Victoria Falls - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Posted by: 
Axel-F
S 17° 55.517 E 025° 51.358
35K E 378832 N 8017708
Waterfall on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia
Waymark Code: WMFDNX
Location: Zimbabwe
Date Posted: 10/03/2012
Views: 10
"The Victoria Falls or Mosi-oa-Tunya (Tokaleya Tonga: the Smoke that Thunders; the 'i' is silent) is a waterfall located in southern Africa on the Zambezi River between the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Naming
David Livingstone, the Scottish missionary and explorer, is believed to have been the first European to view the Victoria Falls, on the 16th November 1855 — which he did from what is now known as 'Livingstone Island' in Zambia, the only land accessible in the middle of the falls.[1] David Livingstone gave the falls the name 'Victoria Falls' in honour of Queen Victoria, but the indigenous name of 'Mosi-oa-Tunya' — literally meaning the 'Cloud that Thunders' — is also well known. The World Heritage List recognizes both names.
Size
While it is neither the highest nor the widest waterfall in the world, it is claimed to be the largest. This claim is based on a width of 1,708 metres (5,604 feet) and height of 108 metres (354 feet), forming the largest sheet of falling water in the world."
Source: Wikipedia
Impression and description of the falls.
While getting nearer to the Victoria Falls (If you know your way around just say: “Vic Falls”), the spray, which we saw from at least 5 miles away welcomed us. Within one kilometer of the falls we heard the roling sound of the massive waterfall can.
Te closer we got to the entrance, the louder the sound became, and adrenaline startet to get into our system. OMG! This really sounded wild and spectacular. After having paid the entrance fee, which is nowadays about US$20 we walked to the falls. First we had to walk through a kind of small rain forest, which is in spray 24/7, before we got to see the falls.
I had been to Schaffhausen in Swiss before, but this was something different. The height and the with are just tremendous. So much water, spray and noise. We walked near the falls to the Zambia direction side where there is a kind of spray viewpoint, which is very popular because there you are ‘close’to the falls on Zimbabwe site. It’s also the end of the path.
After my first visit I have been there again a number of times also in the dry season. We ent to the Zambia side to walk on the, in that season, dry part of the falls.
Allthough this site is visited bij thousends of people each year, while watching the falls you feel like being Livingstone himself, all alone.
At the entrance you find some information of the falls but also in the ‘park’. It’s not so big, and you can not get lost.
Once you are in Victoria Falls it’s impossible to NOT find the falls. Direction signs are plenty, and the spray will also lead you to the site.
Because the site is rather big, I took the coordinate from a point where you have the best experience of the falls and lots of spray! But you can view the falls from many spots. (see also the uplouded foto for a small impression of the lay out).
I visited the falls in 1993, and twice in 1995. As a student I stayed in Zambia, so it was easy for me to cross the border and see the falls from both Zambia and Zimbabwe. I still consider it as one of the most beautifull places on earth. At night at the camp site the soothing sound of the falls were very relaxing, and at day time, the never ending spray.....
Enjoy this natural wonder of the world.
Type: Block
Parking Coordinates: N 17° 55.558 W 025° 51.449
Watercourse: Zambezi
Waterfall Height: 355
Seasonality: Perennial
Seasons of Best Flow: From: 11/01/2012 To: 04/30/2012
Viewpoint: Top
Path Up and Down: None
Walk Behind: Not at all
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