At Victoria Falls, the earth splits open and swallows one of Africa’s greatest rivers, the mighty Zambezi, creating the largest sheet of falling water on earth. As the water hits the narrow depths of the Batoka Gorge beneath, it blasts a cloud of mist skywards, lending the falls their local name ‘mosi-oa-tunya’ (the smoke that thunders). When the Zambezi is at its fullest, the mist hangs a permanent raincloud above the falls, showering visitors on even the sunniest of days and visible for miles around.
Above the falls on the upper Zambezi, boats cruise the tranquil water at sunset while the distant spray catches the fading light downstream. Below the falls, the Batoka Gorge’s rocky walls funnel the lower Zambezi into a chain of world-class rapids, prime for white water rafting.
Aside from being a UNESCO world heritage site and a natural world wonder, Victoria Falls also forms a natural border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. The falls can be seen from both countries, and for the most part the same activities are offered on both sides, from helicopter scenic flights to village visits and souvenir shopping.
Whether your idea of getting away from it all is a relaxed high tea in colonial grandeur or a heart-stopping bungee jump off a bridge, Victoria Falls keeps both the faint of heart and the most insatiable of adrenalin junkies busy for days.
From Zambia, a side on view of the falls is on offer with views into the Batoka Gorge, as well as the possibility of perching yourself at the edge of the falls on the vertigo-inducing Livingstone Island.
From Zimbabwe, you’ll get a full-frontal view of three quarters of the falls’ 1.7km wide curtain of water from viewpoints and footpaths meandering through a rainforest kept hot and humid by the spray of the falls.
Kasane Forest Reserve is situated on the edge of Kasane and bordering Zimbabwe as well as the Nogatsaa area of Chobe. The Lesoma Valley lies within the Kasane Forest, which is characterized by dense trees as well as open grasslands. Wildlife frequents the area, in particular elephants, buffaloes, and giraffes, and sightings at lodge waterholes in the valley can be quite good. For a full game drive experience along the Chobe Riverfront, the valley is a forty-minute drive through the forest reserve to access Chobe National Park via Sedudu gate. Boat cruises for lodges in Lesoma Valley depart from Kasane town.
Situated in the Chobe National Park, Nogatsaa is a very distinctive, remote and wild area away from the hustle and bustle of the Chobe Riverfront. The territory remains untouched, with sweeping expanses of grasslands with mopane and deciduous woodlands.
The area has a cluster of natural clay-bottom pans which fill during the rainy season, they are magnets for game and provide water well into the dry season. Nogatsaa Lodge pumps a few of the waterholes making them a guaranteed source of water all year round. Four of the waterholes also have “hides” (raised wooden platforms) which lend themselves to some amazing game sightings: herds of elephant, buffalo and antelope stop by. Interesting species include eland, roan, sable antelopes and with luck the delicately limbed oribi.
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The Khwai Private Reserve is a private concession north of the Khwai river, west of the Chobe NP, east of the private Delta concessions and south of the Selinda. The massive Khwai Private reserve is a joint venture partnership with the local community and offers luxury safaris with all the perks of being a private concession such as night drives, off-roading and walking. The huge concession is relatively empty with only a handful of lodges operating within its boundaries. Its size ensures a large diversity of habitats and ecosystems ranging from riverine forests to large mopane woodland, open savannah and seasonally inundated floodplains. Also due to its size game is not as concentrated as the Khwai Community area but rather spread out among the different habitats. The area is known for its large herds of rare sable and roan antelope, lechwe, multiple other species of plains game as well as the always accompanying predators such as lion, leopard and wild dog.
