One of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World

Victoria Falls has been on our want to see list since arriving in Zambia.  The opportunity to go there presented itself  when our friends, Mike and Nancy Fisk from Malawi, completed their mission and needed a ride to Livingstone where they were to meet friends from the states.  "Victoria Falls is locally known as Mosi-oa-Tunya which literally means the Smoke that Thunders.  David Livinstone, The Scottish missionary and explorer, is believed to have been the first European to view the falls in 1855....He gave the falls the name 'Victoria Falls' in honour of his queen."

 

Nearing the Falls it is easily understood why the local people call it "The Smoke that Thunders."  You could see the mist and hear the thunder.

 

 

The river at the falls is 5,604 feet wide and 360 feet tall so it is impossible to see it all at once.  Maximum flow is 3,000 cubic meters/second. 

 

 

This is just a small portion of the falls.  It was amazing to realize there was this much water flowing over it for a much longer distance than we could see.

 

 

There is a constant mist rising from the water as it drops the 360 feet into the narrow gorge below.  A view on Google Earth will give you an idea of the width of the gorge.

 

 

There is a bridge called "Knife Edge" that we crossed over to what is called an Island, but is more like a peninsula.  We wore ponchos, but still managed to get plenty wet.  It was like a heavy rain that ran in streams on the trail in some places. (If you get your feet wet you will be miserable the rest of the day.)

 

 

When you get to the end of the Knife Edge trail you get a view of Zimbabwe.  The falls are all in Zambia but to see the rest of the falls you need to go to Zim.

 

 

This is the bridge some people bungee jump from and is also the way to Zimbabwe. 

 

 

This is the mostly dry part of us after our walk on the misty trail.

 

 

This little guy took one look at me as if to say, "Grandma!"and came running straight towards me.

 

 

Later in the day Papa was found relaxing with his friends the guinea hens.