The Zambezi River forms the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Starting as a tiny bubbling spring in far northwestern Zambia, the river flows through flood plains, swamps and rapids. About 1 600km into its journey, the river grows to a great water course, almost 2,5km wide.

It is here that the Zambezi reaches Victoria Falls, a Unesco World Heritage site, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, and the greatest curtain of falling water on the planet.

Twice as wide and twice as deep as Niagara Falls, Victoria Falls spans the width of the Zambezi River, where it crashes over a sheer precipice, plummeting 108 metres into the gorge below. In the height of the rainy season, 1,1 million litres of water per second surge over the edge and tall columns of spray can be seen from kilometres away, giving rise to the local language name, Mosi-oaTunya, or “the Smoke that Thunders”.

The sheer scale and power of the falls never cease to awe and astound. The Zambian and Zimbabwean sides offer very different views of the falls, so if you have time, it’s worth visiting both sides to fully appreciate the natural wonder.

Aside from the lure of the falls themselves, there are numerous activities to keep even the most ardent adventure seeker busy. In this first instalment of this article, here are things to do on the Zambian side:

Whitewater rafting

Spend a day rafting down what is probably the wildest commercial whitewater in the world. A rafting adventure on the Zambezi River provides an adrenaline rush that’s not to be missed. Downstream from Victoria Falls, the Zambezi River boasts miles of deep, zigzagging channels and the incredible volume of water guarantees an exhilarating day of whitewater rafting.

Your day will start with a hike down to the Boiling Pot, a massive whirlpool at the base of the falls, where you will clamber aboard your raft and set off. Although stretches of the route are designated high-octane Class V rapids, there are several areas of scenic, calm water where you will get the chance to swim alongside the raft for a bit. Good fitness levels are essential for this activity.

Sunset cruise

A visit to Victoria Falls would not be complete without a river cruise, preferably at sunset, and The African Queen is a wonderful one. You will travel at a stately speed up the Zambezi River above the falls, catching glimpses of hippos and crocodiles while being plied with cold drinks and tasty snacks by your ever-attentive waiter.

Microlighting

If flying over the falls in something resembling a couple of garden chairs attached to a beach umbrella with a lawnmower engine for propulsion is your cup of tea, then microlighting is definitely for you! While a microlight may look as fragile as a dragonfly, it is far stronger than it appears and in the hands of a passionate and experienced pilot, it is one of the most breathtaking ways to see Victoria Falls. This is an activity for the adventurous.

Helicopter ride

If microlighting sounds a little too adventurous for you, then you can always opt for a spectacular helicopter flight, a definite bucket-list activity. The views are breathtaking and will give you a new perspective of the landscape below. You will have a bird’s-eye view of elephants crossing the river and pods of hippos lazily floating in the water below, and, as you fly over the Mosioa-Tunya National Park, you will look directly down on its wildlife.

Canoeing

If you prefer a moderate dose of adventure, sign up for a privately guided canoeing safari on the Zambezi, upstream from the falls. Paddling between the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park on the Zambian side and the Zambezi National Park on the Zimbabwean side, you will glide past elephants, pods of hippos and plenty of birds. As you head downstream, going with the flow of the river, you won’t even need to paddle much!

Dinner on a steam train

A ride on the Royal Livingstone Express is an incredible experience and a trip back in time to the luxury and grandeur of the era of steam trains. A red-carpet welcome awaits as you mount the stairs to the train. Wandering through the beautifully restored carriages, you will start the journey in the elegant lounge car.

As the train sets off, you will nibble on smoked salmon canapes and enjoy a fascinating, humorous and informative talk about the history of the train, the bridge, Livingstone and Zambia in general. The train makes its way to the Victoria Falls Bridge, where you will disembark to view the falls and those who are interested can visit the driver in his compartment.

Boarding the train again, you will move into the dining car for a delicious five-course dinner as the train gathers speed and heads off into the night.

Bungee jumping

Bungee jumping off the Victoria Falls Bridge provides the ultimate adrenaline rush. At 110m, it is the highest commercial bridge jump in the world and the setting is spectacular. Even if you are not brave enough to make the jump yourself, it is worth stopping to watch those who are!

Bridge tour

Take a behind-the-scenes look at the famous Victoria Falls Bridge on a guided tour. While he never visited the falls and died before construction began, Cecil Rhodes (the instigator of the Cape to Cairo Railway Project) was presented with plans for a Zambezi River crossing, drew a line across the Boiling Pot (the point directly below the falls) and declared that that was where he wanted a bridge.

Rhodes envisaged the spray from the falls landing on the trains as they crossed the bridge and for many years after the bridge’s completion, trains would stop for a few minutes in the centre of the bridge so that his dream could be realised.

On the guided bridge tour, you will be attached to the bridge by a series of cables and will walk beneath it with your guide on the original catwalk while learning about its construction and history. This is not a strenuous activity, but it is not advised if you are nervous about heights.

Day trip to Chobe

Chobe National Park in bordering Botswana has some of the greatest wildlife of any African park. The park is best known for its elephants, numbering around 120 000. On this unforgettable day trip, you will enjoy a three-hour boat cruise through the park, lunch at a riverside restaurant and then a three-hour game drive inside the park. — Travel Awaits.

To be continued next week.

lKingdom was born and raised in Sydney, Australia, before moving to Africa at the age of 21. She is a mountain climber and guide, traveller, yoga teacher, trail runner and mother of two. When she is not climbing or travelling, she lives on a cattle ranch in central Zambia. She guides and runs trips regularly in India, Nepal, Tibet, Russia and Ethiopia, taking climbers up Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro numerous times a year.