Way back in 1855, when David Livingstone "discovered" the place where the mighty Zambezi River plunges more than 100m down into an impressive gorge, he named the phenomenon for his queen. And so the Victoria Falls came to the attention of the western world.

For hundreds of years the Tonga people who lived in the area had called the falls "Mosi oa Tunya" which means "The Smoke That Thunders" in recognition of the constantly rising mist and thundering noise that give the falls' position away in the surrounding rain forest and thickly wooded banks of the Zambezi. 

Livingstone was the first European to lay eyes on what is now regarded as the world's largest falling curtain of water at 108m deep and 1,7km wide. He also gave his name to the small settlement that sprang up in the late 1800s on the northern banks of the Zambezi in what was Northern Rhodesia and is now Zambia. On the opposite, southern banks of the river the town of Victoria Falls was established in 1901, in what was Southern Rhodesia and is now Zimbabwe. 

In 1905 the two towns were linked by a railway bridge that spans the broiling Second Gorge below the falls - one of the most impressive engineering feats of its time. Today, it's a border post like no other, with sensational views of the river below and home to one of the most legendary bungee jumps in the world. 

The bungee jump is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to adventure activities in and around the falls. Indeed, both Livingstone and Victoria Falls town have become renowned around the world for their eye-watering range of exciting, adrenaline-pumping things to do. From white water rafting, zip-lining, gorge swinging and microlighting over the falls to swimming on the very edge of the main cataract, a visit to the falls is never going to be boring. 

Moving between Zambia and Zimbabwe for various activities is easy and all of the tour operators on both sides of the Zambezi are equipped to provide smooth and efficient transfers to and from activities. If white knuckle experiences aren't your thing, then relax, because there's so much more to this area. 

More sedate activities include breathtaking helicopter rides over the falls and the Zambezi, gentle sunset cruises on the upper river, river safaris to spot the impressive wildlife in the area which includes lots of elephants, hippos, crocodiles and superlative bird life and game drives in national parks on both sides of the falls. 

Both the towns of Victoria Falls and Livingstone have superb international airports with easy access from major hubs like Johannesburg and road transfers to nearby Kasane in Botswana are easy thanks to an excellent road network and the newly unveiled Kazangulu Bridge over the Zambezi. This links the falls directly with Botswana's Chobe National Park, which is a short two-hour drive away. 

From Livingstone it's a short hop by plane to both the Lower Zambezi National Park and South Luangwa National Park. On the Zimbabwean side, Victoria Falls is the gateway to the breathtaking Hwange National Park. It's also a major departure point for the incredible Rovos Rail luxury train which runs regular trips from Victoria Falls to Pretoria, and vice versa. 

This makes a trip to the falls the perfect complement to your Southern African safari. A minimum three-night stay is recommended, and the accommodation options on both sides of the falls are excellent. Alternatively, a long weekend or midweek break to the falls is an easy thing to arrange if you want a quick getaway to escape the concrete jungle!

So chat to us today about arranging your trip to this incredible destination!