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Blog / Natural Wonders of the World

Getting To Know Africa: Victoria Falls - Mosi-oa-Tunya

It's breath-taking! No wonder this majestic site is also known as "Smoke That Thunders".

The spray shoots over 400 meters in the air and can be seen from 30 kilometers away. It is twice the height of Niagara Falls.

There’s no doubt about it. Victoria Falls is massive and awe-inspiring. Located in southern Africa, at the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls is considered the largest waterfall in the world, based on its width of 1.7km, plus its height of 108 meters. The Zambezi River, which originates in northern Zambia, feeds these mighty falls. During the wet season, over 500 million liters of water crash down over the edge per minute. Victoria Falls is considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1989. Today two national parks protect the falls on either side. Victoria Falls, with its ever-present rainbows, is a gorgeous site to behold. It’s no wonder several hundred thousand people visit the falls each year. 

Smoke That Thunders - Scottish explorer Dr. David Livingstone is believed to be the first European to view the falls. When first coming across the falls in 1855, he reportedly said, “Scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight.” 

Livingstone named the falls after Queen Victoria, who was the monarch at that time. But well before Livingstone, the falls had another name. In the Kololo language, the falls are aptly named Mosi-oa-Tunya—meaning “smoke that thunders.” The World Heritage List officially recognizes both names.

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Exploring the Falls - Here are a few of the numerous ways to explore Victoria Falls:

  • Walk the various trails- There are numerous trails on both sides with impressive vistas, but the Zimbabwean side affords the best panoramic view. Baboons and warthogs are common in the area, so you may catch a glimpse.
  • Take a train- Hop on the Royal Livingstone Express—a luxury and historic train that offers lunch and dinner trips
  • From the air- Take in the sheer magnitude of the falls from a helicopter. You may even see elephants and other wildlife. For added excitement—fly over in a microlite (a small glider-like plane with a motor).

Feeling More Daring? - Obviously for most people it’s enough to gaze at the falls and absorb the surrounding natural beauty. But for those looking for more, the area around Victoria Falls offers a variety of activities for adventure travelers and adrenaline junkies. Devil’s Pool is a natural rock pool on the very edge of Victoria Falls. During the dry season, it’s shallow enough for people to safely swim in it. A natural rock wall, just below the surface, stops swimmers from plunging over the edge. Obviously this is not for the faint of heart, and you have to be a strong swimmer to even get there.

Experience Swimming in Devil's Pool

 

Imagine having your guide hold onto your ankles as you scoot out to the rim and peer over the precipitous drop to watch the water crash on the rocks 100 meters below.

If you’re not scared of heights, there’s no shortage of activities. How about bungee jumping off the bridge between Zambia and Zimbabwe? No doubt you’ll feel your heart pumping as you plunge 111 meters into the gorge. Or perhaps you’d like to try rappelling down a cliff or shooting down a high-wire zip line.

For something lower down— but just as exciting—you can go white-water rafting on the Zambezi River to truly feel its power.

A Delicate Balance - All of the activities and tourist attractions that crowd the area around Victoria Falls are fun, but don’t lose sight of what’s truly special. And that of course is the mighty waterfall itself.

 

Shona Soapstones - The Shona people are the largest ethnic group in Zimbabwe. Today they are known for their beautiful soapstone carvings, although it’s a relatively new art form for them. Zawadee - Bring Africa Home offers a collection of these intricate carvings, including gorgeous serving bowls infused with vivid colors and images of wildlife.

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Getting to Know Africa: The Okavango Delta

The Okavango Delta: Gorgeous Lushness in the Desert

In southern Africa, the Kalahari desert—a large, semi-arid, sandy savanna—stretches through much of the country of Botswana. There is only one river in this area—the Okavango. River deltas typically lead to the sea, but the Okavango never quite makes it there. Instead, it dumps its water onto open land, flooding the savanna with much-needed water for the surrounding plants and wildlife.


This water sustains numerous animals in an otherwise parched land. It’s an oasis for the abundant wildlife from the surrounding harsh, dry landscape. This concentrated lushness has made the Okavango Delta one of the greatest wildlife viewing destinations in the world. There’s beautiful scenery and stunning animals at every turn. It’s no wonder that the Okavango Delta got the cool distinction of being listed as the 1,000th UNESCO World Heritage Site on June 22, 2014. It’s also one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa—no easy feat in a continent filled with natural beauty.

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 Characteristics of the Delta - The Okavango Delta is one of the largest inland deltas in the world. It’s shaped like a fan with little tendrils of water stretching forward. Lush little islands dot its waters.

The delta is produced by seasonal flooding, with the floods peaking between June and August. The delta is large, but fairly shallow and flat. There is less than two meters variation in height across its 15,000 square kilometers. Each year the delta sees 11 cubic kilometers of water flow (put another way that’s a staggering 11 trillion liters of water). But by the end of the season, it’s dry. All of the water is eventually transpired or evaporated due to the high temperatures of the delta. Every year the cycle starts anew, with the basin flooded again with river water.
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A Flourishing Habitat for Wildlife - The Okavango Delta is famous for its antelope and elephant populations, as well as numerous other large animals. Giraffes, buffalos, hippos, rhinos, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, wild dogs, and crocodiles all enjoy the waters of the delta.

 

Of course, these are just the larger animals. It’s also easy to spot gorgeous iridescent dragonflies flitting around, or little reed frogs hiding in the bushes near the water. It’s a sanctuary for over 400 species of birds, including African fish eagles, crested cranes, lilac-breasted rollers and ostriches.  To enhance this abundant wildlife, plants thrive here as well. Beautiful water lilies can be found floating through the waters and swaying papyrus line the banks.


Cool Ways to Explore - There is plenty to see in the Okavango Delta. Here are some exciting ways to explore the area:

  • Want a gorgeous view from above? Try a scenic flight so you can truly appreciate the beauty and great expanse of the delta.
  • A safari game drive will give you an up-close view of the animals.
  • A Mokoro ride (a type of canoe/punt propelled by someone pushing a stick into the bottom of the water) is an exciting option for floating through the channels of the delta. Just watch out for the crocs and hippos.
  • Who wouldn’t love to explore on the back of a mighty elephant. Elephant back safaris are another great way to get a unique perspective of the abundant wildlife.
  • How about simply walking. Many guided walking tours are offered to give you the full flavor of the region.


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Of course, game viewing depends on the season, and water and food availability, so you’ll want to plan your visit carefully. You don’t want to miss out on the awesome wildlife spectacle. The Okavango Delta is a great place to spot majestic elephants and graceful antelopes frolicking in or near the water. Our beautifully hand carved Topi (antelope) sculptures and elephant bookends will add interest to your bookshelves and remind you of these wondrous African animals.

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