A long weekend at Victoria Falls in Africa sounds like something out of a dream. Sue Maude, from African Budget Safaris, recently flew to Livingstone Airport in Zambia with her family, for a brief sojourn at Africa's adventure capital. In this post, Sue reflects on the three action-packed days of her short Victoria Falls trip in Zambia.
Victoria Falls immediately topped my list when the opportunity arose to take a long weekend trip with the family.
The recent introduction of direct flights from South Africa to Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) and Livingstone (Zambia) made it an irresistible choice. No longer a remote wonder accessible only after arduous travel, Victoria Falls has become a convenient escape just under 3 hours away from Cape Town, South Africa.
The allure of witnessing one of the world's most stunning natural spectacles and a full menu of Victoria Falls adventure activities, coupled with the ease of new flight options, made the decision effortless. In just a few hours, the family could be transported from the hustle and bustle of daily life to a place where adventure beckons, with plenty to amuse fussy teens.
We chose the Zambia side for our short Victoria Falls trip, flying into Livingstone airport. We were greeted on arrival by a friendly gentleman with our name on his board. It was a short transfer to our hotel, Victoria Falls Waterfront which boasts a stunning location on the Zambezi riverbank above Vic Falls.
While my elderly mother stayed in a premium riverside chalet, the rest of the family checked into safari tents, a much more affordable option with comfortable beds, bedside tables and electric fans. These would be invaluable in the stuffy summer months, but the July evenings are decidedly chilly so the fans were not necessary but the extra blankets on the beds were welcome!
After our long weekend at Victoria Falls, we did this 5-Day Botswana Safari, which you can read about in An Authentic Botswana Safari in Chobe, Moremi & Okavango Delta.
After a quick snack at the restaurant, enjoying its beautiful location overlooking the serene Zambezi, our guide collected us for a first look at Victoria Falls.
The Victoria Falls in Zambia are viewed from the network of walkways within the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. Entrance is U$20 for both international and SADC visitors (on the Zimbabwe side Victoria Falls National Park entrance fee is U$50/U$30 for SADC). Read more about Zambia vs Zimbabwe Victoria Falls here.
The place was bustling when we arrived - we had stumbled on a traditional ceremony for the 'Greeting of the Chief'. Large groups of traditionally dressed performers did elaborate dances, ahead of a parade of the chief and his dignitaries. We left the excitement to explore Vic Falls and encountered crowds of the chief's well-wishers along the paths, in good spirits and keen to pose with my elderly mother in pictures by the falls.
The Victoria Falls are spectacular!
This year has been a dry year for the area and I was apprehensive about how much water would be there. But we were not disappointed! The falls are magnificent and each vantage point provides a different perspective of the cliffs and the falling wall of water. A beautiful rainbow is formed by the sunlight shining through the rising mist.
Victoria Falls has always been known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya, which means "The Smoke That Thunders," and aptly describes the sight and sounds before you. As we ventured further along the pathways, the falling mist dampened our clothes and I noted that some tour groups were wearing raincoats to keep themselves dry – a sensible idea.
The perpetual spray from the falls has created a unique rainforest in the area adjacent to the falls. The constant moisture has given rise to a diverse array of unique plants not found elsewhere in the region. Towering trees, thick undergrowth, ferns and orchids create a dense, green canopy attracting numerous birds, insects, and small mammals. It makes a perfect backdrop to the waterfall and starkly contrasts the dry terrain just a short distance away.
Day 2 of our short Victoria Falls trip started with a delicious buffet breakfast. Today we opted for the great value for money 'Rafting and Cruise' combo deal which entails a half-day white-water rafting on the rapids in Batoka Gorge below the falls, and a Zambezi sunset cruise on the river upstream later.
July is low water season, so rapids #11 to #25 are on the agenda to be ridden. The rapids have been numbered from the early days of river navigation in the 1980s, starting from #1 right under the falls and covering 25 kilometres of exhilarating white water running through Batoka Gorge, carved out by the river through fault lines in the basalt rock beneath the falls. High water and low water months mean different rapids are navigable. Read more about the Best Time to Visit Victoria Falls.
You have to descend the steep sides into the gorge to reach the river and the boat and ascend once more at the end. The Zambezi, affectionately known as the "Slambezi," is famous for its big water flips on these rafting trips and the staff are expertly ready for any eventuality. Luckily, we avoided major dunks, but the thrill was undeniable as we held on to the boat for dear life.
