Today we get a tour of Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. (This is another list not to be confused with the NEW Natural Wonders of the World of which Table Mountain in Cape Town is one of the wonders.)
Speaking of lists…we have learned of some others often showcased in children’s books.
Shy Five:
- Meerkat
- Aardvark
- Porcupine
- Aardwolf
- Bat-eared fox
Ubiquitous Five
Vic Falls, which is what the locals call it, is made possible by the Zambesi River, the 4th longest river in Africa behind the Nile, Congo, and Niger. It passes through six countries.
The native name of the falls means “the smoke that thunders”.
Millions of years ago, the Zambesi River used to flow south through Botswana but now flows east into the Indian Ocean. Zambesi is actually the word for foreigner which Livingstone thought was the name of the river.
The Zambesi River originates from a spring in Zambia. The rains come in November through March so April and May are the best months to see Vic Falls in full. However, the crowds are huge, and a raincoat is a must because of the spray from the falls.
Devil’s Cataract is called “The one who knows where to bathe” in the Tonga language.
Sometimes it is what you don’t see. We didn’t see a large volume of water, but we were able to see the wall of rocks and the rocks below.
The Devil’s Pool is at the top of the falls. Native tribes would come to cleanse themselves believing that they have washed the bad away and it stays in the water. Today Devil’s Pool is where Zambia tourists and residents come to swim. We waved at them across the chasm.
After our tour of Vic Falls, we had lunch at The Lookout Cafe. There was a table waiting for us with a breathtaking view.
Crocodiles can grow up to 18 feet and and live 130 years in the wild and even longer in captivity although they might have no teeth. Man is the grown crocodiles’ only predator. The tail is good meat. (We can confirm that it tastes like chicken.) The skin is prized for fashion.
Crocodiles grow very slowly. They stay with the hatchings for 2-3 weeks. Eagles and other birds prey on them.
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