Victoria Falls is the number one destination for most visitors to Zimbabwe (or indeed Southern Africa) and must surely be one of the most memorable sights in the world. The Zambezi River expands to an incredible width of over a mile before thundering 100 metres down a sheer chasm and into turbulent ... Read review
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Advantages: spectacular world-class sight, lots of things to do Disadvantages: town is tourist trap - unlike rest of the country
Victoria Falls is the number one destination for most visitors to Zimbabwe (or indeed Southern Africa) and must surely be one of the most memorable sights in the world. The Zambezi River expands to an incredible width of over a mile before thundering 100 metres down a sheer chasm and into turbulent white waters. Before reaching the falls, the river is a peaceful place with palm-dotted islands scattered throughout the water. The area around the falls ... ...Rainbows can be seen from all angles. Viewing of the falls is done from within the Victoria Falls National Park where you can see antelope, vervet monkey, warthog and banded mongoose living amid the spray. Beyond the falls, the river winds its way down the gorge and provides some of the best white water rafting in the world. Finally, it flows under the Victoria Falls Bridge and between the borders of Zimbabwe and Zambia towards Lake Kariba.
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Victoria Falls is the number one destination for most visitors to Zimbabwe (or indeed Southern Africa) and must surely be one of the most memorable sights in the world. The Zambezi River expands to an incredible width of over a mile before thundering 100 metres down a sheer chasm and into turbulent white waters. Before reaching the falls, the river is a peaceful place with palm-dotted islands scattered throughout the water. The area around the falls is rainforest fed by the constant spray from the falls. Rainbows can be seen from all angles. Viewing of the falls is done from within the Victoria Falls National Park where you can see antelope, vervet monkey, warthog and banded mongoose living amid the spray. Beyond the falls, the river winds its way down the gorge and provides some of the best white water rafting in the world. Finally, it flows under the Victoria Falls Bridge and between the borders of Zimbabwe and Zambia towards Lake Kariba.
Visiting The Falls - To see the falls from the ground, you must enter the national park (current entrance fee = US$20 per person). The entrance fee does not permit re-entry (even on the same day) - so if you want to see the falls in the early morning and again in the late afternoon sunlight then you have to pay to re-enter. There are no catering facilities inside the park area so this doesn't really encourage you to linger all day (although you could if you wished). The park itself is quite well kept and provides viewing points dotted along the cliff walkway. However, its quite difficult to take any photographs without getting drenched by the spray. Make sure any camera equipment is suitably protected.
Other Attractions - The town of Victoria Falls is only a few minutes walk from the falls and is the tourist hub for a huge range of activities covering both general tourism and the adrenalin adventure seekers. The town has many craft and African art shops. Many of these are rather cheap and tacky but there is also some good quality stuff in places like the Motombo Gallery or some of the longer established shops. This is a tourist mecca and you will inevitably be approached by money-changers or people trying to sell drinks or souvenirs. However, its not oppressive and they can quite easily be ignored - there are many places around the world that are much much worse.
Victoria Falls Bridge leads to Zambia and carries both a rail and road track. It is made of steel and has a main-arch span of 152m (500ft). It was built close to the falls on the instruction of Cecil Rhodes who wished rail travellers to feel the spray of the falls. It was built in the UK and shipped to the site before being opened in 1905 by Francis Darwin (son of Charles Darwin). You can take a train from the town and have lunch on the bridge before returning to the station.
At the other end of the falls, the Zambezi Drive leads you along the river before turning inland and heading for the Zambezi National Park. The park runs along the river for over 40 km and contains a wide range of Zimbabwe's wildlife. One of the sights here is known as the 'Big Tree' which is actually a huge old baobab tree situated where early pioneers made camp before crossing the river. One creature you are quite likely to see in this area (and around the falls) is the Banded Mongoose which are rather cute little beasts usually seen in large groups foraging through the undergrowth.
Victoria Falls Railway Station is a very smart Edwardian station (built in 1904) with a pond and palm trees on the platform. You can step out of the train and through the station arch before proceeding down the short palm fringed walkway leading straight into the Victoria Falls Hotel.
The Victoria Falls Hotel has been the place to stay when visiting the falls since it was first built in 1905 and remains a special place to this day. This is a grand building steeped in bygone elegance - but it was not always so. The hotel was originally a wooden construction with many verandahs and a corrugated tin roof. Rickshaws were used to transport visitors to the falls before this became outdated and hand-worked rail trollies were introduced. The hotel was rebuilt in brick in 1913 and today's visitors must walk the short distance to the falls.
Where to Stay - If you can afford it, the Victoria Falls Hotel is highly recommended but there are many places to stay to suit all pockets. Ilala Lodge is less expensive and is situated in the heart of the town only a short walk from the falls. There are several excellent lodges along the Zambezi River offering guides and activities. The Elephant Hills Continental Hotel is a monstrosity and an eye-sore - but if you're inside it and looking out then I guess its great !
Advantages: Hard to beat walking with lions! Disadvantages: A little pricey.
Gweru – Walking with Lions
In Gweru there is a little place called Antelope Park. Strange name I thought for somewhere where I was going to be able to walk with lion cubs. The cubs that they have there had been abandoned by their mothers. I wasn’t to sure about it when our truck driver first told us about it, especially when we found out it was going to cost us $20 US! But my love of cats got the better of me.
