Victoria Falls – Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe.
In the Tonga language, the massive water fall on the Zambezi River between Zimbabwe and Zambia is named Mosi-oa-Tunya–“the smoke that thunders”–for the spectacular cloud of mist that shrouds it during the rainy season. The English called it Victoria Falls after their queen, and it is one of the original seven natural wonders of the world.
We viewed the falls from the Zimbabwe side, entering the country at the border post located at Kazungula, Botswana. Though we visited during the dry season — when the falls are tamest — we were able to see the smoke in all of its glory. Standing near the falls during the period of heavy mist is like being in a rainstorm. The water drops are big and heavy, the view of the falls is a bit fuzzy, but the experience is priceless.
For us, the falls were one stop along a two-week road trip through Botswana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
Check out some of our other stops:
- Cyrene Mission School Chapel
- Danamombe Ruins and Matobo Hills
- Great Zimbabwe
- Blyde River Canyon
- Kruger National Park