48 Hours in Victoria Falls

Water wonder The local name for Victoria Falls is Mosi-oa-Tunya (‘the smoke that thunders’); (right) try a canopy tour via zip line

48 Hours in...

VICTORIA FALLS ZIMBABWE

There’s more to these wondrous cascades than just fantastic views – spend two days here to try cooking, fine dining and canopy flying

WORDS BY LUKE ROGERS

DAY 1

7am

Wake to the sound of Mosi-oa-Tunya (‘the smoke that thunders’) before enjoying breakfast in the garden at your hotel, Ilala Lodge, with views of the falls’ rising spray.

8am

Join a local resident for a two-hour stroll around Victoria Falls town to meet some of the talented artists, jewellers and sculptors that reside here. There won’t be a strict route or timetable, so you can spend time chatting to locals and going behind the scenes of small businesses.

11am

Head to the edge of the Zambezi gorges for a two-hour guided canopy tour. After a full safety briefing, follow your tour leader along nine zip wires. The rainforest below will likely be teeming with birdlife, and you might spot elephant. Zipping across the width of the gorge, you’ll have fleeting views of the Zambezi’s rapids and Victoria Falls Bridge.

1pm

Enjoy lunch at the Lookout Café, which overlooks the Zambezi, before exploring the footpaths and viewpoints of the Victoria Falls Rainforest, taking in the views of the cascades.

Your guide can tell you about the journey of David Livingstone, the first European to see the falls in 1855 and who named them after the Queen of England.

4pm

Join a sunset cruise along the Zambezi. After a welcome drink and introduction from the captain, you’ll head upstream, exploring small islands and riverbanks while looking out for wallowing hippo, bathing elephant and birds such as egrets and fish eagles. Drinks and refreshments will be served on board.

6pm

Return to your hotel to freshen up in time for dinner at the award-winning restaurant, The Palm. The menu changes often, but includes a variety of local dishes as well as a choice of artisan gins and South African wines.

SPECIALISTS’ TOP TIPS

Visit the rainforest in the afternoon – there are fewer people and the light creates rainbows in the spray. Russell Nash

Wear shorts or quick-drying pants and sandals when visiting the falls – you’re likely to get wet from the spray and this will help you to dry off quicker. Georgie Brown

Request a KAZA visa when you arrive – this allows you to cross between Zimbabwe and Zambia so you can see the falls’ full expanse. Louise Roberts

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The full falls In 48 hours you can enjoy fine dining, spot wildlife, relax at Ilala Lodge and admire the cascades

VICTORIA FALLS

DAY 2

6am

Head out early for a sunrise boat cruise. A continental breakfast will be served as the sun rises through the morning mist. The river is quiet at this time of day, making it easier to spot birds such as African skimmers, jacanas and pied and malachite kingfishers.

Cooking and cruising Learn to make an African stew to fuel your adventures on the Zambezi

10am

Head to Ko Mpisi village, a traditionally run homestead. Here, you’ll meet the village chief, Chief Mpisi, who’ll tell you about the area’s rural culture, traditions and lifestyle. You can chat to him about traditional healing techniques, local farming practices and small-scale conservation, and see a typical set up of a farming village.

12 noon

Return to Victoria Falls town to browse the curio market before heading to the esteemed Victoria Falls hotel to enjoy lunch on the colonial-style terrace.

2pm

Join a ‘Pot and Paddle’ experience. First, a top chef will guide you in creating a traditional African stew, slow-cooked in a potjie (a three-legged cast-iron cooking pot), which is placed in the embers of a fire for around three hours.

All the ingredients will be provided: choose from beef, lamb, fish, vegetables,

herbs and spices. While it simmers, you can take a short game drive through Zambezi National Park, looking out for wildlife such as elephant, buffalo, baboons, giraffe, zebra and lion.

Then take to the river in an inflatable dinghy, paddling slowly and enjoying a sundowner drink. The afternoon will end with a three-course dinner under the stars, with your own potjie as the centerpiece.

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Flight information: Flight time to Johannesburg International Airport from New York is approximately 16 hours. It is a two-hour flight from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls Airport in Zimbabwe. When to go: Victoria Falls is a yearround destination – it is always a spectacular sight though views differ depending on water levels. Levels are highest March to May and lowest September to December. For arguably the best views, visit between June and August – the water flow is impressive but there’s not so much that the spray obscures your view. These are also good months for game watching in southern Africa’s parks and reserves. Get me there: A ten-day tailor-made trip, including three nights in Victoria Falls, starts from $5,520pp. Victoria Falls combines well with a safari in South Africa, Botswana, Zambia or Namibia. For more information, please call Luke or one of our safari specialists on 1-833-640-8021.

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