One of the original natural wonders of the world, the Victoria Falls is a World Heritage Site and a well-known tourism attraction. Known locally as ‘The Smoke that Thunders’ this spectacle is accessible from both the Zambian and Zimbabwean sides of the Zambezi River.
The western world first knew about this wonder when it was discovered by David Livingstone in 1855. He came across it during his missionary explorations, and named it Victoria Falls, after Queen Victoria. The Zambezi River flows broad and placid to the brink of a 1700m wide basalt lip before plunging down 100 metres to create a spectacle of frothy, boiling and bubbling water in the chasm below. On the edges of the waterfall, sparkling droplets of water fall from the sky creating a constant light drizzle, which in turn encourages the growth of the small rain forest. At peak flow times (April/May), the thundering of the water shakes the ground for miles around.
Excellent spas and golf courses are found on both sides of the river. For adrenalin junkies there’s a Pandora’s Box of hi-energy activities to try out; white water rafting, bungee jumping and gorge swings, and microlight flights. Numerous other activities which are easily available include fishing expeditions, river cruises, horse rides, train rides, elephant interactions, bird walks, games drives and visits to Chobe National Park in Botswana for the day.
A rich resource for activities from Victoria Falls can be found at http://www.victoriafalls.net/
Situated in western Zimbabwe, the Hwange National Park is the country's biggest reserve, home to a profusion of wildlife, including giraffe, lion, cheetah, leopard, zebra, sable and approximately 40 000 elephants. It provides a sanctuary for all the country’s endangered species, including a population of wild dogs thought to be among the most sizeable surviving groups on the continent. Birding is excellent with over 400 species.
The park’s magnificent terrain ranges from desert dunes, savannah lands and mopane woodlands to rocky outcrops and sparse forests. Visitors can look forward to game drives, guided walks or horse riding safaris. Other highlights include the Bumbusi National Monument and the Nyamandhlovu Pan.
With only an hour away from Victoria Falls it makes perfect sense for Hwange to be Safari destination for when visiting the Victoria Falls.
Set at the confluence of the Indian and Atlantic oceans and backed by the iconic Table Mountain, the bustling city of Cape Town presents an alluring combination of drawcards. Incredible powdery white beaches, highly acclaimed wine routes, and astonishingly beautiful mountain trails surround a cosmopolitan hub. This diverse metropolis is filled with superb shops and restaurants, extraordinary heritage monuments, a multitude of entertainment venues, and a spectacular, chic waterfront harbour. Highlights include the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art; Table Mountain's jaw-dropping views; Boulders Beach, where penguins might swim right up to you in the warm Indian ocean waters; the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, where you can walk along a treetop canopy among incredible native flora or watch an open-air concert at the base of the mountain; Robben Island, where visitors can see the cell where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years; and many more.
Set just over an hour from Cape Town, within the inspiring landscapes of the Cape Winelands, Franschhoek is a heritage town and a world-renowned food and wine destination. Travellers could choose to focus their visit on any one aspect alone - nature, cuisine or culture - and find plenty to keep them busy. The estates here attract wine experts from around the globe with their Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cap Classique sparkling wine (among others). Five-star restaurants alongside the cellars are surrounded by the same jaw-dropping valley scenes that have brought artists and writers to the area for centuries. A superb literary festival takes place around May every year, and, combined with the town’s Cape Dutch manor houses, fascinating museums, and charming boutiques, makes Franschhoek a wonderful place to visit in winter. Summer provides endless hiking, cycling and other outdoor opportunities among the lush farmlands and mountains.
