Tour Company: Dav Safaris
Website: www.davsafaris.com
Email: info@davsafaris.com
Tel: +256701412430 / +25675779578
Victoria Falls is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya ("The Smoke That Thunders"), and it forms the largest single sheet of falling water on Earth along the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. A Zambia and Zimbabwe safari tour allows you to see the falls from both sides, each offering different perspectives: Zimbabwe provides a wider face-on view while Zambia gives close access to Livingstone Island and the famous Devil's Pool. The falls create a unique rainforest ecosystem from its constant spray, and visitors can witness rare moonbows on full moon nights or brave the edge at the legendary Devil's Pool during dry season.
1. It is known as The Smoke That Thunders
Victoria Falls' original name is Mosi-oa-Tunya, meaning "The Smoke That Thunders" in the Lozi and Kololo languages, which perfectly captures the sight of rising spray and the roar of falling water. Adding a Zambia and Zimbabwe safari tour to your visit lets you experience this phenomenon from both sides of the gorge, as the falls straddle the border between the two countries. Scottish missionary David Livingstone named the falls after Queen Victoria in 1855, but both names are officially recognized today. The spray rises over 400 meters into the air and is visible from 50 kilometers away, making the "smoke" a real landmark. A good Zambia and Zimbabwe safari tour will include time at the viewpoints where you can hear the thunder before you even see the water. The local Tongan people also call the falls Shungu Namutitima, meaning "Boiling Water."
2. It is the largest sheet of falling water in the world
Victoria Falls stretches 1,708 meters (5,604 feet) across and drops 108 meters (354 feet) into the gorge below, making it the largest sheet of falling water on Earth. A proper Zambia and Zimbabwe safari tour allows you to see the full scale of this curtain from multiple angles, as the Zimbabwean side shows about 75% of the falls face-on while the Zambian side gives you close access to the Eastern Cataract. The falls are roughly twice as high as Niagara Falls and significantly wider, with an average water volume of 1,088 cubic meters per second plunging over the edge continuously. If you book a Zambia and Zimbabwe safari tour during peak flood season (February to May), you will see the most powerful flow. The combination of height and width creates a spectacle that no single viewpoint can fully capture, which is why seeing both sides matters.
3. It is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World
Victoria Falls holds a well-deserved spot among the Seven Natural Wonders of the World alongside the Grand Canyon and the Great Barrier Reef. Including Victoria Falls on your Zambia and Zimbabwe safari tour means you can visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site (designated in 1989) that spans two countries and two different national park systems: Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park in Zambia and Victoria Falls National Park in Zimbabwe. UNESCO the falls for outstanding natural beauty and the recognized their remarkable geological features of the surrounding basalt gorges. A well-planned Zambia and Zimbabwe safari tour will give you access to both parks, each offering different walking trails and viewpoints. The designation covers the entire 2,340-hectare area, from the falls themselves to the downstream gorges where the river zigzags through ancient fractures in the basalt rock.
4. A unique moonbow appears on full moon nights
During full moon nights, Victoria Falls produces a moonbow a rainbow created by moonlight refracting through the spray, which is rarely seen anywhere else on Earth. Your Zambia and Zimbabwe safari tour can be timed to coincide with the full moon, allowing you to witness this pale but distinct lunar rainbow arching above the thundering water from either the Zambian or Zimbabwean side. The phenomenon occurs because Victoria Falls generates consistently high spray levels even outside peak flood season. Some Zambia and Zimbabwe safari tour operators offer special full moon walks, where you explore the rainforest after dark and stand in the spray as the moonbow appears. The experience is completely different from daytime visits: the falls are quieter due to fewer tourists, and the lunar rainbow creates a surreal, almost magical atmosphere. You need a clear sky and a full moon rising directly over the gorge for the best view.
5. The Devil's Pool lets you swim at the edge of the falls
For adventure travelers, the famous Devil's Pool on the Zambian side lets you swim to within meters of the sheer drop when water levels are safe (typically September to December). A Zambia and Zimbabwe safari tour that includes Livingstone Island gives you exclusive access to this natural rock pool, where a rock barrier prevents you from being swept over the 100-meter edge. While the Devil's Pool is on the Zambian side, combining it with a Zambia and Zimbabwe safari tour means you can also view it from across the gorge on the Zimbabwean side, seeing exactly where swimmers are perched. A less nerve-wracking option called Angel's Pool is available during the rainy season. Most guided trips to the pool include a boat transfer from the Zambian mainland, a safety briefing, and a chance to sit on the edge for photos. This activity is only for strong swimmers who are comfortable with heights.
6. The spray creates a unique rainforest ecosystem
The constant spray from Victoria Falls creates a surprising rainforest ecosystem right along the cliff edge, complete with fig trees, palms, and tropical plants that would not survive in the surrounding dry savannah. Walking through this rainforest is a highlight of any Zambia and Zimbabwe safari tour, as you can be completely surrounded by lush greenery while only meters away from the arid landscape typical of the region. Both the Zambian and Zimbabwean sides have well-maintained walking trails through this unique habitat. A Zambia and Zimbabwe safari tour that allocates enough time for both sides lets you experience how the spray plume shifts with the wind, sometimes soaking the Zimbabwean side more, other times hitting Zambia harder. The rainforest is home to vervet monkeys, baboons, and numerous bird species that thrive in the humid microclimate. You will need a waterproof jacket even on sunny days because the mist falls like steady rain.
7. The falls span two countries with contrasting views
Victoria Falls sits directly on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, and seeing both sides gives you two completely different perspectives of the same waterfall. The Zambia and Zimbabwe safari tour is the only way to fully appreciate this contrast: the Zimbabwean side offers a wide, face-on view of about 75% of the falls including the Main Falls and Devil's Cataract, while the Zambian side gets you close to the Eastern Cataract and Livingstone Island where David Livingstone first viewed the falls in 1855. The Victoria Falls Bridge, built in 1905, connects the two countries and offers spectacular views from 128 meters above the gorge. A well-organized Zambia and Zimbabwe safari tour will use the KAZA UniVisa, which allows multiple crossings so you can see the falls from both countries without paying for separate visas. Many visitors say the Zimbabwean side is better for photography, but the Zambian side is better for adventure activities like Devil's Pool and white-water rafting below the falls.
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