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Zimbabwe is home to one of the world's natural wonders - Victoria Falls. Not only are the Victoria Falls legendary, but The Falls have given rise to one of the finest tourism destinations that is most often referred to as Africa's adventure capital. Here you can go on safari, white water raft, bunji jump and more. Through Thompsons Africa you can pre-book all your activities, guided tours, transfers and accommodation, just speak to one of our Consultants. |
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| Mercure A'Zambezi Lodge |
Price on request |
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| Victoria Falls Hotel |
Price on request |
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| Victoria Falls Safari Lodge |
Price on request |
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September to October is hot and dry.
November to March is hot and wet.
The best time to visit is April, May, August and September, when the weather is mild with little rain.
The river conditions are determined by seasonally predictable fluctuations in water levels.
Low water season generally runs from August to January each year - this is when the Zambezi is at its wildest.
High water is from about February to July with a short 'closed season' around April/May depending on the season's rains.
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There are three gateways by which visitors can arrive and depart from Victoria Falls. The Falls can be accessed via Livingstone Airport located in Zambia, through Victoria Falls Airport in Zimbabwe or through Kasane Airport in Botswana. Kasane Airport is a mere 1.5 hour road transfer from Victoria Falls. Victoria Falls is a great option as a begining or ending to an Okavango Delta safari. The most popular way of getting to Victoria Falls is by flying out of Johannesburg, with 5 flights per day
VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE
South African Airways and British Airways fly directly from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls and back again, daily. Air Zimbabwe flies directly from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls and back again, on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
LIVINGSTONE, ZAMBIA
South African Airways and Nationwide fly directly from Johannesburg to Livingstone and back again, daily. British Airways flies directly from Johannesburg to Livingstone and back again, every day except on a Tuesday and Saturday.
Please Note: These schedules are subject to change without prior notice. |
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- Take a guided tour of the Victoria Falls on either the Zimbabwean or Zambian side or both - the Victoria Falls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world, at 108m high, with the width of The Falls at 1.7km across!
- Our Tour Guides based at Victoria Falls are a true asset - their wealth of information and friendly attitude receive innumerable compliments.
- Enjoy a picnic on Livingstone Island, with the Victoria Falls in the distance.
- Take the 'Flight of Angels' for a bird's eye-view of the mighty Victoria Falls.
- Bungi jump off the Victoria Falls Bridge - one of the highest bungi jumps in the world.
- Experience a romantic sundowner cruise on the mighty Zambezi River.
- Victoria Falls has arguably the best rapids in the world! White water rafting on grade four and five rapids provide some 'white-knuckle' adventure fun.
- Enjoy traditional Zimbabwean song and dance as 'The Boma' experience brings this colourful culture to life.
- Many options are available to you to enjoy Africa's wildlife on safari: The Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park in Zambia, or the Zambezi National Park in Zimbabwe or the Chobe National Park in Chobe Botswana (a mere two hours from Victoria Falls) all offer a quality wildlife safari.
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- Mesmerising Victoria Falls - a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- One of the seven natural wonders of the world.
- The widest curtain of falling water on earth.
- Over 500 million litres of water plummet over the Batoka Gorge during the rainy season every minute!
- The spray of The Falls creates a column that rises into the sky almost 400 metres and can be seen from up to 50 kilometers away!
- A verdant rain forest at the edge of the Batoka Gorge exists due to the blanket of fine spray from The Falls that soaks the surrounding wilderness.
- During the rainy season at full moon, a 'moonbow' can be seen in the spray instead of the usual daylight rainbow.
- The Zambezi is the fourth longest river in Africa beginning in Zambia, the river then flows along the borders of Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe before slicing through Mozambique and emptying into the Indian Ocean.
Travelling to Victoria Falls, one can choose to stay on the Zimbabwean or Zambian side of The Falls. Both offer easy access to view the legendary Victoria Falls and there is equal opportunity to enjoy a huge range of adrenaline adventure activities on either side of The Falls. Both countries also offer a range of accommodation options. In Zimbabwe the town of Victoria Falls is in close walking distance to the Victoria Falls Bridge and The Falls itself, with a great deal of the hotel accommodation centered around the town itself. The town of Victoria Falls exists because of tourism to The Falls and sprung up in the 1960's. Although Zimbabwe has received 'bad press' internationally due to the countries political instability, Victoria Falls remains a safe destination for tourists, with visitor numbers continueing to grow year on year.
