Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls, on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, has some of the most breathtaking views of any destination you’ll encounter on the African continent. From the wild banks of the Zambezi River, and the animals that call the banks home, to the world-famous spray and exceptional Victoria Falls activities offered in the area, a trip to the Falls is nothing short of exceptional.

Victoria Falls Zimbabwe is a welcoming town with friendly locals who are eager to show you around, warthogs wandering the streets and baboons playing in the trees. Unique in nature, this town is a memorable little place to visit. Ilala Lodge Hotel’s ideal placement and accomplished team make it the best Vic Falls lodge for travellers interested in an extraordinary all-round experience of Victoria Falls.

The history surrounding Victoria Falls is multi-dimensional and shapes how visitors experience this natural wonder today. For many years, travellers have been wowed by the unearthly beauty of the magnificent Falls. As Dr Livingstone once said upon his historical and monumental discovery of the Falls in 1855, he saw ‘…scenes so lovely they must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight’.

The massive sheet of falling water and the spray it produces are both mesmerizing and awe-inspiring. The dense rain forest on the Zimbabwean side of the Falls is an enigma. Housing over 400 plant species, and teeming with small antelope, primates and birds, this unique natural habitat is reason enough to visit. The nearby Victoria Falls National Park, and the towns of Victoria Falls and Livingstone, offer additional pleasures to the discerning visitor. Here you can enjoy an excess of adventurous and nature-based activities, from laid-back walks and cultural trips, to the adrenaline rush of rafting and bungee jumping.

The Victoria Falls Bridge was built in 1905 to link what are now Zimbabwe and Zambia. The bridge was the vision of Cecil John Rhodes, who wanted ‘the spray of the Falls on the train carriages’, but unfortunately he died before it was completed. The bridge was constructed from steel and the arch spans 156.50 metres, with a height of 128 metres above the valley floor. Apart from carrying the usual cars, trains and foot traffic, it also hosts the world-famous, 111-metre Shearwater Bungee Jump.

The railway encouraged the first influx of tourists to the Falls and the original Victoria Falls Hotel was constructed in 1904; eventually, the growing village was granted town status. A railway museum near the Victoria Falls is a good source of information for railway enthusiasts.