Picture Update 14 - Mosi Oa Tunya

Mosi Oa Tunya, the smoke that thunders, is the local name for Victoria Falls.  It's one of the seven natural wonders of the world.  We arrived in Livingston, Zambia on April 14th.  On the ride into town, the spray from Vic Falls could be seen from miles away.  When I entered Zambia, I paid for a double entry visa, with the intention to go to Zimbabwe for a day.  Christina already booked a room in Zimbabwe and I just decided to go together to spend a night in Zimbabwe. How cool is that?

As we crossed the bridge between Zimbabwe and Zambia, I saw a 360 degree double rainbow that went all the way around the bridge.  It was truly spectacular.  Zimbabwe was much less touristy and much poorer than the Zambia side.  The Kingdom Hotel that we stayed at was five stars by western standards - swimming pool, a full buffet, and air conditioned rooms.  Although the falls are few miles away, the thundering sound of the falls could be heard very clearly. There was also a Casino on the property.  The hotel was may be 25% full, with a Japanese tour group and few other tourists. Just beside our hotel is Africa's oldest hotel, the Victoria Falls Hotel.  The rooms are $500 per night there.  It's a very beautiful property.  You can see the bridge from the hotel lawn.  There is also a flag pole in the center of the viewing terrace, the base shows arrows pointing to Cairo and Cape Town.

The following day, Pierre, Christina and I went to the Victoria Falls National Park to see the falls from the Zimbabwe side.  It's the spraying season at the falls.  That means, with the peak of the rain season right now, all that water bouncing up almost covers the falls.  To stand next to the falls and see water rushing downing the cliffs is a amazing experience.  After crossing back to Zambia.  A few of us also took a helicopter ride to see the falls from the air.  It was even more spectacular to see the Zambezi River, the falls and the gorges.

To end the evening, I went to the Royal Livingston Hotel to have a drink and watched sun set.  The hotel is on the Zambezi River and about 200 meters away from the falls.

360 degree rainbow from the bridge.  You can see the shadow of the bridge in the water.

The spray from Victoria Falls.

The gorges after the falls.

Devil's Cataract, the westernmost cataract of Victoria Falls

Main falls as seen from the Zimbabwe side.

This is the spray from the falls from the Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls National Park.

Victoria Falls viewed from air.

Zambezi River and Victoria Falls.  The bridge that links Cairo and Cape Town.

Sunset on the Zambezi River.

Dusk on the Zambezi from the Royal Livingston Hotel.

Munali's Pass.

Zambia.

Zambezi river.  Victoria Falls is where the plume of water is.

Crossing from Zambia to Zimbabwe.

Victoria Falls National Park on the Zimbabwe side.

Victoria Falls Hotel, the oldest hotel in Africa.

Cairo 5165 miles, Cape Town 1647 miles.  Taken at the Victoria Falls Hotel.

The spraying from the falls.  You can see the water on the edge.

Zimbabwe.