Known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya (Smoke That Thunders), the falls are among the most stirring sights in Africa. The mile-/kilometer-wide Zambezi River suddenly plunges 30 stories, spilling water at a volume of more than 1 million gallons per second (2 million gallons during the rainy season). Rainbows, mist and a tremendous roar of the water fill the senses—no other natural wonder in Africa matches the falls' raw power.
Victoria Falls actually consists of several separate falls, divided by islands in the river—the most impressive are Rainbow Falls, the Devil's Cataract and Main Falls. The best time to see the falls is during July or August, midway through the dry season. The volume of water over the falls is at its peak just after the rains end (March-May), but this is a poor time to go—the force of the falling water at the base sends a mist shooting up to a height of more than 500 ft/150 m, which obscures views of the falls. Even during the dry season, you can get plenty wet from the mist—it creates a lush forest on the opposite side of the gorge, even though the rest of the countryside is parched. At its driest—around the end of October—water is flowing over only about a third of its crest, and while it's nice, it's just simply not as impressive.
First-time visitors are often surprised to find that the entire falls can't be seen from one vantage point on land. Rather, Victoria Falls is best seen from several viewing points on both the Zambian and Zimbabwean sides of the river. The closest views are from a trail running parallel to the falls, in Zimbabwe, but one of the best views is from the bridge between the two nations. (If you plan to view the falls from the international bridge, be sure to get a multiple-entry visa so that you can return to Zambia.)
The falls can also be seen via the Flight of Angels, a twin-engine plane that flies for about 15 minutes up and down the falls. (If you've come this far, we recommend spending whatever the current rate for this flight is. It's not a budget breaker, and it's worth every penny.) A longer and much more expensive air tour also flies above the falls, around the countryside and over more of the river, but don't bother with it unless time and money are unlimited.
Plan a full day on the Zimbabwe side in the town of Victoria Falls: In addition to getting a much closer look at the falls, you'll want to stop in at the Victoria Falls Hotel for a drink and look around, and perhaps visit the Crocodile Ranch or shop a little in town. Day and evening sundowner cruises on the Zambezi, lasting two-four hours, are also worthwhile. It's possible to spot hippos, monkeys, crocodiles and elephants from the boats. Nearby Lake Kariba, much of which is in Zimbabwe, has water sports and game watching. You can also take trips through the seven Zambezi Gorges. Several days could be spent in the Victoria Falls area. 220 mi/350 km southwest of Lusaka.