The Seven Wonders of the World pale in comparison with their natural counterparts, and Victoria Falls in is perhaps the most spectacular of them all. It makes for the perfect beginning, or end, to your luxury safari itinerary.
While the town of Victoria Falls is in Zimbabwe, the falls themselves are shared with Zambia, the closest centre being Livingstone. Visitors typically cross between the two, to enjoy vistas from either side of the Zambezi River.
Indeed, what better way to blast away any cobwebs than by seeing, hearing and feeling millions of litres of water in motion? As well as being an astonishing natural spectacle, Victoria Falls is the fulcrum of the Zambezi and all the many activities it offers.
Experience the ‘Smoke that Thunders’ at close quarters during your luxury Victoria Falls safari with a walk along the edge of the cataract. Then gain a different perspective with a ‘Flight of Angels’, a scenic helicopter or microlight flight that takes its name from Livingstone’s awe-struck exclamation on being shown the falls: ‘Scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight.’
I’ve never personally been brave (or foolhardy) enough to bungee jump from the iron bridge that spans the gorge, but I do love to watch others do it whenever I’m there.
Opportunities for unique experiences extend above and below the falls too. When the river is low, island picnics and a dip in the vertiginous Devil’s Pool – at the very lip on the Zambian side – are possible, while river cruises and canoeing excursions take place further upstream, on more serene stretches of the Zambezi.
The Batoka Gorge below the falls – carved out by the river over aeons – is a superb white-water rafting venue, or scratch your safari itch by spending time in Zambezi National Park, where you can take game drives along the river.
