Victoria Falls - Smoke That Thunders
Victoria Falls has been one of my dream destinations for many years and witnessing it first time dropped my jaws
instantly. It is even more beautiful and breath-taking than I’d ever imagined! It is one of the largest waterfalls in the world, lies in the Southern Africa, between Zambia and Zimbabwe;the falls are fed by the Zambezi River. This is locally known as “Mosi-oa-Tunya” which means “The Smoke That Thunders.”
While it is neither the highest nor the widest waterfall in the world, Victoria Falls
is classified as the largest based on its
combined width of 1,708 metres and height of 108 metres, resulting in the world’s largest sheet of falling water. Victoria Falls is roughly twice the height of North America’s Niagara Falls and well over twice the width of itsHorseshoe Falls.
David Livingstone, born in Scotland arrived in Africa in 1840. He was a missionary and a physician. In 1855 he set off down the Zambezi to find for himself “The Smoke That Thunders” which the local tribesmen called “Mosi-oa-tunya”. Livingstone named the falls in honour of his monarch Queen Victoria.
The months of June and July are probably
the best time to view the falls. The water
levels are still high enough to showcase the splendour of the falls, but the amount of water is less creating less spray and more visibility of the falls.
In 1989, the Victoria Falls became a world
heritage site, meaning it belongs to all the people of the word, irrespective of the territory on which the different world
heritage sites are located.
During the rainy season and high water,
Victoria Falls can be a challenge to capture
with a camera because of the mist in the
air. It is important to have rain gear and
something to protect your camera.
The high water levels create a greater
amount of mist in the air. This increases
the probabilities that you will be able to
capture rainbow images around the falls.
More than likely you will want to use a
polarizing filter which will help with cutting
the reflecting light from the sun and mist in the air and more saturated look. When you visit Southern Africa don’t miss to visit the biggest curtain of falling water in the world.
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