The Smoke That Thunders (2015)
The Mosi-oa-Tunya is actually made up of 5 parts - one in Zambia (the Eastern Cataract) and the other four in Zimbabwe - the Zimbabwean side far 'rougher'.
There is some debate on how to measure the size of waterfalls - generally they are measured by width rather than depth or height. Victoria Falls is neither the widest (at 1.7km) or the tallest (at about 100m) . The Angel Falls in Venezuela is the tallest at almost 1,000 metres (!) but is only about 100 metres wide; while the Iguazu Falls is wider at almost 3km. but reaching only about 80 metres in height. So taking both width and height together, the Mosi-oa-Tunya is deserving of its 'largest waterfall in the world' title.
While in Zambia, we also went on an elephant safari - quite an experience!
For more of the story:
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shyam_t/11/1437823278/tpod.html
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shyam_t/11/1438693429/tpod.html
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shyam_t/11/1438713821/tpod.html
A gentle welcome at our hotel - olde worlde charm
Ceiling fans turning lazily, solar topee-d staff - and a bellboy named Livingstone!
Sunset cruise down the Zambezi
Makes a change from the usual 'Caution, school children crossing' signs
The sign wasn't lying
What is it about a sunset like this that screams "African Sunset"?
On the lawn of our hotel
The Zambezi River and the spray from the Falls...smoke but no thunder, yet.
Dr Livingstone I presume?
Our first breathtaking view at the First Gorge on the Zambian side
The double rainbow was a bonus
A replica of the good doctor's little boat
He was in this when he had his first sight of the Falls, which he'd only heard (and not seen). On seeing the Falls, he said, "...No one can imagine the beauty of the view from anything witnessed in England. It had never been seen before by European eyes but scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight." We felt the same.
Victoria Falls Bridge
Victoria Falls Bridge - the brainchild of Cecil Rhodes (of Rhodesia and Rhodes Scholarship fame). He had a grand plan of building a railway line from the southern tip of the Cape to Cairo. This didn't happen and he died before this bridge, across the second gorge of the Falls, was constructed. The bridge was officially opened in 1905 by George Darwin, Charles Darwin's grandson.
Final stop on the Zambian side, looking across to Zimbabwe - spot the (insignificant) humans
The Zimbabwean side, we were told, is wetter, more slippery - and there are no barriers...
Slippery when wet (which is pretty much always)
The Zimbabwean side was indeed more slippery, and there really weren't any barriers
Crazy adrenaline junkies
The barrier-less Zimbabwean side
Was watching these three...the guide (in yellow, well protected against the spray) hung back as the guy with the camera crept ever closer to the edge in his enthusiasm...
A force not to be messed with
Living on the edge
Looking back at the Zambian side where we just were. We crossed the border by road (in case anyone wondered).
Another adrenaline junkie
...that would've been quite a spectacular dive...
Panorama (not selfie, he said) at Danger Point
Elephant safari
The little one followed us all the way
Education by elephant
A first for me - look ma, no howdah!
Sunset from the spa
Next stop - Cape Town