Victoria Falls is possibly the largest singular waterfall in the world. The falls was also known as Mosi-oa-Tunya, which translates to “the smoke that thunders” in the language of the Kololo Tribe, who were present in the 1800s.
Later, David Livingstone, the first European to see the falls, named it in honour of Queen Victoria in 1855. Victoria Falls is a UNESCO World Heritage site as it boasts some mind boggling dimensions.
The falls itself is basically where the mighty Zambezi River drops its entire width (about 1.7km across or just over a mile) over a 108m vertical wall into a narrow gorge. The volume of water over the falls typically ranges between 300-3,000 cubic meters per second.
The annual mean volume is said to be just over 1,000 cubic meters per second or 38,000 cubic feet per second or 1 million litres per second.
Mist generated by the falls can be seen and felt from several kilometres away, and we could attest to that fact because we were able to see the mist from as far away as Livingstone (Zambia), which was some 11km from the falls.
Kalambo Falls can be found in the Northern Province, 33 kilometres from Mbala on the Kalambo River, which forms the border between Zambia and Tanzania.
This spectacular jet of water falls in a single uninterrupted stream 221 meters down into the gorge below and then on into Lake Tanganyika.
They are the second highest falls in Africa and the twelfth highest in the world. The rare Maribou stork nests in the gorge below the falls.
Kundalila Falls East of the Great North Road near Kanona in Central Province, in an area of spectacular scenic beauty, the Kaombe River falls 70 meters, breaking into thin veils and nourishing a natural botanical garden that surrounds the fall.
Visitors may swim in the deep natural pool at the foot of the falls and there is a camping site nearby.
Lumangwe Falls near the Chipembe Pontoon in the Northern Province, an astounding drop in the middle of nowhere creates what looks like a smaller version of Victoria Falls.
35m high and 100m across, the falls nourish a small rain forest on the Kalungwishi River. They are quite magnificent and well worth the 9km detour off the main road from Kawambwa to Mporokoso.
Ngonye Falls also known as Sioma Falls because these Falls are near the village of Sioma. These beautiful fall mark the transition point of the Zambezi Rivers’ flow from Kalahari sand floodplain to basalt dyke – the latter eventually contributing to the magnificent gorges of the Victoria Falls.
The horseshoe-shaped Ngonye Falls are mostly impressive because of the sheer volume of water that cascades over the staggered, twenty meter drop.
An interesting aspect is that the river flows underneath the rock on either side of the falls. It is quite remarkable to stand upon them, feeling and hearing the underground flow.
