The Majestic Victoria Falls

A powerful spectacle of water in southern Africa

I did arrive. Finally. After months of traveling. Months of exploring, meeting new people, and exploring different cultures. After all this time I finally do feel like I have arrived. When looking at the pure majesty of these waterfalls. Words won’t justify its beauty.

The Victoria Falls.

Background

On my first trip to Africa, I didn’t really have a plan on where to go to or what to see. All I knew was that I want to see the Victoria Falls. After months of living in a very dry part of Ghana and several weeks exploring the beaches and wildlife of Tanzania, I was getting closer to my goal. A train ride away from the world-famous waterfalls.

I wanted to see the world-famous Victoria Falls. I wanted to see them. Feel them. Hear them. I wanted to experience them in their full power.

The moment of overwhelming feelings

It was bigger than I expected it. It was stronger. It was wetter. It was more powerful than all the expectations I had. Astonishment. Amazement. And pure joy. Looking at these masses of water dropping over the edge.

It left me speechless. But I could hear it. The roaring sound of the falls. I could feel it. The mist rising from the falls falling back down on me. I could smell it. The wetness in the air. The power of nature. Humankind feels so small and vulnerable looking at nature’s forces in places like these.

The water of the Zambezi is dropping down one hundred meters over a length of almost two kilometers. The mist rising from the waterfalls is to be seen from as far as 30 kilometers. It’s a natural wonder of the world.

The meaning of the falls in the local language is translated into “the smoke that thunders” which refers to the roaring sound of the dropping water and the rising mist above the gorge.

Another phenomenon that appears here is a rainforest that exists only due to the spray mist caused by the falls. In an area with not enough rainfall for a rainforest to grow, you’ll find one right at the falls. Living off the water rising in the sky and dropping down again. An unbelievable spectacle and natural wonder.

My journal entry

I’m walking past monkeys and over bridges to get to the falls. I can hear them. And soon feel them. The waterfalls. As I start walking across the last bridge a downpour starts. Despite the blue sky. It’s the downpour of water that rises from the waterfall and drops back down again. It’s the downpour that soaks me with water up to my skin. Including my camera inside a bag covered with a rain cover.

I’m sitting at the edge of the cliff staring at the massive waterfall in front of me. I can’t describe the feeling. Looking at a rainbow. A double rainbow caused by the waterfall. Still getting soaked by water from above.

I can feel the falls with my entire body. I can see the river Zambezi dropping down the cliff. I can hear the roaring sound of the water. I can taste the water on my tongue. I can smell the magic in the air. And I can feel the spray mist on my skin. It’s a full-body experience. A moment that will turn into an unforgettable experience.

I just stand here. Looking at the falls disappearing in the mist and appearing again. I open my mouth and drink some of the water. I feel complete relaxation. The rainbow forms a complete circle. I can touch the rainbow.

This picture will remain in my memory forever.

This point where it rains under the blue sky and the rainbow forms a circle.

Activities

I stayed for five days in Livingstone. The city right next to the waterfalls. But I actually spent most of my time in the Zambezi. This is not an error. I actually mean that I spent most of my time inside the water of the Zambezi.

White water rafting

I went for a white water rafting tour below the falls. And I spent more time in the water than inside the boat. It was my first time white water rafting but definitely not the last time. I swam through rapids and fought my way out of whirlpools. I saw crocodiles on the riverbank and jumped off a cliff from ten meters height.

It was an amazing experience. On and inside the river of the Zambezi.

Swimming in the Angel’s Pool

This time I was on the other side of the waterfall. On that side where the water drops down into the gorge. I walked across an island and swam through the river in order to get to the Angel’s Pool. The famous pool on top of the falls, the devil’s pool, is closed at this time of the year. Due to too high water levels. But instead, you can swim in a safer sounding pool which isn’t safer at all.

Whilst there is a wall at the end of the devil’s pool which will prevent you from dropping down the falls there is nothing to prevent you from falling at the Angel’s Pool. The Angel’s pool is actually not a natural swimming pool. It’s just a few rapids and different levels of water just before the big drop of 100 meters.

They put a few ropes up for you to hold onto them. But that’s it. Sitting in the pool I can feel the force of the water not only trying to rip down my bikini but actually trying to drag me down the falls.

It’s crazy thinking back at this experience. Why would I do something like that? You’re young and you need to test your boundaries. Guess that is the answer.

But I also remember that I loved my time in Livingstone. I loved every experience and every adventure I did here. I was happy. I was full of adrenaline. But I was happy.

If you’re an adventure seeker or not, it doesn’t matter. You should experience the world-famous Victoria Falls. Whenever you get the chance to go there — just go. Preferably at the end of the raining season so that you experience the falls at its full power.

Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed my story have a look at one of these too. African travel stories.