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When you get a panoramic view of Victoria falls from the tourist viewing area, you will have nothing but admiration for the world’s largest curtain of falling water. This 1,708 meters wide waterfall plummets about 128 meters into the 120-meters wide Bakota Gorge, in such a high velocity as to cause a dense mist that rises over 150 meters. This thick fog is what gives the Victoria falls its local name Mosi oa Tunya - the smoke that thunders.

Victoria Falls is one of the world’s natural wonders placed along the Zambezi River and it separates Zimbabwe and Zambia, but the greater part is on the Zimbabwean side. The falls is made of five different ?falls? which are: The Devil?s Cataract, Main Falls, Rainbow Falls and Horseshoe Falls all in Zimbabwe and the Eastern Cataract situated in Zambia.

The Devil’s Cataract, whose name is derived from the close by island in the Zambezi River, is about 70 metres deep. Main Falls is, on the other hand, the most spectacular of all the falls with water falling 93 metres into the gorge below. Shaped like a horse shoe, Horseshoe Falls is about 95 metres deep and it offers excellent view of Rainbows Falls. A spectacular view of the Cataract Falls can be found by descending 73 steps into the close by Eastern Cataract Falls situated on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls.

You can approach Victoria falls from both the Zambian and Zimbabwean sides, though the Zambia side is considered less splendid. The best season for viewing Victoria falls is when the water volume decreases midway through the dry season. Towards the end of the dry season, you will find the falls less thrilling since the water flow is at its lowest.

The rainy season in the Zambezi basin above the waterfalls comes from late November to early April, with the rest of the year being dry. Rainfall is highest in the month of April, during which over 500 million liters of water falls over the Victoria falls’ crestline per minute. The lowest flow occurs in November when the river’s volume is about a tenth of the April flow.

Victoria Falls is twice in height the size of North America’s Niagra Falls and more than twice the width of Horseshoe Falls that is also located in North America. In both dimensions, Victoria Falls is second to South America’s Iguazu Falls. The falls are part of two national parks: Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls National Park and Zambia’s Zambezi National Park. Victoria Falls National Park situated along the southern banks of the Zambezi River offers the most spectacular views.

The best months to go and see the waterfalls are July and August, which fall midway through the dry and cold season. During this season, temperatures range from 5 degrees at night to 20 degrees celsius.

Among the must do activities while at Victoria Falls include taking a guided canoeing safari on the upper Zambezi River or downstream from the falls and white water rafting through the awesome gorges of the Zambezi. Sunset cruises on the Zambezi River at Victoria falls are also a nice adventure allowing visitors close observation of hippo pods and elephants crossing the Zambezi. There exist numerous opportunities for freshwater game fishing along the banks of the river.

A walk across the Zambezi River Bridge that connects Zimbabwe with Zambia while towering over the gorges that are down river from Victoria Falls is a thrilling adventure. Zambezi River Bridge was the brain child of Cecil Rhodes, the 6th Prime minister of the Cape colony, who was for the idea of the construction of a railway line from Cape Town through the Zambezi River to Cairo, Egypt. It is 250 metres across, with the main arch spanning 156.5 metres at a height of 128 metres above the lower water mark of the river in the gorge below. The bridge was officially opened by Professor Francis Darwin, son of Charles Darwin in 1905.

Named in 1855 after the queen of England by David Livingstone, Victoria falls is now a UNESCO Heritage site. Visitors to the falls can get there by road or by air. By road, visitors can approach from Bulawayo in Zimbabwe or through the Kazungula Border Post in Zambia. To get there by air, you have to use Victoria Falls International airport. The airport has flights to and from Harare, and other regional as well as international destinations.