In the local language, the VICTORIA FALLS are known as Mosi-oa-tunya, "the Smoke that thunders". Created by Volcanic activity, erosion and the course of the mighty Zambezi River, the spectacular Victoria Falls has captured the hearts, minds and spirits of people everywhere. It wsas David Livingstone who named Victoria Falls after his Queen and stated in his now famous diary entry - “On sights as beautiful as this, Angels in their flight must have gazed” Zimbabwe’s national parks has maintained the Victoria Falls and the surrounding rainforest virtually as they were when Livingstone first saw them almost 140 years ago.
The Victoria Falls and the surrounding rainforest are persevered as a 23.4 kilometre National Park and form one of Zimbabwe’s four World Heritage sites. The sight of millions of gallons of turbulent water cascading over a sheer precipice into a narrow gorge, a hundred metres below is something nobody can ever forget. Considered the largest curtain of falling water in the world, the magnificent Victoria Falls draws visitors from all over the world. The total width of the Victoria Falls is more than one and a half kilometres. The height of the various falls ranges between 100 and 116 metres. The width of the gorge at its narrowest point is sixty metres.
The volume of water that flows over Victoria Falls varies considerably. At its lowest, between late October and early November, as little as 20 000 cubic metres of water a minute flow into the gorge below. But when the rains are heavy, the flow increases swiftly and dramatically. Between February and May, when the Falls are at their most spectacular, more than 500 000 cubic metres of water a minute cascade over the edge. In April and May, the peak of the flood season, the six falls - Devil’s Cataract, Main Falls, Horseshoe Falls, Rainbow Falls, Armchair Falls and the Eastern Cataract - form the largest curtain of falling water in the world. But in the dry season, between September and November, almost no water falls over some sections.
The Falls have a continual mist above the surrounding area, creating a rainforest ecosystem for 2 kms. This unique nature sanctuary is rich in fauna and flora.
There are seven Gorges below the Victoria Falls. The first is the one into which the river falls, followed by five others and finally to the seventh (Batoko) Gorge which is about 80km away from the Falls and 120km in length.
These magnificent waterfalls can be viewed either from the Zambian or the Zimbabwean side. For more information on fly-in packages to see this wonderful phenomenon, contact us!
The Victoria Falls and the surrounding rainforest are persevered as a 23.4 kilometre National Park and form one of Zimbabwe’s four World Heritage sites. The sight of millions of gallons of turbulent water cascading over a sheer precipice into a narrow gorge, a hundred metres below is something nobody can ever forget. Considered the largest curtain of falling water in the world, the magnificent Victoria Falls draws visitors from all over the world. The total width of the Victoria Falls is more than one and a half kilometres. The height of the various falls ranges between 100 and 116 metres. The width of the gorge at its narrowest point is sixty metres.
The volume of water that flows over Victoria Falls varies considerably. At its lowest, between late October and early November, as little as 20 000 cubic metres of water a minute flow into the gorge below. But when the rains are heavy, the flow increases swiftly and dramatically. Between February and May, when the Falls are at their most spectacular, more than 500 000 cubic metres of water a minute cascade over the edge. In April and May, the peak of the flood season, the six falls - Devil’s Cataract, Main Falls, Horseshoe Falls, Rainbow Falls, Armchair Falls and the Eastern Cataract - form the largest curtain of falling water in the world. But in the dry season, between September and November, almost no water falls over some sections.
The Falls have a continual mist above the surrounding area, creating a rainforest ecosystem for 2 kms. This unique nature sanctuary is rich in fauna and flora.
There are seven Gorges below the Victoria Falls. The first is the one into which the river falls, followed by five others and finally to the seventh (Batoko) Gorge which is about 80km away from the Falls and 120km in length.
These magnificent waterfalls can be viewed either from the Zambian or the Zimbabwean side. For more information on fly-in packages to see this wonderful phenomenon, contact us!
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