Touring the Victoria Falls

Areas of Interest: the Victoria Falls

The Victoria Falls constitutes one of the most spectacular natural wonders of the world. The Local people call it "Mosi-oa-Tunya" -- the smoke that thunders and the Victoria Falls are remarkable. There is a magic about them manifested in the towering column of spray known as the Victoria falls when the river is high, the thunder of the falling water, the terrifying abyss and tranquil lagoons upstream in which hippo and deadly crocodiles lurk.

The Victoria falls is 1 708 meters wide, making it the largest curtain of water in the world. The Victoria falls drops between 90m and 107m into the Zambezi Gorge and an average of 550,000 cubic metres of water plummet over the edge every minute.

Remarkably preserved in its natural state, Victoria falls inspires visitors as much today as it did David Livingstone in the 1860's. The Victoria falls and the surrounding area have been declared National Parks and a World Heritage Site, thus preserving the area from excessive commercialisation. The Victoria Falls are spectacular throughout the year, but February onwards, after the rain season, has the heaviest flow and volume of spray.

A number of activities can be undertaken by the Victoria Falls. The 'Flight of Angels' provides a fabulous vista of the Victoria falls, the upstream river and its many islands and for the more adventurous there is microlighting with stunning views of the Victoria Falls.

Rafting the wild rapids below the Victoria Falls is a very popular adventure. Visitors of the Victoria falls can also kayak, canoe, fish, go on guided walking safaris, ride on horseback and lunch on Livingstone's Island.

Climate

Victoria Falls enjoys a mild and dry winter from around June to mid-August and is an all year round destination. The Victoria falls has a warm to hot spring until the rains start in mid-November; it becomes warm and wet and stays so at the Victoria falls until the rainy season passes at the end of April! The rainy season of the Victoria falls is often characterised by sudden torrential downpours with violent storms followed as quickly by blue skies and sunshine.

Rafting at Victoria Falls is dependent on the Zambezi water levels. 'Low water season' is the most exciting from around mid July to early January when visiting the Victoria falls, with water levels dropping progressively until the lowest levels are reached during December and January.

The Victoria falls annual rains start in the middle of November but it's only in January that the headwaters hit Victoria Falls, levels climb again and 'high water season' starts. The peak of the annual flood usually hits the Victoria falls around Easter time. Rafting stops when the Zambezi is in full spate, sometimes from around mid March to early May each year.

The season's rains make the lower stretches of the National Park inaccessible from November through to April. During this time, the 'Green Season' Island Trail runs from Kafue down to Chongwe.

Currency

The unit of currency near the location of the Victorian falls is the US dollar. Foreign currency is widely accepted by the Victorian falls and prices are usually also displayed in US dollars. Foreigners visiting the Victorian falls are requested to settle their accommodation payment in foreign currency, preferably US dollars.

For most visitors of the Victoria falls, the exchange rate is in your favour. Generally, you will find that fine cuisine, wine, and entertainment near the Victoria falls cost a fraction of the tariff charged by equivalent establishments elsewhere in the world.

Major hotels nearby the Victoria falls have foreign exchange facilities and most shops, lodges and travel agencies will accept travellers cheques. Note that the hotels near the Victoria falls usually offer a more favourable exchange rate than banks.

All major credit cards are accepted at hotels, shops and restaurants present by the Victoria falls. However, please note that certain lodges and restaurants of the Victoria falls do not accept payment by Diners or American Express. Credit cards are not accepted at petrol filling stations in the region of the Victoria falls.

Electricity:

220v current is available 24 hours in accommodation by the Victoria falls. International adaptors can be supplied on request, and hairdryers are available in all accommodation near the Victoria falls.

Entrance Fees

Entrance fee for Victoria Falls and Rain forest is 20 US dollars on the Zimbabwe side and 10 US dollars on the Zambian side

Flights

• British Airways(BA) Flights to both Zambia and Zimbabwe side (daily) of Victoria falls
• South African Airways (SAA) Flights to the Zimbabwean side of Victoria falls ( daily)
• Nationwide(CE) fly every day to Livingstone on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls. BA and Air Zambia also have some flights to Livingstone from Johannesburg
• Air Zimbabwe Have reintroduced flights JNB-VFA and Harare

Flights are 1 and a half hours to the Victoria Falls when travelling from Johannesburg International Airport. Flights to the Victoria falls are constantly available from any airport specialising in flights to the Victoria falls.

Health

It is imperative that you obtain malaria prophylactics before entering the Victoria falls. When purchasing these, please tell your doctor or pharmacist which areas in the Victoria falls you intend visiting. Start your course at least 24 hours before entering the Victoria falls and continue taking the pills for six weeks after leaving the country. If you suffer from side effects, try taking your pills at night, after dinner as this usually minimises the effect of the symptoms. Take precautionary measures to prevent contact with mosquitoes, like: sleeping under a bed net or in a room/tent with mosquito proofing (remember to keep the flaps zipped at all times); spraying your accommodation with insecticide; making use of a mosquito repelling lotion or stick; and wearing long sleeve clothing, trousers and socks when outside at night. An International Certificate of Vaccination against yellow fever is required for visitors of the Victoria falls. Immunisation against Hepatitis A and B and tetanus is recommended. Visitors from or passing through a yellow fever and cholera zone must be able to produce a valid certificate of immunisation. Air travellers who only pass through the airports of such a zone need not worry about this. Swimming in dams and rivers should be avoided as the water may be infected with bilharzia. If you are canoeing or rafting and cannot avoid the water, this isn't a problem - just remember to towel off as soon as possible.

