What makes Victoria Falls so special?

David Livingstone, a Scottish explorer and the first European to see Victoria Falls (or, at the very least, the first to document them), wrote in his journal upon first seeing the falls:

“No one can imagine the beauty of the view from anything witnessed in England. It had never been seen before by European eyes, but scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight.”

Since then, millions of people have made the journey to Victoria Falls, with around a million more doing so each year. On Llama Travel holidays to Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa, guests can extend their trip with a visit to the falls and enjoy a tour guided by a local expert or take a sunset cruise along the Zambezi River.

So, what makes Victoria Falls so special?

UNESCO (and Guinness World Record) recognition

Victoria Falls’ 1,708-metre width and 108-metre height make it the largest single sheet of falling water in the world, a fact recognised by Guinness World Records. It is more than twice as tall as Niagara Falls in Canada, and over 20 metres taller than Iguazu Falls in Argentina and Brazil. The sheer scale of the main waterfall and the peripheral cascades at Victoria Falls is truly a sight to behold, setting it apart from any other waterfall in the world.

Along with its Guinness World Record status, Victoria Falls became the world’s first waterfall to be recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1989 for its geological and ecological significance and its exceptional natural beauty.

Stunning scenery

As if those awards weren’t enough, Victoria Falls is considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Its rainforest setting, basalt gorges and rock pools are truly gorgeous.

The surrounding Victoria Falls National Park in Zimbabwe and the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park in Zambia are home to vast wildlife, with savannah landscapes that contrast well with the lush microclimate of the falls. Those surroundings make Victoria Falls far more than a simple sightseeing attraction, but a wonderfully scenic and rich destination in itself.

Victoria Falls is also a relatively unique case in that it straddles the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, with each side offering different views and experiences. The Zimbabwean side, which encompasses around three-quarters of the falls, offers the best perspective on its sheer scale, including the classic panorama of its main cascade. There are also adventure activities like bungee jumps, ziplines and white-water rafting on the Zimbabwean side. While Llama Travel does not offer these, they can be booked locally. The Zambian side offers a more close-up look and the chance to swim in the Devil’s Pool or other natural rock pools.

Cultural significance

The immense spray and mist generated by the falls create persistent daytime rainbows and, occasionally, nighttime ‘moonbows’, which UNESCO noted as a true reflection of its natural beauty when designating it as a World Heritage site. On a clear day at its springtime peak, the mist is visible up to 50 kilometres away, earning it the local nickname, ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’, or ‘the Smoke that Thunders’.

Beyond its thunderous reputation, Victoria Falls has a special cultural and historical significance. Excavations around the falls have uncovered tools and artefacts dating back to the Middle and Late Stone Age, suggesting humans have inhabited the area for around 3 million years.

In more recent history, the falls have held a sacred place for indigenous communities on both the Zambian and Zimbabwean sides of the falls since around the 16th or 17th century. The Toka-Leya people, an indigenous group along the Zambezi River, believe that the falls are home to a river god and ancestral spirits, and conduct rainmaking and thanksgiving ceremonies there during periods of drought or disease. During those ceremonies, young male warriors, known as the Basilombelombe, venture down the cliffs of the Batoka Gorge at Victoria Falls to collect holy water and river moss for rainmaking rituals and deliver them to their tribal leaders. This rite of passage likely inspired a coronation ritual scene in the 2018 Marvel film Black Panther, which used footage of the real Victoria Falls.

Throughout the centuries since its discovery by Livingstone, Victoria Falls has truly become one of the most unique natural attractions in the world.

Llama Travel has sold holidays since 2002, and Victoria Falls is among the most popular landmarks on any of our holidays, which span from Machu Picchu in Peru to Mount Fuji in Japan. If you are considering a holiday to the falls, talking to one of our in-house Travel Experts is often the best way to start. They know our holidays and destinations inside out, and many have visited Victoria Falls themselves. They can help you narrow down your dream holiday to the Falls, whether you want to combine it with a safari in Botswana, an exploration of the wildlife and wilderness of Namibia, or a journey through the best of South Africa.