People I meet ask me why I love travel and why Africa? They understand there are animals, but aren’t they the same ones I can see in a zoo? Seeing animals in their native setting is amazing. Whatever I expected, in going to Africa, the real experience goes way, way belong that. Equally amazing, is the scenic beauty, the mountains, the rivers, lakes, oceans, the savannah, all so beautiful in their own way. When one experiences something like Victoria Falls one is blown away. “Vic Falls”, or Mosinoa-Tanya, meaning ‘the smoke that thunders” is one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the world. Here you find some of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world! About 5600 feet wide and 350 feet high the create the largest curtain of falling water in the world. These falls plunge down from the Zambezi River to a series of basalt gorges raising an beautiful iridescent mist that can be seen from miles away. This trans border property comprises the Mosinoa-Tanya National Park (Zambia) and the Victoria Falls National Park (Zimbabwe) and some of the Zambezi National Park (Zimbabwe).

This World Heritage Site was first mapped in 1715. David Livingston, from Scotland, is thought to be the first European to identify the falls and named them in honor of Queen Victoria. European settlement of the area didn’t actually start until about 1900. The Victoria Falls Hotel was built in 1904 to accommodate tourist train travel to the area. This stately hotel still stands and is a must see, if nothing else, for a view of the falls from its back lawn. The bridge to connect the 2 countries (Zimbabwe and Zambia) was built in 1905.

The small town is not much to see: a hotels, gift shops and eating establishments. However, there are many outdoor activities to participate in the area including boating, whitewater rafting, bungee jumping, game fishing and flights over the falls. I opted for the helicopter ride, which I highly recommend, to be able to fully appreciate the falls.