On the Zambian side of The Falls, the town of Livingstone is 10 kms away from The Falls and accommodation is mostly spread out along the Zambezi River. Due to the negative publicity that Zimbabwe has received in recent years, many tourists have opted to stay on the Zambian side of The Falls and this has influenced the town of Livingstone positively - business is good, there is renewed investment in the town itself and in new hotels and resorts currently under construction, and there is a vibrant energy that is tangible. The town of Livingstone is named after the missionary and explorer Dr. David Livingstone, the first European to set eyes on the majestic Victoria Falls in 1855. Livingstone's 'business' in Africa at the time was to discover the source of the Nile and he wrote in his journal of The Falls, "...scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight". Livingstone named The Falls after his Queen Victoria, but the more apt and romantic name sake given to The Falls by the local Batoka is Mosi-oa-Tunya - the smoke that thunders!
| The Victoria Falls bridge that separates the two countries can be crossed with relative ease. So if you have the time and inclination, you can view The Falls from both the Zimbabwean and the Zambian side literally in one day - both countries offer unique vantage points to view The Falls. On both sides you can wander along pathways, through indigenous bush as you are within a National Park, with heart stopping views of The Falls as you intermittently pop out at various view points. A walk through the rainforest, where the fine spray from The Falls will certainly cool you down and yes make you wet is a highlight. |
 | On the Zambian side of The Falls during the rainy season, you can cool off in the waters of the Zambezi literally just before it plunges into the yawn of the gorge below. In the dry season, this same point offers you a rocky ledge to tentatively step across to Livingstone Island where the brave can peek over the chasm and into the gorge below. During the months of November to January on the Zambian side, The Falls may dry out occasionally during the dry season. At this time we recommend that you view The Falls from the Zimbabwean side. The best way to view The Falls is on a guided tour - our Tour Guides here are noted for their enthusiasm and vast knowledge - and if you don't want to get wet in the rain forest our water resistant ponchos will come in handy. Thompsons Africa offer guided tours of The Falls from both the Zimbabwean and the Zambian side of The Falls. We also offer a combination tour which will take you to view The Falls in both countries.
Our suggested vacation packages at Victoria Falls are the recommended number of nights, but of course all of the packages can be easily extended and combined to whatever suits you best.
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So much to do, so little time...
Victoria Falls is most definitely Africa's Adventure Capital - for those who like to 'pick up the pace a little' - particularly their heart rate - Victoria Falls has the goods for you, on water and in the air.
Thompsons Africa with offices on both the Zimbabwean and Zambian side of The Falls are well placed to assist you with all of these activities. So if your'e into...
* white water rafting on grade five rapids
* jet boat extreme racing
* bunji jumping
* zip-line flying
* quad biking
* abseiling
* elephant back safaris
* a glorious 'Flight of Angels' in a micro-light over The Falls
... we can pack all of this into your Victoria Falls vacation - just make sure you leave yourself enough time to do it all.
A highly recommended night out on the Zimbabwean side of The Falls is 'The Boma Experience' which offers Zimbabwean cuisine at its finest, entertainment by traditional Zimbabwean dancers... you can try your hand at drumming Zimbabwean style, all set within a traditional African boma (refer to our day tours page to pre-book this highly recommended experience). |
Click here to view pictures of when one of our brave Thompsons staff members decided to take the plunge... 1, 2, 3 bungi!
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For those who prefer to soak up the essence of a destination at a more leisurely pace, there is certainly enough entertainment for you too. A glorious sunset cruise on the upper Zambezi, as the African Fish Eagle calls out whilst you sip your G&T, whilst elephants and hippo wallow in the muddy waters, certainly encapsulates the romance of Africa.
Upper Zambezi canoe trails bring you closer to nature, also at a more sedate pace... of course there may be a few heart-stopping moments when you come across a croc sunning itself on a river bank nearby, or the splash of elephant entering the water, or perhaps a hippo snorting not far off, but then this is Africa and the wildlife is what it's all about.
Thompsons Africa offer a value for money and highly flexible 'Tick-It to Adventure' option, which is a multiple activity concept that offers substantial discounts. |
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A fantastic combination with Victoria Falls is the Chobe National Park in Botswana. Not even a two hour drive from Victoria Falls, this safari destination is world class. On a Chobe safari you will witness herds of elephant as they head down to the river's edge to drink. You might even be lucky enough to see elephant swimming across the river with trunks raised above their heads like 'built-in' snorkel gear. Chobe National Park is a big five safari destination and the chances of viewing lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo are high. Other species include wild dog, giraffe, zebra, and whole host of antelope species. | Chobe is particularly noted for its magnificent bird life. Thompsons Africa offer a full day Chobe Safari, where our guests are treated to a game drive both on land in a specially adapted game viewing vehicle, and from the river in a safari boat, all within the Chobe National Park. We also offer an absolutely fantastic Chobe house boat safari, which is not only excellent value for money, but also allows for leisurely game viewing and bird watching - all day if this takes your fancy - coupled with great food and an African night sky that you will remember for a lifetime. The house boat even comes with its own plunge pool on deck!
If you have more time we recommend a two night stay in Chobe to truly enjoy the wildlife that abounds in this area. For those who would appreciate a more intimate encounter with nature, Thompsons Africa offer a 3 day Chobe Wildlife Tented Safari within the Chobe National Park.
Other Attractions - Victoria Falls:
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