Victoria
Falls Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls - Zimbabwe
The Victoria Falls are a World Heritage Site
They are called ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ in local language which means ‘the smoke that thunders’
At the Falls, the Zambezi is 1000km from it’s source
In Length the Falls are 1708m and the average height is 100m
The first Recordings of these falls were made by Scottish Missionary David
Livingstone, who was incredibly moved at his sighting of the magnificent waters.
The Victoria Falls area, in Zimbabwe’s northwestern corner, stretches
from Kazungula where Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe meet, back along
70km of the Zambezi River to the falls, and then for 130km down the mountain
hemmed Batoka gorge and Devil’s gorge to Lake Kariba. To the south is
Hwange Game Reserve; to the north, the 1905 Edwardian bridge links Zambia
with Zimbabwe. There are two national parks in the area, and the town of Victoria
Falls itself.
Victoria Falls town is set 1km from the falls and consists of two main roads: Livingstone Way – a continuation of the Bulawayo and airport road that runs past the falls and over the bridge to Zambia, and Parkway Drive – branching off Livingstone at Publicity Association corner (or at the Wimpy as is more commonly known).
The town itself is a conglomeration of hotels, curio shops, a craft village and Chinotimba township. It also features a railway that cuts the village in two, safari operators and backpackers. Activities not to be missed while in town are: a sunset boat cruise on the Zambezi, White water rafting, flights over the falls, walking with lions, elephant rides, bungee jumping, gorge swing/abseil and of course a visit to the Vic Falls National Park to view the famed Victoria Falls.
Visa requirements: Most nationalities require a visa to enter Zimbabwe. The cost is around US$30/$45 for Australian, USA, German, Dutch, Denmark, Swiss, New Zealand and most other nationalities. Please note that people from New Zealand and Switzerland who were previously allowed free entry now also have to get a visa. The current visa fee for British and Irish is US$55 and Canadians pay US$60 for single entry. Visas are available on the border for most nationalities. The visa prices show the single entry and then double entry price. You will only need a double entry visa if you plan to spend at least one night away from Zimbabwe. You can be stamped out of and re-stamped into Zimbabwe at no extra charge as long as you are returning that day. Visas can be brought using post 2000 USD notes, GBP or ZAR hard cash only.
Money: The most convenient currency to have while in Zimbabwe is US Dollars Cash. Accommodation and Activities are all payable in US$, Euro, GBP or ZAR only. Curios (Wooden carvings, Batiks etc) and meals are payable in local Zimbabwean Dollars or Foreign Currency in hard cash (US$ get the best exchange rate). Credit Cards are still accepted at most hotels and some restaurants but the exchange rate used is often not as good as the cash rate. Please note that most activities are not payable by credit card and they should NOT be relied on for money.