Friday, October 16, 2015

The Many Ways to View a World Wonder

Did you know that there are quite a few activities which allow you to get the full experience of the Victoria Falls, all from different positions? You can enjoy views from the air and down below at the bottom of the gorges, as well as right on the edge at the Devil's Pool.



Face to Face


Face to face with the Victoria Falls
Picture taken during a tour of Victoria Falls
Tour of Victoria Fallsthe obvious choice.
Whether you choose to have a guided tour or a leisurely stroll in the Victoria Falls Rainforest, you absolutely must witness the power of the Zambezi as it comes down the gorges. The best time of the year for this activity is relative - there are a lot of factors (other than the weather) which will determine the best time for your visit.

Lunar Rainbow Tourthe Falls by moonlight.
If you plan your trip around the full moon, you will get an even bigger treat of watching a moonbow. This natural phenomenon is actually quite rare, and at Victoria Falls is one of the few places in the world where you can see one.


From High Up Above


Flight of Angels helicopter flight
Helicopter Flightawe-inspiring.
Not only will you see the Victoria Falls from the sky, but you get a perspective of the overall landscape that surrounds the area – the Zambezi River upstream, the gorges downstream and the national parks. It is a great family activity!

Helicopter flights at Victoria Falls can be enjoyed all year round, but the best time of the day is when the spray is not too much but you can see the rainbows from the sky. Unfortunately, and we have gotten questions about this, Helicopter flights do not fly at night during full moons.

Microlight flight over Victoria Falls
Microlight Flightthe solo alternative.
Only one passenger is allowed on a Microlight Flight, and this gives you a very personal aerial experience, unlike with a helicopter flight which you can share with others. Your pilot takes you up along the Zambezi River where you will witness the gorgeous landscape and animals that roam the banks and those in the river. You will also fly over the Victoria Falls, and if you book the longer flight, you will be taken beyond the falls, downstream to view the zig-zagging gorges.


From Below


Swim under the Victoria Falls (low season)
Boiling Pot Hikeonly during low water season and not for the lazy.
Another way to see the falls is from the bottom of the gorge. There is truly no other way to feel the thunder than from deep below the waterfalls. There is a bit of a hike involved, and you will need to get into a raft in order to get there – no under 15s. It is hard work, but so worth it.


On The Edge


Livingstone Island tour & Devil’s Poolswimming on the edge.
This activity is also seasonal, and involves crossing the border into Zambia (if you are staying in Zimbabwe). It surely is one of the most popular things to do at Victoria Falls.

The edge of the Zambezi at Devils Pool
Livingstone Island is a small island on the edge of the falls accessible only by motor-boat. The Devil’s Pool is next to the island. It is a section in the river with a thick naturally formed stone wall which prevents swimmers from going over the edge. But of-course, during high water season, no-one is allowed to go on the island or in the pool because the river has too much force at this time.

We do not advise you to do the swim with young children but the Livingstone Island tour is quite alright (no children under 4 years old). When the Devil’s Pool is not available, a similar experience can be had in a much smaller pool called the Angel’s Armchair. Meals are included in each trip, so you can decide if you would like to go for one of the morning tours, lunch, or high tea tour.

There is plenty of fun to be had in Victoria Falls, and lots of scenery to take in. A stroll along the Victoria Falls Bridge is one of those things which you can do on your own just to take in a shorter view of the Victoria Falls and the depth of the gorges.

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