The Sunday Mail
“Scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight,” that was David Livingstone in 1855 on seeing the Mosi-oa-Tunya for the first time.
Georgia King, an Australian student posting on her Instagram account said, “The most overwhelmingly intense and beautiful thing I’ve seen.”
The Tonga people, who are indigenous to the Victoria Falls, named them “Mosi-oa-Tunya,” which means the smoke that thunders.
“Scenes so lovely they must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight”
The great might and majestic force of the Falls have always been a marvel worth seeing.
It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and a treasure for Zimbabweans and Zambians who draw a living from the tourism activity around the Falls.
I have visited the Falls for seven times now and each time l have done so it has always been a new experience.
One can never get tired of its sights and sounds.
My latest visit was over the New Year holiday.
The views were as mesmerising as ever. There is a sensation that one gets, as if the spray from the Zambezi River cleanses the soul of any stress and pain.
I dedicated my latest trip to appreciating the grandeur of the Falls in all their might and glory. If people have travelled from all over the world, for many years and have appreciated such work of nature, then everyone in Africa should strive to make a trip to the to this beautiful place.
Viewing the Victoria Falls
There are two ways that one can experience the sight that inspired David Livingstone to write that mesmerising letter to the Queen of England, back in 1855.
The first is through the Victoria Falls National Park, where the route through the Rain Forest is clearly marked. Zimbabwean citizens, as long as they produce a passport or identification card, pay a reasonable park access fee. Those with foreign citizenship pay a little bit more.
The walk in the rainforest has amazing picturesque scenes that make good memories. Make sure your cellphones are ready for selfies and the camera batteries are fully charged as the urge to take photos will definitely come.
From the statue of Livingstone just near the Devil’s Cataract section right through the Main Falls section to the Danger Point, the walk through the Rain Forest is one remarkable journey.
Another great scene is the Chain Walk section, where visitors can feel the Zambezi spray on their skin. In the afternoon, one can see the best rainbows as the sun illuminates the gorge.
The most majestic view of the Falls is the Main Falls section. The white water curtain pours down the gorge, creating the smoke that thunders and spray that can be seen from great distances.
Taking the walk is definitely a must, and whilst others prefer a sunrise walk, others opt for sunset, the idea being the need for some great rainbow pictures.
It is advisable, though, to carry some dry snacks and cold water to stay hydrated during this walk. There is a very good restaurant in the park where one can rest and unwind after the walk, with the sound of the Falls in the background.
Now that is a perfect holiday.
The second way to view the Falls is by helicopter. This must be the view that Livingstone had in mind when he wrote in 1855.
The 13-minute helicopter ride costs $150 per person, excluding some levies to be paid when boarding the helicopter. While the price might seem steep, it definitely is worth it, especially considering the thrill that comes with a helicopter ride — every moment is worth every cent.
Personally, I experienced that ride as we flew across the Falls with a view of the Victoria Falls Bridge and the knife-edged gorge majestically underneath. The gorge makes white water rafting in the Zambezi River famous for its spills and thrills.
Experiencing the culture
Victoria Falls has to be the coolest and friendliest town in the world.
All the locals understand the need to be polite to tourists, they always give good vibes to the visitors — foreign or local.
To fully cherish and remember this town, a souvenir is always necessary.
With many statues of the Nyaminyami (the river god) and the Big Five available, there are many ways to take the Victoria Falls art back home.
Tshaka’s Den is a shopping complex that houses many sculptures and hand-made jewellery from elephant hair, copper, metal and wood. There are shops with Zimbabwean hand-painted print fabric goods, table cloths and bags.
Elephant’s Walk Shopping Mall and The Africa Café are on the same complex.
Guests are welcomed by a live marimba band performance in the beautiful garden of this complex which is home to different shops and eateries.
The interesting aspect of the art in this shopping mall is that most of the highly sophisticated pieces of art are created from recycled material.
This is the home of “Twalumba”, the rhino made of recycled cans, which is a larger-than-life sculpture.
The Africa Café is an ideal place to have a delicious organic meal as the ingredients are sourced locally. The food is so yummy, one would think that the Zambezi River waters the vegetables.
But your visit to Victoria Falls is incomplete without partaking the party in Chinotimba township.
Going with the flow on the Zambezi, one must always go with the flow when they visit the Falls.
A relaxing sunset cruise on the Zambezi River is a great way to end one’s holiday.
While cruising on the Zambezi, the sunset view of the river is mesmerising as guests sip on cocktails, drinks and liquor alongside snacks while customary traditional dancers provide entertainment.
lndeed, the sunset cruise treats all the guests like royalty.
