Victoria Falls – The Smoke that Thunders

Mosi-oa-Tunya translates to The Smoke that Thunders. It describes the world’s greatest sheet of falling water aptly, where over 500 million litres of water each minute pours over the 1.5km wide gorge. At an average of about 90 metres high, the UNESCO-listed falls are not the highest in the world by any stretch, but they are the most spectacular. Victoria Falls had been a place I had wanted to see ever since I was a kid.

It did not disappoint. I arrived on the Zimbabwean side with my daughter and checked into our modest hotel. It was late afternoon, so we gathered all the brochures we could find and read them over dinner. By the next morning, we were well and truly prepared for our adventure.

We walked to the entrance from our hotel, which took about 20 minutes, paid our fees and followed the signs. There is one main track that follows the lookouts. There are about ten viewpoints in all, and they are all sensational. They don’t tell you that you are bound to get wet from the amazing spray that the falls shoot up into the air. You get saturated – like it or not. (tip… take a plastic bag for your camera).

The next morning, we took a 15-minute helicopter flight over the falls. It was as spectacular as I had expected it to be. The pilot crisscrossed the main section so we could get a view from all angles. To do justice to the views, you need video and still photos. About four companies offer flights, and they are all negotiable, so don’t accept the first price offered.

After the flight, my daughter and I went to have high tea at the famous Victoria Falls Hotel. While we were there, I checked the room cost at reception and negotiated a cheaper but still expensive room for one night. After all, we had been camping, so we owed ourselves a little luxury!  Our Namibia Botswana Victoria Falls tour also includes Cape Town and is 24 days of wildlife, magnificent scenery, colonial history, interaction with the locals, and much more. 

Book your trip to experience the amazing Victoria Falls with Blue Dot Travel! Contact us to register your interest for future tours. 

Blog and photos by Brett Goulston