A Particularly Wonderful Sound!

Sandwiched along the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe in Africa is one of the greatest natural wonders of the world, literally! Many of our readers, we feel sure, will have visited Niagara Falls, either on the Canadian or the American side, but this is way larger than that!

Nearly twice as tall as Niagara Falls, Victoria Falls plunges some 350 feet down into the basin of a vast gorge below. The steady stream of water is so powerful, it’s created rainforest like microclimate, because its voluminous spray blankets the surrounding area continuously.

Although the world largely knows this wonder as Victoria Falls (after Queen Victoria, naturally), locals have traditionally called it Mosi-oa-Tunya, meaning “The Smoke that Thunders.” The name is arguably a better fit, as the “thunder” of this massive waterfall can be heard from 25 miles away, yes, that’s right, 25 miles away!  Its “smoke” (aka water plume) can be seen even farther.

Victoria Falls is actually several waterfalls in one. On the Zimbabwe side, there’s Devil’s Cataract, Main Falls, Rainbow Falls, and Horseshoe Falls, and on the Zambia side lies the Eastern Cataract. If you want to see the waterfall at its most dramatic, visit between February and May when the summer rains, and by extension Victoria Falls itself, are at their highest volume. However, other times of year have plenty to offer, too. Between mid-August and mid-December, daring adventurers can take a dip in Devil’s Pool,  a swimming hole that brings those unburdened by acrophobia — fear of heights — to the very edge of the Fall’s dizzying plunge.

Listen!