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Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls

Zambia, Zimbabwe

Background

World Heritage since
1989
Type of site
Natural
Livingstone names the falls
1855

These are among the most spectacular waterfalls in the world. UNESCO describes the Zambezi, more than 2 km wide at this point, plunging noisily down a series of basalt gorges and raising an iridescent mist that can be seen more than 20 km away.

Wikipedia: at 1,708 m wide and 108 m high the falls form the world's largest sheet of falling water; David Livingstone saw them from Livingstone Island on 16 November 1855 and named them for Queen Victoria, while the Lozi name Mosi-oa-Tunya, the smoke that thunders, stays in use and both names are on the World Heritage List. Wikivoyage: the Zimbabwean rainforest park and the Zambian side both keep the spray-fed forest. The GoGo Livingstone guide does the Zambian side first, then the 1905 bridge.

More on the UNESCO listing More on Wikipedia

  1. 150–200 million years agoJurassic volcanism lays down the basalt
  2. 2 million years agoUplift sends the river over the basalt on a new course
  3. 1855David Livingstone sees the falls from Livingstone Island
  4. 1905The Victoria Falls Bridge opens
  5. 1989Inscribed as World Heritage

Find Your Way Around

The main parts of the site, in the order most visitors see them

  1. 1
    The Zambian Side
    Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, the GoGo guide's first morning.
  2. 2
    Victoria Falls Rainforest
    The Zimbabwean park, with the full face of the falls and a statue of Livingstone.
  3. 3
    Victoria Falls Bridge
    The 1905 bridge, with bungee and gorge swing.
  4. 4
    Devil's Pool
    Swimming on the lip of the falls from Livingstone Island in the dry months.
  5. 5
    Boiling Pot
    Wikivoyage: the swirling pool where the water goes after the falls, reached by a steep path.
  6. 6
    Livingstone Museum
    David Livingstone's letters and maps in the Zambian town.

Know Before You Go

From Wikivoyage and the GoGo guides

Raincoat from April to June
The GoGo guide: the spray soaks you in high water; bring a raincoat.
Dry Season for Devil's Pool
The GoGo guide puts the swim in the dry months, and rafting in the Batoka Gorge from August to December.
Two Airports
Wikivoyage: flights from Johannesburg serve Victoria Falls Airport, with cheaper flights often into Livingstone across the border.
Zimbabwe Side 06:00 to 18:00
Wikivoyage: the rainforest gate is by the border post, and tourist police in yellow vests are everywhere in town.

Victoria Falls from Livingstone

From the GoGo Livingstone guide · Open the Livingstone Guide ›

  1. 08:00
    Victoria Falls3 hrs
    The Smoke That Thunders, from the Zambian side.
  2. 14:00
    Victoria Falls Bridge90 min
    The 1905 bridge, bungee and gorge swing.
  3. 16:30
    Zambezi Sunset Cruise2.5 hrs
    Hippos and elephants from the boat.
  4. 19:30
    Nshima and Bream90 min
    Zambian dinner in town.

Best Time to Visit

Best months: Jun–Jul. Very hot (highs 34°C+) in Sep–Nov.

Typical highs

Best monthsRain: wettest Dec (137 mm), driest Jul (0 mm)

Climate: NASA POWER

Sources
UNESCO World Heritage Centre, listing 509 · Wikipedia: Victoria Falls · Wikivoyage: Victoria Falls (CC BY-SA 4.0) · GoGo Livingstone guide · UNESCO listing