The Smoke that Thunders - Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls Zambia
@Inlemay (17713)
South Africa
April 30, 2020 5:00am CST
Mosi-oa-Tunya which translates to 'The Smoke that Thunders', named by Dr David Livingstone on his explorations of the African continent. I believe I have been silent long enough about our wonderful trip to the African States of Zambia and Zimbabwe, therefore its time to share. I wish I could show you multiple photos, but one would have to do for now, others will follow with new posts. Bucket list accomplished and it almost never happened. Hubby and I had been lucky to get a great discounted travel voucher after waiting almost a year for them to materialize. For the local South Africans its a dear excursion to the Victoria Falls, as it is one of the largest in the world and is also a UNESCO Heritage site - visited by hundreds of foreigners daily. "The Victoria Falls presents a spectacular sight of awe-inspiring beauty and grandeur on the Zambezi River, forming the border between Zambia ... National Park Mosi-oa-Tunya Flow rate 1 088 m3/s Named after Queen of Great Britain Height 108 m" says Wikipedia and believe me when I say it has such a GRANDEUR. We were fortunate to stay on the Zambian side and at a resort that allowed us access to the falls every day from 6 am till 6 pm - this was fantastic because on the Zimbabwe side at the entrance to the Mosi-ao-Tunya National Park a daily fee of $30 dollars is charged per person. Being South African we were given a discounted charge because of the SADEC (Southern African Development Communities) membership which I love. Trying to travel in dollars is not easy when our rand is R18.00 to $1. Anyway, the discounts that were afforded us from start to finish made this trip a wonderful experience and we won't forget it soon. On hearing the falls before one sees them is an absolutely surreal and bizarre experience. Just the idea that Dr Livingstone came upon this mass of water many years ago, must have left him so excited and eager to tell the world. Glorious, amazing, majestical, are but a few of the words to describe how it sounds, feels, looks. Feels ... because it sprays a thunderous amount of water that has fallen to the bottom and leaps back up to wet everything, like summer rain. The spray is sometimes so dense that visibility is nought. We were at the falls for four days and visited them every morning and every evening. One of the days we took a 4km walk to Zimbabwe, walked across the border, were stopped and heat tested for the Covid-19 screening, and on our return back to Zambia, the same process at the Zambian border. The walk is easy and interesting with all the local vendors trying to flog their cans of cake to the travellers. They don't bother us much as we speak Afrikaans and they know were are border locals, so to say. I shall reveal more in my following post, till then be well and be safe during this terrible pandemic worldwide.
7 people like this
8 responses
@JudyEv (339586)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 May 20
How wonderful to be able the visit the falls time and again. I can only imagine what an incredible trip this would have been.
2 people like this
@Inlemay (17713)
• South Africa
1 Jun 20
it was a wonderful trip regardless - we had the best of times in a time where the world was in a worry sate, We would have loved it if they quarantined us there for months
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
30 Apr 20
It is just as lovely as Niagra falls, and more so, in it's own way. I want to see it someday.
2 people like this
@Inlemay (17713)
• South Africa
1 May 20
you will not be disappointed by visiting any falls. I wish it for you
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (51108)
• Canada
30 Apr 20
Those are just beautiful falls, they are like a smaller version of Niagara Falls. What I love most about visiting the falls is breathing the freshest air in the world, cleaned by the falls themselves.
2 people like this
@MALUSE (69373)
• Germany
1 Jun 20
Hello! Long time no write! It's nice to see you on the site again. When my husband and I visited New York, we made a day-tour to the Niagara Falls. To see them from their best side, we crossed the border to Canada. We also made a boat tour to get as near as possible.
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17713)
• South Africa
1 Jun 20
absolutely fantastic - there are river rafting tours on the Zambezi but it was in flood so no boating for us
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
30 Apr 20
Too bad people will not be seeing that amazing sight anymore.
2 people like this
@Inlemay (17713)
• South Africa
1 May 20
sadly shame - well until 2021 it seems as all of Africa are taking great precautions not to let travellers from around the world to pass.
1 person likes this
• Northampton, England
30 Apr 20
dried up this spring
2 people like this
@Inlemay (17713)
• South Africa
1 May 20
It has never dried up - it only has a small place where it flows, at the moment the Zambesi is in flood and it's reported to be the most amazing sight - we got to see the first week of flooding - it got worse as the month of rainfall in the catchment area got higher
@m_audrey6788 (58472)
• Germany
30 Apr 20
Good thing you got to experience to see those wonderful nature
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50205)
• United States
31 May 20
I’m so jealous. I’d love to visit them.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50205)
• United States
1 Jun 20
@Inlemay very lucky
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17713)
• South Africa
1 Jun 20
Some of our friends from Michigan were supposed to arrive in July but all visas were cancelled and they have been advised to re-book for next year August. We were very very lucky. last ones in and last ones out for 2020 it seems
1 person likes this