A guide to the Victoria Falls with details of the Falls' Lodges
Located on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia the 'smoke that thunders' has universal appeal to travellers throughout the world. At 1.7km in width and between 90 and 107 metres in height, Victoria Falls truly deserves its place as one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. An average of 550,000 cubic metres of water plummet over the edge every minute and when the Zambezi is at its highest (from March to May) an awesome 5 million cubic metres of water goes over leaving so much spray that it looks like thick smoke and leaves you, 100 meteres up, completely soaked! Originally built on tourism Victoria Falls town has today developed into an archetypal tourist trap with bungee jumping and gorge swinging just a few of the hair raising activities available. The key for those in the know however is to stay away from the town, up either side of the Victoria Falls themselves and enjoy the peace and calm of this hugely impressive river, and its residents! Upstream towards Chobe and downstream towards the Mopane Pools there are some of the most beautiful river settings for lodges; havens of tranquility completely undisturbed by the crowds that Victoria Falls draws in. People spend their days on the water exploring the Zambezi, gliding down this massive river past curious pods of hippos and herds of inquisitive elephants, appreciating nature at its most undisturbed. Others simply stay in camp, soak up their surroundings over a long lunch and appreciate what are some of the most relaxing and beautiful lodges in the region. For the more adventurous, the white water rafting down the Zambezi here is said to be the most intense commercial rafting in the world and walking with lions an exceptional experience. There are also some fascinating markets on both sides of the border for people to spend their days haggling over African artwork and carvings. All in all, even with the crowds, Victoria Falls is a must see on anyone's itinerary to Botswana; the Falls are a truly awesome sight.
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