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The massive Zambezi River -- Africa’s fourth longest -- flows between Zambia and Zimbabwe, traversing a mostly flat landscape across ancient lava flows. Then, the river suddenly drops into a narrow fissure to form Victoria Falls, considered the largest waterfall in the world, extending 5,604 feet (1,708 meters) in width and dropping 354 feet (108 meters). The roar from this enormous falls can be heard miles away, with spray rising like smoke above the torrent -- the indigenous name is Mosi-oa-Tunya, or “Cloud that Thunders.” Today, the falls is the heart of two national parks and the focus of myriad recreational activities, from bungee-jumping to whitewater rafting.
The 19th-century spirit of adventurous expedition (or expeditious adventure) reached its height in the exploits Dr. David Livingstone, the Indiana Jones-style missionary who traveled Southern Africa, setting up missions and reporting on the natural wonders he observed. His "discovery" of the magnificent Victoria Falls near theZimbabwe-Zambia border in 1855 made headlines worldwide. Today, the sight of the Zambezi River plummeting 100 meters into a deep chasm remains one of Africa's prime attractions and has made this dramatic corner of Zimbabwe,wedged between the borders of Zambia and Botswana, the country's most popular destination. The town of Victoria Falls sprung up around the tourism industry, providing hotels and restaurants to visitors heading to the falls and to nearby Zambezi National Park. The town is one of the country's oldest, resembling an American frontier town by the late 19th century, with hotels, stores and gambling. Despite an outbreak of malaria and blackwater fever that briefly turned Victoria Falls into a ghost town, the town continued to grow through this century. Though its name is Victorian, the town boasts some fine examples of Edwardian architecture, including the elegant Victoria Hotel, built in 1905, with its decidedlyColonial air, and the Victoria Falls Station, where the Bulawayo-Falls train arrives with sightseers. The national park entrance, at one end of Main Street, leads to the grandeur of the falls themselves, with paths meandering through the rainforest alongside the chasm. Famous viewing points include Devil's Cataract, at the western end of the chasm, where a statue honors David Livingstone; and the heart-stoppingly steep view from Danger Point. The falls can also be seen during scenic cruises and canoe expeditions on the river below.