LIVINGSTONE, ZAMBIA … BUCKET LIST #23

So our day started too early for my liking but we wanted to take advantage of everything Livingstone has to offer. So off we went to take a helicopter ride over the falls followed by a walk to see it “up close and personal.”

The Falls start with the Zambezi River … the fourth largest river in the African continent after the Nile, Congo and Niger. It travels almost 1700 miles from northwest Zambia to the Indian Ocean …. flowing through 6 countries.

And who would think the “Mighty Zambezi” starts as a tiny burbling spring in Zambia about 4800’ above sea level … flowing 20 miles into Angola … picking up various tributaries along the way … and proceeding to flow through Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It is the longest east flowing river in Africa and the largest into the Indian Ocean.

Victoria Falls is exactly halfway between the upper and middle parts of the Zambezi River … bordering Zambia to to the north and Zimbabwe to the south.

The River forms the border between the two countries with the falls actually 2/3 on the Zimbabwe side.

The waterfall spans the entire width of the Zambezi River … the widest point is more than 5600 ft. ( Over 1 mile )

The falls are 3000’ above sea level … the river drops over a cliff … 355 ft creating a flow of water of 165 million gallons of water every minute ( Can’t really get my head around that one. )

The Devils Pool, a natural infinity pool is at the edge of the falls … literally.

It is at the western point of Livingstone Island on the Zimbabwean side …. it is supposedly one of the most exhilarating infinity pools in the world. A natural rock pool … the cliff edge is a barrier for the water … if you ask me it looks crazy …. they say if you are not careful you will be staring “death in the face” … thus the name “Devils Pool.” Someone else can try that one.

The falls plummet over a cliff into the “Boiling Pot” and continue flowing through a series of gorges.

The Falls are estimated to be over 200 million years old and were formed during the Jurassic Era ( I thought that was a movie not a real Era ) … they formed on the basalt plateau … ( A Volcanic Plateau ).

The river eroded the basalt rock formed by volcanos to create a series of eight gorges. These gorges serve as breeding sites for endangered birds and migratory birds. ( ie; the Taita Falcon and Black Eagle )

The falls were “discovered”by Livingstone in 1855 and named Victoria Falls after Queen Victoria. But Livingstone was not actually the first to find them. The indigenous tribes of Zambia found them far earlier … and named them Mosi-oa-Tonya … “The Smoke that Thunders.” Thunder refers to the incredibly loud noise that the waterfall makes …. It can be heard 25 to 30 miles away.

It is also known by the Bantu speaking people as “Namutitima”… “Boiling Water” …. I took the word literally and thought the water is actually boiling … It actually refers to the billowing clouds of mist that rise from the falls 1300 ft … and can be seen from a distance over 30 miles.

Spanning the river the Victoria Falls Bridge was built in 1905 …connecting Zambia and Zimbabwe. I was ready to head over with my extra visa in tow …. You can see the falls from both sides and there is a big debate as to which side has the better view … unfortunatly I had no takers on walking the bridge to Zimbawae.

Today Victoria Falls is known as the largest waterfall in the world …. it is the “biggest curtain of flowing water” … and it looks like a “curtain.”( Who would have thought that could start from a little bubbling spring in northwest Zambia? ) The volcanic land formations that are the foundation of the falls are considered truly exceptional … creating breathtaking beauty …. Incredible water falls, spray mist and rainbows.

Victoria Falls is one of a kind .. it is not the widest nor the highest in the world … but it is the worlds’ largest sheet of falling water … twice the height and twice the width of Niagara Falls.

So Bucket List #23 checked off … Victoria Falls is now one of the Seven Nautural Wonders of the World … Hard to really convey the incredible Scale, Drama, and Beauty in pictures …. ( video for anyone interested ) but it is definitely One of Mother Natures Special Gifts.

Not sure anything can top that for the day … but onto a game drive.

TO BE CONTINUED …. DAY 154/ 155 GAME DRIVE