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Victoria Falls in
Livingstone Zambia
Described by the Kololo tribe
living in the area in the 1800's as 'Mosi-oa-Tunya'
- 'the Smoke that Thunders' and in more modern terms as 'the greatest
known curtain of falling water', Victoria Falls are a spectacular
sight of awe-inspiring beauty and grandeur on the
Zambezi River,
bordering Zambia and Zimbabwe and one of the wonders of the world. Columns
of spray can be seen from miles away as 546 million cubic meters of water
per minute plummet over the edge (at the height of the flood season) over a
width of nearly two kilometers into a deep gorge over 100 meters below. The
wide basalt cliff, over which the falls thunder, transforms the Zambezi from
a wide placid river to a ferocious torrent cutting through a series of
dramatic gorges.
Visiting Victoria Falls at various times of the year will provide completely
different experiences of the Livingstone and falls area. Peak flood season
is around March and April and the full power of the falls can be experienced
in all its glory. But due to the masses of spray rising from the fallen
water the full width of the Falls cannot be seen on foot. The aerial view at
this time however is spectacular, with clouds of spray rising high into the
sky. As the water reduce the view of the falls gets better and better
through the year, but at it's lowest, around November and December the falls
become little rivulets running over the edge and in some places along the
1.7 kilometer width little or no water falls at all.
Creation Of The Victoria Falls
Geologists believes that the earths movement in an in a earlier era
diverted the south-easterly flowing upper Zambezi to a general easterly
direction and so initiated the development of a waterfall in an area
occupied by a massive bed of basalt which is about 305 meters thick. The
basalt, through which the Zambezi runs for 209 kilometers in the Livingstone
area is characterized by very marked joints or cracks, which may have
developed as the molten lava cooled. One dominant series of joints running
in an east-west direction is associated with zones of soft material within
the basalt. Since the Zambezi is flowing due south in the Livingstone area,
the softer materials were eroded to form the great east-west gorges.
Upstream retreat of the Victoria Falls is due to a second major series of
joints running north-south. Gradual erosion of small joints that run
north-south caused the river to be concentrated into a narrow fissure and
the broad fall line was abandoned. Once this happened, it was only a
question of time before the narrow gorges cut back into another transverse
fracture zone of soft material. This gouging out of the soft zone again
established a broad fall. This process has been repeated over many years and
the zigzag gorges represent seven previous lines of Falls. The Devil's
Cataract, on the Zimbabwe side, which is 21-37 meters lower than the rest of
the present falls, shows how the force of water is starting to cut back
along such a line of weakness. It will probably erode its way back to
another east-west joint where a future line of the falls will eventually
become established.
A Little History & Recognition Of The Victoria Falls
In 1851,Dr David Livingstone, famous missionary explorer first heard of
the great waterfall, but it was only in 1855 that he set out to visit it. He
spent the night on Kalai Island a few kilometers upstream of the Victoria
Falls, having come down river by foot, and the next morning set off in a
small canoe to approach the thundering smoke. He landed on the biggest
island on the lip of the falls, now called
Livingstone Island
and from there obtained his first view of the falls. David Livingstone
writing best explains his first awe-inspiring experience of the falls, when
he wrote: "Creeping
with awe to the verge, I peered down into a large rent which had been made
from bank to bank of the broad Zambezi, and saw that a stream of a thousand
yards broad leaped down a hundred feet and then became suddenly compressed
into a space of fifteen to twenty yards....the most wonderful sight I had
witnessed in Africa." ...."No one can imagine the beauty of the view from
anything witnessed in England. It had never been seen before by European
eyes, but scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their
flight".
Sightseeing Experience Of The Victoria Falls
1. Victoria Falls Walk: Facing the Victoria Falls is a protruding wall
of basalt cushioned by mist-soaked rain forest. A path along the edge of the
forest provides the visitor who is prepared to brave the tremendous spray
with an unparalleled series of views of the Falls.
2. Viewing Locations: A special vantage point is across the Knife
edge bridge, where visitors can have the finest view of the Eastern Cataract
and the Main Falls as well as the Boiling Pot where the river turns and
heads down the Batoka Gorge. Other locations for a superb view of the falls
include The Victoria Falls bridge and the Lookout Tree which commands a
panoramic view across the Main Falls.
3. The Famous Victoria Falls Bridge: Cecil Rhodes in 1900's
commissioned the Victoria Falls Bridge, although he never visited the falls
and died before construction began, he expressed his wish that the "railway
should cross the Zambezi just below the Victoria Falls. I should like to
have the spray of the falls over the carriages." The bridge affords a
magnificent view both down the gorge on the one side and through to the
falls on the other. The immense depth of the gorge can be fully appreciated
from this perspective and combined with the sea green river below, the shiny
black rock face and lush green foliage, the 360 degree view from the bridge
is breathtaking.
4. Panoramic and Birds Eye View Of The Falls: To fully appreciate the
incredible size of the Falls, and the awesome power of the water as it
carves into the deep zig zagging gorges for eight kilometres, one must see
it from the air. Micro-light and fixed wing flights are available. The pilot
will take you along the wide tranquil upper Zambezi, and over the huge 2 km
rent in the earth. The breathtaking sight of this magnificent natural
phenomena, seen in all its glory from the air, is unforgettable.
5. Dry Season Viewing Of Livingstone Island: During the drier months when
water levels are low it is possible to walk all the way across to
Livingstone Island, the place where David Livingstone had his first glimpse
of the Victoria Falls, which has one of the most spectacular views of the
falls.
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Victoria Falls Safari
Tour Experiences In Livingstone, Zambia
Whitewater Rafting On Zambezi River:
Seasonal Whitewater Rafting On Zambezi River are run in large rubber rafts,
launched from just below the Falls. You can experience a half day trip, full
day or two day.
Victoria Falls Bungi Jumping: The
highest commercial bridge jump in the world with the most spectacular
setting at Victoria Falls. This must be the ultimate adrenaline rush, as you
leap into space, free fall, saved from the swirling water below by the
rebound of the cord, then hurtled upwards again at great speed. It's an
indescribable feeling that will probably change your life.
Zambezi Canoeing at Victoria Falls: A
canoeing Safari on the upper portion of the Zambezi River, is a wonderful
relaxing way to enjoy the astonishingly beautiful scenery that lines the
river before it takes its plunge over the Victoria Falls. This part of the
river is dotted with many islands of varying size; home to many birds and
small animals.
Elephant Back Safaris at Victoria Falls:
Your Elephant Back Safari at Victoria Falls begins with a pickup from your
accommodation and transfer to the elephant boma at Mosi Oa Tunya National
Park where you are introduced to your specially trained elephants and their
handlers.
Victoria Falls Helicopter Flight:
Experience the Victoria Falls with a birds eye view. Take off from the
helicopter site and climb to a height of 1500 feet above the ground, while
approaching the magnificent Victoria Falls.
Other
Livingstone Victoria Falls Tours
are: Zambezi River Boat Cruise, Dinner On Royal Livingstone Express Train
Service, Livingstone Island Tour, The David Livingstone Museum Tour, Railway
Museum & Tour of Livingstone Town, Chief Mukuni Village Cultural Tour,
Maramba Market, Mosi-o-Tunya National Park Safari, Tours On The Segway and
many more.
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