It’s common to add a few nights at Victoria Falls at the beginning or end of a safari. Considered the largest waterfall in the world, Victoria Falls is one and a half times wider than Niagara Falls and twice its height, justifying its ranking as one of the seven wonders of the world. Described as an enormous curtain of water, Victoria Falls is indeed awe-inspiring and can be visited from either side in Zambia or Zimbabwe. Like many visitors, we included Victoria Falls on the tail end of our trip to South Africa, but what we didn’t realize until we arrived was how many adventures there were in the area.
Adrenaline Rushes
White Water Rafting the Zambezi River
The Zambezi River below Victoria Falls is known to be one of the best places in the world for class V whitewater rafting. With some of the rapids sporting names like “Stairway to Heaven” and “The Gnashing Jaws of Death”, this experience is not for the faint of heart. According to my husband, John, part of the adventure is hiking down the steep trail down to Bakota Gorge, and then helping to carry the oars and equipment back up again at the end. (He was humbled by the guides who scaled the way back up lugging the rafts–barefoot–and in half the time.)
Devil’s Pool and Microlight Flying
Two of the more incredible ways to engage with Victoria Falls are to swim in the area known as the Devil’s Pool or to go microflying overhead. Devil’s Pool is located on the Zambian side of the river and is described as the “ultimate infinity pool”. After thousands of years of erosion, a rock pool sits right at the precipice of the Falls. You can enjoy soaking in calm water while staring over the side as Victoria Falls thunders below. Note: the Devil’s Pool can only be accessed from June to December, and only when the water is low enough to wade to the pool safely. For this reason alone, it’s worth planning to stay in the area for a few nights in case your visit is postponed.
Another unique way to view Victoria Falls is via a microlight flight. This is a two person open-air cockpit with the vantage point of a helicopter. From here you are guaranteed incredible 360 degree views of the Falls, but again, you need to access this activity from the Zambian side. Flights range from 15 minutes to 30 minutes.
Had we known about these activities beforehand, we would have spent an extra night or two in Zambia and added them to our itinerary!
Bungee Jumping
We might have missed out on the Devil’s Pool and microlight flying, but I knew as soon as I saw my husband’s face that he wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity to bungee jump off the Victoria Falls Bridge. Touted as 111 meters of free fall, the whole experience only lasts about 4 seconds, but it carries a lifetime of bragging rights. In addition to bungee jumping, there are also Flying Fox, Ziplining, and Gorge Swing options available.
Tiger Fishing
We stayed on the Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls at the amazing Victoria Falls River Lodge, where my husband was able to try his hand at tiger fishing. Whitewater rafting and bungee jumping might have been more obviously risky, but fishing on the Zambezi River surrounded by hippopotamuses felt plenty dangerous in its own right, especially when our guide showed us the video of a speedboat being chased by a hippo (in Zimbabwe) years before. A few months after our trip we also learned that an American woman had been knocked out of a canoe and attacked by a hippopotamus on the Zambezi River as well. Fortunately, our fishing guide was a capable navigator, and we had but one small encounter where this hippo made his feelings clear with a notable display of territory marking.
For fishing aficionados, the tiger fish is a fierce predator and a bucket list catch. There are two main species of tiger fish. The Hydrocynus Goliath, found in the Congo River, is so massive (< 110 lbs) that it has been featured on an episode of River Monsters! The Hydrocynus Vittatus is the species located in the Zambezi River, and it can still be fairly big, reaching up to 30-35 lbs. Both species are formidable fighters with mouths full of large, sharp teeth. The Goliath tiger fish has even been known to attack unsuspecting swimmers!
John hired a guide to help him chase the Hydrocynus Vittatus tiger fish. He was delighted to learn that the fishing equipment on hand was much like what he was used to in Florida. He was equipped with a spinning reel on a medium action rod with a Rapala lure as the bait of choice. As already mentioned, part of the excitement for both of us was watching the guide navigate the flowing river while keeping his head on a swivel for hippos. After casting for a few hours, John had the chance to test the ferocity of the tiger fish. He compared it to the experience of catching a muskie, widely known as the king of North American fresh waters. He claims that his tiger fish was in the 30-35 lb range, but I think we can see otherwise. 😉
For serious tiger fishing enthusiasts, there are multiple outfitters who offer week long catch and release programs, and there also some pretty incredible five star resorts that feature tiger fishing packages, too.
Animal Sightings
The Victoria Falls region of Zimbabwe is not known for its animal viewings (at least not in comparison to the safaris offered by its neighbors), but if you love wildlife, there’s still plenty to enjoy. At Victoria Falls River Lodge we were able to choose between twice daily game drives or river cruises. It was a nice change of pace to see the cute little bee-eaters singing in the trees, the elephants bathing, and the storks feeding their chicks in their nest from the comfort of our pontoon boat.
The animal sightings from the vehicles were ample as well. We saw multiple giraffes and zebra, and we were told that walking safaris are also available if booked in advance. In fact, we didn’t even have to leave the lodge to see animals. Warthogs came to graze in front of the open-air lobby every day, and the ever resourceful vervet monkeys hovered near the dining area, eager to steal a snack from an unsuspecting visitor–as John learned firsthand when his pizza was taken right off his plate.
Final Thoughts
Though Victoria Falls is often included as a three day addition to the beginning or end of a safari vacation, for those who love fishing and adventure, it’s well worth spending at least four or five nights in the area, especially if you are staying at Victoria Falls River Lodge with an animal-loving spouse.
(All photos taken by John or Erica Keckley unless otherwise noted.)
Wildlife & Water Adventures 