Victoria Falls Things to Do

2 more images

The craft village is an excellent place to buy inexpensive souvenirs. There is a wide selection of local crafts, so you can spend here long hours looking for bargains. The prices are negotiable and the sellers may seem sometimes too pushy, but this is often their sole source of income, so let's not be surprised. Some of the sellers want to exchange their products for shoes, clothes or some equipment of yours, a few want to sell you Zimbabwean dollars which of course have no value at all.
The things you can buy there are of various quality but a lot can make wonderful souvenirs. You can find there many figures of animals and walking sticks carved in wood, sculptures made of stone, pottery, hand painted fabrics, batics and lots of jewellery made of jasper and malachite.

Victoria Falls is not only the name of the mighty waterfall, this is also what the town itself is called. It's not a big place but it has everything that tourists may need: a couple of hotels to choose from, tour operators offering different activities, a number of bars and restaurants, a Spar supermarket, internet cafes, craft markets and so on.
It takes about 20 minutes to walk from the town centre to the entrance gates leading to the waterfalls. We felt safe walking around the town in daylight, people were kind and helpful. We met a young man who offered to show us the way to the Falls. He introduced himself as an artist and asked us to visit his stall at the craft market on our way back. When we came to the market, he saw us and waved asking to visit his shop. We did but didn't find anything that might be interesting for us there. Although visibly disappointed, he was still very polite.

Victoria Falls lies on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia and it's possible to view it from both sides. I cannot judge which side offers a better view, as I saw it only from Zimbabwe. However, according to most sources, Zim side offers a wider and better view because it has as many as 16 viewpoints, while Zambia has just one. Besides, accommodation and activities are said to be more expensive in Zambia.
Of course, the best thing is to see the falls from both sides. It's possible to cross the border over Victoria Falls Bridge - visas are issued on the spot (and are quite expensive). We didn't do it though, being satisfied with the awesome views from the Zimbabwean side.

A visit to Victoria Falls doesn't have to be limited to watching this wonderful spectacle of nature. If you are an adrenaline junkie you will surely find here the craziest activities you can think of, including bungee jump, white water rafting, or swimming in the Devil's Pool. Those who are not keen on taking such risks can opt for wildlife and safari adventures, which undoubtedly interesting, cost quite much. For the budget travellers, like me, there still remains exploring the town of Victoria Falls with its art and craft market and nice cafes and bars.
I'd like to recommend a great website with comprehensive and update information on all possible activities as well as the history and present of the Victoria Falls.

2 more images

One of the last viewpoints allows you to look at Victoria Falls Bridge, the brainchild of Cecil Rhodes and a masterpiece of engineering. Built in 1905, it was designed to span the gorge on the Zambezi River in order to allow the railway connection from Cape Town to Cairo. At the time of its construction it was the highest bridge in the world. What makes its story even more interesting is the fact that it was made in England, then shipped to Mozambique and finally transported by rail to Victoria Falls.
Today Victoria Falls Bridge is famous for bungee jumping. With its 111 metres it's not the highest possible jump, but for sure its surroundings make it one of the most spectacular jumping sites.

2 more images

A walk along the falls is unforgettable. There are 16 spectacular view points on the Zimbabwean side. The Main Falls is a wide, approximately 460m, screen of water. The views are stunning , unless you are unlucky enough to have them shrouded in the mist. But the other thing that makes the walk special is the shower you must be prepared for. If you don't have your own waterproof jacket, be sure to hire a raincoat they offer at the entrance to the park. You and your camera will definitely need the protection.
The spray created by the plunging waters rises up to 400-800 m into the air and can be seen from 30-50 km away. The mist also sustains the thick rain forest adjacent to the falls with many species of vegetation, including mahogany, ebony, palm trees and lots of creepers and lianas.
No wonder the Victoria falls have been designated the UNESCO World Heritage Site and is called one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

A trail of the Falls starts at the statue of D. Livigstone. The statue itself is not really interesting, but of course it's nice to know something about the first white man who saw the Falls and gave them their present name in honour of his Queen - Victoria.
David Livingstone was born in 1813 in Scotland. His parents were poor and pious. David was a very hard working and ambitious boy and decided to be a missionary. When in Africa, he soon became a traveller and explorer rather than a missionary. After a long lasting journey along the Zambezi river, he reached the mighty waterfals called by the indigenous people "Mosi-oa-Tunya" (Smoke That Thunders). This is how he describes it: " No one can imagine the beauty of the view from anything witnessed in England. It had never been seen before by the European eyes, but scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight".
Livingstone never ceased in his pursuit of new lands and attempts to stop the slavery - in spite of illnesses, personal tragedies and the lack of luck. He died of malaria at the age of 60 in Zambia. His body was transported to England and buried in Westminster Abbey. But his heart remained in Africa.

2 more images

Steep stone steps lead down to the Cataract View. This is our first encounter with the mighty falls. The view is breathtaking, enhanced by the rainbow visible in water particles. We are lucky to come here when the sun is shining. On the next day the view, although stunning, is deprived of this magical atmosphere, as there's no rainbow.
Devil's cataract, which is 27 m wide and 60 m high, is the lowest of the five falls. It's separated from the other parts by the Cataract Island which lies in Zimbabwe. The other island, called Livingstone Island, is on the Zambian side of the Falls. It is from here that David Livigstone first saw the Falls.