How about taking a short left this festive season? Victoria Falls is revered as one of the natural world’s most magnificent spectacles, and the raw power of the mighty Zambezi River plunging 108m into the powerful Victoria Falls has spawned awe and legends for centuries. This is certainly an instagrammable vacation destination too.
There’s really is no better time to visit the falls, than right at this moment, says Desmond O’Connor, Head of kulula holidays. “We reckon the low-season, from October to January is ideal for seeing the rainbow’s hues in the spray of the falls, as well as the region’s renowned hospitality and outdoor activities. He suggests the following:
Take a cruise:
It’s become a right of passage for visitors to take one of the many sunset cruises offered on the vast stretch of river above the magical falls. There’s a good reason for the popularity: on this beautiful stretch of river, it’s common to see herds of elephants of all ages drinking, bathing and living their best natural lives out on the river. The mothers give birth to their young in huge numbers at this time of the year and watching the new-borns frolick in the water is an absolute delight. You’ll be close enough to hear the splashing of the hippos and the distinctive, contented, deep-bass rumbling of the elephants while sipping a sundowner. Some cruises offer a full dinner aboard.
See www.victoriafalls-guide.net/victoria-falls-sunset-cruise.html
Wild waters:
The festive season (low season) has so much in store for those travelers who don’t want to get caught up in the total might of the great Zambezi but would still like a rush of adrenalin. Tourist excursions range from a morning in the waters of the Batoka Gorge, to five-night trips that combine fishing, game-watching, and camping without braving the Zambezi. There’s something for everything in the Victoria Falls.
Calling all adrenalin junkies:
Calling all adrenalin junkies, a number of operators on the Zimbabwe and Zambia side of Victoria Falls offer a variety of adventure sports, including bridge-swings, bungee-jumps, and zip-wire slides. All these take full advantage of the chasm carved by the river and allow for stomach-swooping fun, with a strong emphasis on safety. One option that’s less intense than the free-fall of bungee-jumping is the Flying Fox, where you slide along a zipline in a horizontal position, and as the name suggests, it feels a little like flying. With the water at its lowest, you might escape being soaked by the sprays.
Lunch on Livingstone Island:
When the Zambezi River is high, 10 million liters of water rush over the lip of Victoria Falls each second, crashing down 108 meters below. Livingstone Island sits in the heart of this spray, on the brink of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, and offers an experience only available when the water is at its lowest and the island is accessible. You’ll follow the footsteps of the explorers of yore as you tour the island, hear about its history, experience luxury dining, and soak up the sights.
It’s game time:
Game viewing peaks during the low-season months as water is scarce and hordes of animals gather around permanent water sources. This is also when migrant birds start to arrive, a boon for twitchers from across the world.
Catch the moonbow:
The falls can send mist up to 800m in the air, which can be seen from 50km away. You might see multiple rainbows, and if you’re fortunate enough to visit the falls at full moon there may even be a moonbow, a rainbow lit by the full moon: truly a memory to treasure. An Instagram dream image too!
Brave the Devil’s Pool:
Stout-hearted visitors can slip into a pool at the very edge of the cataract at Livingstone Island, and peer over the slippery lip of rock into the abyss. Heed the experienced guides who escort you there, take a deep breath and earn some serious bragging rights.
So, when have you booked your dates for?
