Victoria Falls Waterfall Facts

Map of Victoria Falls & River | Lodges

Map Zambia Side | Livingstone Town

Vic Falls Waterfall Information

· forms the largest curtain of falling water on the planet and is one of the world's greatest natural spectacles and a must see when on safari in Africa

· Victoria Falls is called by the locals : ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ 'The Smoke that Thunders'

· In Nov 1855 the falls were made known to the outside world by David Livingstone

· One can view the falls face on ( mostly from the Zimbabwe side), as facing the falls is another sheer wall of basalt, rising to the same height and capped by a mist-soaked rain forest.

· The Falls are 1690m wide

· the highest point it is 103m high (the average height is 92 meters)

. Devils cataract in the Zimbabwe corner is the lowest point and hence has most water cascading over it.

· At the lowest water level (Nov/Dec), there are less than 20 000 cubic meters of water per minute flowing over the Falls

· At peak flood (Feb/April), over 550 000 cubic metres of water per minute pass over the Falls

· The spray can reach 1km high and can be seen over 30km away

· Small islands stand on the lip of the Falls, including Livingstone Island, where David Livingstone first viewed the falls

« All segments except the Eastern Cataract are on the Zimbabwe side

« The Rainforest is sustained by the spray from Victoria Falls, with plant species that are rarely found elsewhere in Zimbabwe or Zambia.

High Water

¤ Feb to April. In full flood years the falls cannot be seen on foot on the Zimbabwe side with clouds of spray rising high into the sky and drenching all tourists.

The aerial view at this time however is spectacular.

The Zambian side of the falls with less water is better at this stage and there are walkways to look out points and across the swaying Knife Edge bridge.

The intense spray provides welcome relief from the heat, but don’t carry anything you don’t want to get wet!

« A walk in the Rainforest or "highway to heaven" keeps you at eye level with sheets of cascading water, being soaked by the - misty breath and deafened by its thunderous roar

Photo taken in May

from July the base is accessible

Mid Water

¤ April and May. The falls are at their most spectacular on foot but often the spray is so thick it is difficult to see the full width of the falls.

the weather is magic.

¤ From May onwards as the annual flood abates, the view of Victoria falls gets better and better and photographic opportunities from the Rain Forest path in Zimbabwe improve and most of the falls can be seen from this side.

The sound is still thunderous

The weather is still fantastic.

* Viewing Victoria falls from below by foot or by Jet boat is possible from July

October Flow - Best Game Viewing

November - Rains start

Low Water

¤ Around October, November and December . It is just as interesting to come when the water is low. Visitors are able to fully appreciate the geological formation of the falls and the full length and breadth of them. Activities are at their best

Low water season’s gifts are:
* one can walk along the lip of Victoria Falls on the Zambian side and swim /picnic or even get married - spectacular

At this time most the water falls at " Devils Cataract" on the Zimbabwe side - far left in photo

Photo Slide Shows

Victoria Falls | Victoria falls June | 3 | Scenes | Activities

The Victoria Falls Waterfall