We set up our tent close to the lake ... ...only kidding! We walked over to the lions' enclosure with Bobby the guide. There were 3 of them, but one (Patch), had hurt his foot. So Bobby called Bandit and Cas out of their enclosure, and out they came! The moment they came out my heart skipped a beat, and I felt quite scared. We were told to walk at a normal pace, and the lions would follow. They did. They were beautiful and their feet were so big! Both of them were about 7 months old, and they ...
LeilaR 12.06.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of General: Zimbabwe
Advantages: Beautiful country, wonderful wildlife Disadvantages: Infrastructure isn't the best
I travelled around Zimbabwe with my wife (Debby) in February 1999. This was lucky as it was only a little while later that the problems started. This article is designed to be a general overview of what we did while in the country. I plan (within my time constraints) to have a look at specific spots in the country in furture articles.
Debby and I actually had a fairly unique trip around the country. The reason for this is that Debby was born in ... ...small, there are still relatives and family friends throughout the country. This meant that while we travelled, we never actually stayed in a hotel, or public accommodation, as we always found a friend of a friend who was happy to put us up.
Perhaps the best thing about the trip was that some friends of the family lent us a car for 2 of the weeks. This gave us the flexibility to travel when and where we wanted to, without the hassles of catching ...
PuddyTat 16.11.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of General: Zimbabwe
Advantages: Cheap, excellent wildlife, excellent natural features Disadvantages: Current unrest
Zimbabwe is one of the most amazing countries I have ever visited.
I went for three weeks in 1992 flying to Harare and then went round the country in an old army truck camping as we went. The highlights for me in these three weeks were:
1. Bulawayo - go and visit the steam train museum. We went when it was closed but the people there opened up just for the three us. It was also the only place I saw mention of Rhodesia in the time I was there. Yes ... ...2. Great Zimbabwe - This site shows what the people of Africa were capabable of centuries ago.
3. Cecil Rhodes' grave - This was more of a pilgrimage (I am also a Rhodes!). The view at sunset from here is worth seeing too.
4. Hwange National Park - Excellent wildlife. We were there in September at the end of the dry season making it much easier to see wildlife. This park has remained uncultivated due to the plants that grow there - when man tried ...
tomrhodes 17.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of General: Zimbabwe
Advantages: Friendly people, great exchange rate if you've got £'s Disadvantages: Possible threat to foreign nationals
Being a British woman who lived in Zimbabwe for 2 1/2yrs, only returning to the UK in April '00, I can sadly no longer recommed visiting Zimbabwe, at the present moment in time. Despite everything you hear on the news about racism and the blacks hating the whites, it simply isn't true. I married a Black Zimbabwean so they can't be that bad! However, President Mugabe has now stated publicly that he "cannot guarantee the safety of diplomats or foreign ... ...in this statement his small, but trusty, band of violent supporters may well attack any white (or foreigner) without asking what their business is. I must state that I do not know how badly affected the Tourist areas such as Vitoria Falls and Great Zimbabwe have been affected. Therefore if you do decided to travel to Zimbabwe I can give you the following information.
Everywhere you go in the country you will find genuine hospitality, when they say ...
Gwenick 04.09.2000 (02.05.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of General: Zimbabwe
Advantages: Cheap, beautiful weather, friendly, relaxing Disadvantages: Current economic situation
I go to Zimbabwe every year for a holiday firstly because i've got family there but secondly because it's the most amazing country i've ever been to. The weather is gorgeous - lovely hot sunny days, the country is beautiful - open land with trees and birds singing, the people are friendly and it's really relaxing.
There are many things to do in Zimbabwe, all very different and all for a fraction of the price you would pay here.
Victoria Falls - ... ...A truley amazing place to go to and a definate must see. You can take a walk through the rainforest which is opposite the Falls and get drenched by the spray from the Falls. For the more adventurous there is White Water Rafting and Bungee Jumping. You can take one of the most famous sundowner cruises where you sit and relax in a boat sipping a glass of champagne watching for wild animals whilst the sun goes down. Victoria Falls is a tourist attraction ...
samzimbabe 10.11.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of General: Zimbabwe
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Advantages: unusual and dramatic scenery, great wildlife, variety of activities Disadvantages: getting there - mostly by light aircraft only !
Lake Kariba is a man-made lake created following the completion of the Kariba Dam which was built between 1955 and 1959 to harness the waters of the Zambezi River and provide hydro-electric power to both Zimbabwe and Zambia. Before the waters rose, some 51,000 people of the tonga tribe had to be resettled on higher ground. Almost 5,000 animals were also rescued in "Operation Noah" co-ordinated by the game ranger Rupert Fothergill. The Zambezi Valey which incorporates Lake Kariba is today one of the most important wildlife sanctuaries in Africa.
In recent years, high levels of rain have caused the waters of Lake Kariba to rise much higher than was ever expected. Whilst the rain is generally good for wildlife around Zimbabwe, for the area of Matusadona and Lake Kariba this has meant that the fertile grass shores are now under water ...
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