Spectacular Victoria Falls is situated on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe and is the world’s largest sheet of falling water. It is often referred to as the ‘Smoke that Thunders’ due to the high volume of spray that rises over 100m into the air during full flood season.
In the Zambezi River catchment area, the rainy season generally begins around November and goes through to March. The 2020/2021 rainy season has been in the record numbers. The Victoria Falls is looking more impressive than ever as intense curtains of water cascade down the 100m drop.
Victoria Falls was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1989, for its size, outstanding beauty, exceptional geological and geomorphological features, and its active land formation processes. The Falls is also one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, a list that includes Mount Everest, the Great Barrier Reef, and the Grand Canyon, plus the Victoria Falls Rain Forest is the only place on earth that receives rainfall 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In the height of the rainy season the spray from the Falls can be seen from up to 50kms away! If you haven’t experienced it first-hand, now is the time!
When planning your trip to the Falls consider the time of year you want to visit. Many consider the medium-to-high water season to be the best time to view the Falls, as that is when the water levels are at their highest. Did you know that the Falls is currently experiencing the highest flood waters in over three years?
The high-level water normally occurs during the summer season between November and April, peaking in March. During the dry season the waters in the mighty Zambezi river are a little lower, and in September and October the Zambian side often completely dries up; however this is considered the best time for high-stakes white-water rafting!
So how do you go about experiencing Victoria Falls? Set yourself an itinerary. As magnificent as the Falls are, they won’t keep you entertained for 3 full days. There are a great selection of adventure activities and things to do in Victoria Falls, such as bungee jumping, river rafting, tree–top canopying, zip–lining and more. For those looking at keeping things a little more low-key, make sure you check out a champagne sunset cruise on the Zambezi, and the local footpaths around the Victoria Falls National Park. If we had to choose our top 3 bucket list experiences, we would recommend the Flight of Angels helicopter flip, a dip in the Devil’s Pool (situated on the Zambian side) as well as a sunset cruise on the majestic Zambezi river. Those are memories that will last a lifetime.
There are direct flights from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls, and the journey takes just under 2 hours or direct flights from Cape Town that take just under 3 hours. Your package generally includes transfers to and from the airport to your chosen accommodation, so there is no need for car hire if you are just popping over for a few nights. Most of the hotels also offer transfers to and from the Falls.
There are a variety of Victoria Falls Hotels on both the Zimbabwe and Zambian side, ranging from 3 star to 5 star, some closer to the Falls than others. The hotels vary greatly and you can find something that will take you back to the colonial era at the beautifully appointed 5–star Victoria Falls Hotel, but then also find a local Spur at the 3–star Kingdom Hotel. There are also self-catering options available for those looking to get away with some friends and keep it simple as well as gorgeous Bush Lodges only a few kilometres away from the Falls that include most meals and daily game drives.
We suggest visiting Vic Falls for around 3 nights, to maximise your stay. Ideally if you could choose to combine a few nights in Vic Falls, with a few nights in nearby Chobe National Park just over the border in Botswana, you would have a wonderful week getaway.
Chat to one of our Pentravel experts to find the best Victoria Falls holiday to suit your needs and budget today.
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