Victoria Falls
Since I had plenty of time to spare it was suggested I make a side trip to Zambia and/or Zimbabwe to see Victoria Falls, one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. From Onamatadiva in the north of Namibia where I traveled with Maria and friends, I caught the Intercape bus which took me farther east to Livingstone, Zambia. The town is named after David Livingstone, the 1st English explorer to lay eyes on Victoria Falls in 1855.
I first set off to see the falls on foot. I had been encouragaed to take a look from both the Zambia and Zimbabwe sides for differing perspectives. However, it cost another $50 US to cross into Zimbabwe and enter the park so I decided that money would be better spent elsewhere. I was warned I would get wet. The spray from the falls can be seen from as far away as 40km on a clear day. Walking beneath the falls at this time of year when the river is at its highest is like walking through a tropical rainforest when it is pouring rain. I didn´t just get wet, I got absolutley soaked.
It is difficult to describe what an impressive sight it is. The sheer force of the water as it spills over the edge is hard to comprehend even when staring directly at it. The sound is thunderous. The ever changing cloud of mist is surreal. I could only began to grasp the monstrosity of the falls from my vantage point on the ground. It is 1.7km wide and drops between 90 and 107 meters into the Zambezi Gorge. At its lowest level in late November/early December as little as 20,000 cubic meters of water pass over the falls every minute and the falls remain virtually mist free. During flood stage between March and May at which time I visited, as much as 500,000 cubic meters plummet over the edge. It is certainly no wonder why people travel from every direction simply to behold its magic.
First view of the falls
A little closer… the ever-present mist
Notice the folks wearing raincoats…useless!
The boiling pot below the bridge linking Zambia and Zimbabwe
Me soaked after viewing the falls from below!
Verdent monkeys were everywhere!
Originally I had hoped to raft the Zambezi river known for its roaring rapids. Unfortunately since the water was at full capacity, the rafting companies were closed for the time being due to unsafe conditions. Alternatively I decided to see it by air. There were a few options for transport, but the one that appealed most was the Tiger Moth. Think ‘Out of Africa’. The novelty of flying in this open air machine was worth the expense alone. Combined with the all-encompassing view it afforded of the falls, it was nothing short of spectacular.
Introducing the tiger moth!
Old school!
How does Meryl Streep make this look good?
A rainbow in the mist from a distance
Aerial view
Zambezi gorge
Another angle
Now do you understand why I got drenched?
see more photos at: http://ej.smugmug.com
Tags: Travel
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