A Visit to Victoria Falls

Becky September 29, 2011

About the Author

"Africa has been an integral influence on my dreams and my life from a very young age. An Environmental Studies major and senior at Ursinus College, I travel back to Africa with a more focused view, learning about and documenting the various AWF projects in the Kazungula Heartland. Through… More

A photo diary from Becky Walter, an AWF intern in the field. Click on any of the stunning images below to view it in full size.

"Near the end of my stay in the Kazungula Heartland, I went up in a helicopter above Victoria Falls.  Having spent a lot of time on foot in the area, it was incredible seeing and making sense of the landscape from above."

 

[caption id="attachment_2135" align="aligncenter" width="350" caption="Mosi-Oa-Tunya was the original name of Victoria Falls, translating to “the smoke that thunders.” Flying towards the fall in the air, the “smoke” is actually water coming back up from the fall, and into the air, mimicking the clouds in the sky."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2138" align="aligncenter" width="350" caption="We approached the fall from above, on the same path that the Zambezi River takes as it pours out over the fall. The river then winds around the sharp bends below, snaking its way further into the landscape. "][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2140" align="aligncenter" width="240" caption="As we came around the fall, I began to understand just how enormous a stretch of land and water the fall truly is. The sheer amount of water flowing over the fall is simply breathtaking. "][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="350" caption="Victoria Falls is over 5,600 feet wide, and 350 feet tall: the largest sheet of falling water in the world. To the right is Zambia, and to the left is Zimbabwe, with paths on the banks opposite of the fall. "][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2142" align="aligncenter" width="350" caption="Flying over the fall you see where the Zambezi river makes its first turn after the fall, down on the right. Water and light combining, they create magnificent rainbows all around the fall, changing with each move we made. "][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="251" caption="A rainbow stretches between the fall and the opposite bank. It was absolutely spectacular seeing the fall from above, and watching as the light and water morphed rainbows here and there, making large arches down over the land below. "][/caption]