Health care in the major towns of Zambia (particularly Lusaka and Livingstone) is good, but is limited in remote areas, including game parks. Cash payment is required for medical services, therefore it is essential your medical insurance covers your trip to the Victoria falls. It is advisable to bring any medicines that you may require and a first aid kit since you will not have access to pharmacies in the areas you may be visiting.

Tap water in regions near the Victoria falls is usually safe to drink, but bottled water can be purchased if preferred.

Victoria Falls Tour Information

The Victoria Falls is one of the greatest natural wonders in the world. The Zambezi River drops 100 metres (approx. 300 feet) over a 1.6km wide (1-mile) sheer fault line and creates a cloud of spray that can be seen up to 32km (20 miles) away. The Victoria falls just have to be seen!

The famous bridge straddling the mighty Zambezi at the Victoria Falls provides easy access between the two neighbouring countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Accommodation near the location of the Victoria falls is excellent on both sides, with especially superb riverside lodges lining the Zambian banks of the Zambezi River.

The Victoria Falls area is renowned for being the 'Adventure Capital of Africa' and offers all sorts of high adrenaline sports. Choose from activities available by the Victoria falls such as white water rafting through terrifying Zambezi rapids, microlight flying over Victoria Falls and tandem skydiving, to name but a few. Right in the middle of the spectacular bridge is the world famous bungi jump, where you plunge 111 metres (360ft) and then bounce for a while above the raging river near the Victoria falls!

You could of course opt for more sedate relaxation such as a tranquil sundowner cruise on the Zambezi above Victoria Falls, with a gin and tonic in one hand and a pair of binoculars to spot hippos, crocs and colourful bird life, in the other.

While the Victoria Falls is the main attraction here, the small Mosi-oa-Tunya (or 'Smoke That Thunders') National Park enables you to take a short game drive along the Zambezi to see elephant, buffalo, zebra, sable, eland and some rhino.

People

Chief Makuni invites visitors to his village, home to the Leya people. This is a unique opportunity to see how the local people live in a working village, not one built for tourists. Approximately 6000 people live here and a visit is a fascinating insight into their life style. A member of the village shows visitors around and they can see how traditional huts are built and decorated, take a look inside, meet the residents and see the locals at work.

Tipping and gratuities

Tips of around 10% are expected by taxi drivers and in tourist-class hotels and restaurants locating the area of the Victoria falls. Some establishments automatically add a 10% service charge to the bill, which replaces the gratuity.

Tipping is not compulsory. If, however, you want to tip because you have received good service, we have enclosed a brief guideline to assist you:

• Camp, Game Lodge and Specialist Guides If the guide has done a good job, we recommend US$5 per guest per day for travel to Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe and R50 per guest per day for visitors to Namibia and South Africa.
• The General Safari Camp / Lodge Staff Here we recommend about US$3 per guest per day for safari camps in Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe and R30 per guest per day for safari camps in Namibia and South Africa. This should be placed in the communal tipping box to be distributed equally amongst all the staff at a later stage
• Hotel Staff Please allow between R5 and R10 per guest per day for hotel staff ie housekeeping
• Porterage Here we recommend about US$1 per person per movement.
• Transfer and Touring Driver/guides Transfer R10 per person Half day tour R25 per person Full day tour R50 per person
• Blue Train and Rovos Rail Cabin attendant R100 per person per journey Waiter, Dining Car R75 per person per journey
• Restaurants / Hotels 10% is customary on meal accounts but only if you are satisfied with the service.

Communication

All modern-day communication facilities are available in the region of the Victoria falls which makes the stay by the Victoria falls a comfortable one with all the conviences of modern communication available. Most of the remote areas surrounding the area of the Victoria falls do not have the facilities concerning modern communication. However, the hotels locating the areas surrounding the Victoria falls has many modern-day communication facilities which are made available to guests of these hotels surrounding the Victoria falls. Such communication facilities includes the internet and direct dial phone.

Language:

English is an official language and is used in government and business. However, it is the first language to only about 2 percent of the population. Shona is the native language for about 70 percent of the country, and Ndebele, a derivation of Zulu, is the language of 15 percent.

Visas

U.S. passports with a six-month validity AFTER the date of return are required for all tour participants. Visa requirements vary; it is the passenger's responsibility to obtain current information from local consulates. In general, U.S citizens do not require visas for entry into South Africa or Botswana. Visas for Kenya, Zimbabwe and Tanzania may be obtained at the airport on arrival in each country and fees must be paid in US dollars. Please Note: In East Africa, if you depart one country to visit another and intend to return to the first country, a double entry visa may be required. Non-U.S. citizens should check visa with appropriate consulates or their travel agent.