An African Adventure: Day 4 – Into Zimbabwe and Victoria Falls

Where and when: Victoria falls, Zimbabwe, 16 September 2025

0700: At Cape Town airport. Check-in to flight to Zimbabwe. This is the start of the 10 day tour with Intrepid.

On the Way to Zimbabwe

0945: Flight to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

My flight was with Airlink and they were very good. The planes were new, there was a meal included and the staff were really nice.

1220: Land in Zimbabwe. I had applied for an evisa online before arrival, so it was quick and easy through immigration.

1305: On the way to the hotel. It is the dry season in southern Africa, so the landscape is arid.

1330: Arrive at N1 hotel in Victoria falls. There’s a bit of a mixup with the hotel booking (which is very unusual for Intrepid). It takes a bit of time, but it is all sorted eventually.  

1445: I decide to head out to explore Victoria falls. It is 37 degrees C outside, so it would be better to go tomorrow morning, but I don’t want to wait that long – not when there is a world wonder in your door step! The entrance to the falls is a 10 to 15 minute walk from the hotel along the main road.

Victoria Falls – from the Zimbabwe side

1500: At the falls entrance. The entry price is 50 USD (per visit) for international visitors.

Victoria falls is created when the Zambezi River cascades over a 1.7 km wide cliff.

The Zambezi River is the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, so half of Victoria falls is in Zimbabwe and the other half in Zambia. It’s one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Although the falls are divided between both countries, the best views are from Zimbabwe. The Victorial falls national park in Zimbabwe has a dozen view points from which you can see the falls.

In November 1855, David Livingstone was the first European to see the falls, when he traveled from the upper Zambezi to the mouth of the river. There is a statue of Dr Livingstone on the Zimbabwe side of the falls.

On one end of the falls is the Devil’s Cataract, which is the shortest part of the falls at 70m height.

In local language, the falls are know as “Mosi-oa-Tunya,” meaning “The Smoke that Thunders.” When you see the main part of the falls, it is easy to see why.

The mist from the falls is so strong, the trees opposite the main falls is a permanent rainforest. Even in the dry season, the mist is enough to provide a very cooling spray against the 37 degrees C heat. In the wet season, the mist becomes a permanent rain shower and you need rain coats and ponchos to avoid getting soaked.

As it is the dry season, the Zambia side of the falls is quite dry.

At the Zambia end of the falls, you can also see the Victoria Falls bridge, connecting Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The park around the falls has many animals – deer, warthogs, monkeys and birds.

At the falls there are also information about the history and geology of the waterfall as well as a comparison to Iguazu and Niagara falls.

Victoria falls was created when volcanic eruptions occured many millions of years ago and the lava cooled and solidified into basalt rock. The basalt rock had a couple of fault lines, which opened up overtime and created the falls.

Over many millenia, further fault lines were created and with each fault line a new version of victoria falls came into existence. The current version is the 8th version of the falls as the river worked its way back upstream. The previous faults lines have become what is now known as the Victoria falls gorge. It is believed that the next fault line has already started at the Devil’s Cataract, starting the creation of the 9th version of the falls. But the fault line will take a long time to develope so you have to wait 10,000 years to see the next version of the falls.

1745: The sunset is about 6pm, so time to Head back from the falls. 

Group dinner at Shearwater Explores Lodge which is a nearby hotel at Victoria Falls.