After an exhilarating ride on the rapids, we hiked the 200 meters out of the gorge, which was a bit challenging in the midday heat but we took our time to check out the stunning views on the way. Back at base, we were treated to post-trip burgers and viewed the complimentary video and picture package professionally filmed and narrated by the rafting team, capturing every dramatic moment of our river rafting journey.
Just after 3 pm, it was time for a more sedate experience of the Zambezi River – above the falls. We boarded our sunset cruise boat from the hotel's slipway and headed along the riverbanks in search of wildlife. The friendly crew welcomed us with a bar full of sundowner drinks and snacks. The next two hours passed in a pleasant blur of gin & tonic, spotting hippos, crocodiles and varied birdlife as we wove between riverbanks and an uninhabited island in the middle of the wide Zambezi.
Later we were invited to help ourselves to dinner – a selection of meat cooked on a braai (barbeque) and some lovely salads. The driver chose a prime spot to stop to watch the sunset over the horizon, the sky painted in bright orange, pink and red as only an African sunset can. We returned to base serene and content in the wild beauty of this special place.
We took the next day of our short Victoria Falls trip at a slower pace, a much-needed tonic for the excitement of the day before. The hotel's setting overlooking the river is perfect for hanging out and watching the view.
We popped into Livingstone town to wander the streets and browse the curio shops. We also paid a visit to the Livingstone Museum, exploring the displays that offer insights into the origins of the Zambian people, early chiefdoms and kingdoms, European explorations, and missionary activities, colonisation, the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, and the struggle for independence achieved in 1964. A highlight is the renowned collection of David Livingstone's letters and memorabilia, showcasing the life and work of the first European to see, and name, Victoria Falls.
The extensive display of personal relics, documents, and photographs narrates Livingstone's legacy as a medical doctor, missionary, and explorer, and is a fascinating insight into his life and work.
Not content with simply mooching around Livingstone, we were collected for a helicopter flip later in the afternoon.
The sky above the falls had been alive with helicopters and microlights since we arrived and it was our turn to experience Victoria Falls from the air. We opted for a slightly pricier 22-minute ride, over not just Victoria Falls but taking a low-level swoop into the Batoka Gorge below to shadow the rapids as we had seen done the day before. Needless to say, this was an exhilarating highlight of our Victoria Falls trip.
The view of the ledge of the falls from above is incredible and you can see the twists and turns of Batoka Gorge and its thundering waters. The current site of Victoria Falls is its seventh. Batoka Gorge's twists and turns are the previous six cliff faces that formed the falls and subsequently collapsed. There is a fissure in the current falls, slowly being expanded with the pressure of the water, that will eventually become the new site of the falls in the geological future when the current cliff face collapses.
We started early on our last day at Victoria Falls to squeeze in a final activity before the flight home. Leaving the lodge, passports in hand, to catch the activity centre opening at 9 am for the first zipline of the day.
The activity centre is located on the Zambia side of the Zambezi River, close to the historic Victoria Falls bridge, below the falls. We were strapped in and took the leap, zip-lining across the chasm to the other side. The bridge whizzes past and the churning rapids seem very far beneath your feet. You reach firm land on the other side and walk across the bridge back to the Activity Centre. Technically you have been in Zimbabwe but avoid having to cross the border crossing on the other side of the bridge.
A long weekend at Victoria Falls is more than just a trip; it's an adventure for the whole family leaving memories to last a lifetime. From the thunderous roar of Victoria Falls to the serene beauty of the Zambezi River, this weekend getaway was an unforgettable escape into nature's grandeur that we will talk about for years to come!
After our short Victoria Falls trip, we took this 5-Day Botswana Safari. For more, see An Authentic Botswana Safari in Chobe, Moremi & Okavango Delta.
African Budget Safaris offers exciting short Victoria Falls Tour Packages with accommodation at an affordable luxury hotel. There is a choice of either the Zambia or the Zimbabwe side. Activities on these Victoria Falls trips include a sunset cruise, canoe trip, Chobe National Park safari, helicopter flight, Victoria Falls visit and a village tour.
Victoria Falls has a wide diversity of attractions for visitors of all kinds. African Budget Safaris has 187 tour packages that include Victoria Falls in their itinerary, so there is sure to be something to suit all interests. Wherever and whatever your dream African Safari includes, talk to one of our expert travel consultants to start planning your visit to Victoria Falls.
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