get a glimpse of the falls. We are walking on our toes to get that look earlier of these waterfalls and then we see them, the first falls of this amazing place.

We see the water drop from the high cliffs and a rainbow is welcoming us. The water level of the Zambezi isn’t high this time of the year so the waterfalls are not so impressive as in the peak season, but this can also be an advantage because I’ve been told that it can be sometimes impossible to see the waterfalls due to the water vapor that is hanging in the air.

This spray can and the roar from the Falls, that one can hear from miles, gives the Victoria Falls their native name. The local people (Kololo tribe) call it “Mosi-oa-Tunya”, the smoke that thunders. I can tell you the falls make lot’s of noise.

We were also sometimes covered in this spray what blocked our views from the falls. But this spray brings us two things, the rainbow that you will always see in the at the base of the fall, as you can see on all the pictures but also it gives life to a small tropical forest that grows next to the falls.

We are standing there, looking to the immense mass of water that is coming down from the heights and that is dropping into the deep. The first impressions of these Falls are already amazing, but now it’s time to walk through the small rainforest to go to the other viewpoints.

  • Page Updated Jul 6, 2003
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  • davesut's Profile Photo
    davesut May 24, 2009 at 1:15 AM Report Abuse

    That travelogue of the rafting is one of the most detailed I have ever read on VT.You certainly capture everything about the rafting experience, not sure about the bungy jump.

  • Jim_Eliason's Profile Photo
    Jim_Eliason Sep 25, 2007 at 9:00 PM Report Abuse

    great pics!

  • aadil's Profile Photo
    aadil May 20, 2005 at 6:34 AM Report Abuse

    Great page on the thundering Vic Falls!!! Fantastic pictures too!!! I saw them from the Zambian side only!!!

  • tiger9090a Apr 26, 2005 at 11:25 AM Report Abuse

    One of the best travelogues here on VT !!!

  • RaHeNi's Profile Photo
    RaHeNi Oct 19, 2004 at 3:39 AM Report Abuse

    Wow, Alain, where you in that boat? Beautiful picture but a bit scary too. You have very fine pages, I wish I had more time to read thoroughly. Warm regards, RaHeNi

  • grishaV1's Profile Photo
    grishaV1 Aug 5, 2004 at 1:46 PM Report Abuse

    such a wonderful story!!!!! very exciting especially the intro pic, whoooooooaaa!!

  • grets's Profile Photo
    grets Jul 24, 2004 at 10:28 AM Report Abuse

    What an exciting tale from the rafting at Vic Falls. We didn't get to do it while we were there, the water was too high - too dangerous! Shame.

  • Sharrie's Profile Photo
    Sharrie Mar 16, 2004 at 11:49 PM Report Abuse

    I survived 2 Great Falls! This one will be my final if I make it there one day! Not into waterrafting but definitely flying! Hope to one day to fly a plane! It'll be my dream :-)))

  • aussiedoug's Profile Photo
    aussiedoug Feb 17, 2004 at 4:23 AM Report Abuse

    Fantastic page & tips with superb travelogues Alain. Many thanks for passing on this with your passion & enthusiasm.

  • myriam_c's Profile Photo
    myriam_c Nov 3, 2003 at 5:16 AM Report Abuse

    IMPRESSIVE! But no white water rafting for me ... I can hardly swim :(( Wonderful sunsets. I'll have to check my bank account and see if I can ever get there.

Alain_Smeets

“We don`t regret the things we did, but the ones we didn`t do.”

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