Niagara Falls may leave you in awe, but it has nothing on Victoria Falls, the behemoth wonder of the world in southern Africa that divides Zambia and Zimbabwe.
At 354 feet high, this natural wonder is twice the height of Niagara Falls and stands nearly a mile wide, a combination that creates the world’s largest sheet of falling water and a destination worthy of any travel bucket list. The spray from the falls can shoot as high as the Empire State Building is tall and be seen for about 30 miles. This is one of those destinations that’s well worth the journey—about 19 hours from Chicago through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, or 30 hours when flying from Chicago through London and Nairobi.
This is where the Zambezi River plummets into a series of gorges to create a natural wonder known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya, the smoke that thunders. Stop to listen as you watch the mist rise, and you’ll know why it’s called Mosi-oa-Tunya.
This is the destination that famous explorer David Livingstone described as a sight so wonderful angels must have gazed down on it in flight. I went up in a helicopter to see Victoria Falls from a similar vantage point, and it’s one of the most memorable travel experiences I’ve ever had.
The Zambezi Helicopter Company offers two set flight route options and private charters. I was on one of the set routes that flies over Victoria Falls and the national parks that surround it, providing a chance for eagle-eyed visitors to spot elephants, hippos, buffalo, and more.
While seeing the falls from above is the best way to understand its size and scale, a visit to Victoria Falls National Park in Zimbabwe complements it well. The park offers a number of walking trails, giving visitors a chance to see just how powerful this wonder is up close and to feel the cool mist it creates.
This waterfall spans the entire breadth of the Zambezi River at one of its widest point. At its most dramatic point, a sheet of water plunges 355 feet into a pool of water sandwiched into a crevice of the earth. There are hiking trails for a variety of levels and enough rainbows to make you feel almost like you’re chasing endless pots of gold. While you can’t access Devil’s Pool, the iconic cliffside pool on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls, you will get a good look at it from across the water.
Visit between February and May, just after the rainy season here, to see the falls at their fullest. Stay at least two nights to explore this area at a reasonable pace, though you can experience Victoria Falls in 24 hours if you’re tight on time.
Where To Stay In Victoria Falls
Book a stay at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge and all you’ll have to do is step out onto your balcony to watch Africa’s Cape buffalo—one of the continent’s famous Big Five game animals—roam. Victoria Falls Safari Lodge has 72 rooms and six two-story suites, each with a balcony overlooking the African bush. It has been Zimbabwe’s favorite resort of local travel agents for more than two decades.
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The property is positioned to make the most of unforgettable sunset views across Zambezi National Park. Take them in from the pool, your balcony or breakfast. I stayed in the Elephant suite, which felt like home from the moment I walked in, and came with a balcony view that still makes me smile—five years later.
The onsite MaKuwa-Kuwa restaurant serves up dishes including coconut crusted bream filet and coffee-infused beef short ribs and the restaurant ambiance creates the feeling that you’re dining and drinking in the wild. And who doesn’t appreciate a donut tower?
Victoria Falls Safari Lodge sits on an estate that includes three other properties, including the 20-room Victoria Falls Safari Club and The Boma, a dinner and drum show where guests can try a local delicacy—the Mopani worm. It’s less than three miles from Victoria Falls and about a five-minute drive to the Zambezi Helicopter Company’s helipads, making it an ideal home base for experiencing a piece of Victoria Falls.
And Victoria Falls is a destination that’s well worth the journey, which for me included a 15-hour economy class flight from New York to Johannesburg, a safari through Botswana and Namibia and a few days of cruising Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe.
*Support this site by booking through our partner links. While we earn commissions when you purchase through our partner links, editorial reviews are independent and not subject to review by the companies mentioned.
