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running north-south. Gradually erosion of small
joints that run north-south has caused the river to
be concentrated into a narrow fissure and abandon
the broad fall line. Once this happened, it was only a
question of time before the narrow gorges cut back
into another transverse fracture zone of soft material
within the basalt rock. This erosion of soft material
located within the cracks of the rock, again estab-
lished a broad fall for the river. This process has
been repeated over many years and the zigzag of
gorges throughout the land represent seven former
lines of Falls.
The Devil’s Cataract, on the Zimbabwe side, which
is 21-37 m lower than the rest of the present falls,
shows how the force of water is starting to cut back
along such a line of weakness. It will probably erode
its way back to another east-west joint where estab-
lishment of the future line of the falls will be formed.
Livingstone’s first sighting
In 1851, David Livingstone first heard of the great
waterfall, but it was not until 1855 that he set out to
visit it. He spent the night on Kalai Island a few kilo-
metres upstream from the Falls, having come down
river by foot, and the next morning set off in a small
canoe to approach the thundering smoke. He landed
on the biggest island on the lip of the falls, now called
Livingstone Island and from which European eyes
first witnessed the falls.
SIGHTSEEING
Columns of spray can be seen from miles away
as 546 million cubic meters of water per minute
plummet over the edge (at the height of the flood
season) over a width of nearly two kilometres into
a deep gorge of over 100 meters below. The wide
basalt cliff, over which the falls thunder, transforms
the Zambezi from a wide placid river into a ferocious
torrent cutting through a series of dramatic gorges.
From the Zambezi Sun hotel or the Royal Living-
stone, the falls are within walking distance. If you
stay at another lodge, you will probably need a trans-
fer service from your lodge to get to the falls.
A path along the edge of the forest provides visitors
with an unparalleled series of views of the falls. The
well-marked and paved path guides visitors through
the surrounding forests with clearings that provide
spectacular views of the falls. Further along the path
is the Knife Edge Bridge, which offers an impressive
panoramic view of the falls (depending on the time of
year – Rainy or Dry Season). Although less of the
falls are actually visible during the Rainy season, the
intense spray is an amazing experience, and creates
beautiful rainbows throughout the day, and even lu-
nar rainbows during a full moon. Due to the spray
and mist from the falls during the Rainy season,
don’t carry anything with you that you wouldn’t want
to get wet. The Dry Season allows for walks across
the riverbed and clear views of the falls and gorge.
Another path leads visitors to the point upstream just
at the point where the water falls into the gorge.
Boiling pot
Another interesting way to experience the falls is
from deep within the gorge itself, into which the falls
descend. Paths are clearly marked towards “The
Boiling Pot.” It’s quite a steep climb, but well-worn
steps make it a fairly easy descent. Coming back up
is of course a little more strenuous, but the view from
below of the wide Zambezi thundering over basalt
cliff, then compressed into the deep thin crevice turn-
ing into the Batoka Gorge, crashing and swirling over
rapids, is quite spectacular. From this vantage point
one can also see up to the impressive Victoria Falls
Bridge, spanning the gorge over 100 meters above.
The Victoria Falls Bridge
Commissioned by Cecil John Rhodes in 1900, the
bridge offers a magnificent view both down the gorge
David Livingstone first heard of the falls in 1851 but did
not come to discover them until .