See both sides for the full experience
WHILE viewing the
Victoria Falls has
been hailed by
many as a life-changing
experience, for others it
ends up a disappointment
because they lack the
knowledge as to when and
from where to get the best
view of the natural wonder.
Most Vic Falls experts will
agree that the Falls are best
seen from the Zimbabwean
side. “The Zimbabwean
side is more spectacular
because it always has more
water,” says Hara Jackson,
group sales manager of
Legacy Hotels.
Up to 70% of the
active Falls are best
viewed from Zimbabwe,
confirms John Ridler, PR
and media manager of
Thompsons Holidays. But
he recommends that if
travellers have time, they
should view the Falls from
Zambia as well.
“Both sides offer a unique
experience,” says Liane
Venter, sales and marketing
manager of AfricaStay. She
points out that when the
waters are low travellers
are able to experience the
infamous Devil’s Pool from
the Zambian side.
Zambia allows visitors to
appreciate the Falls from
an entirely different angle,
agrees Glenn Stutchbury,
ceo of Cresta Hotels. “We
always recommend that
guests see both sides of
the Falls to fully appreciate
the World Heritage Site.”
It’s easy to see the Falls
from all sides. Glenn says
if travellers are staying on
the Zim side, the Falls are
within walking distance of
most hotels and lodges.
Cresta Sprayview for
example, is 1,4km from the
entrance to the Falls and
provides a free shuttle for
guests who might want a lift
instead of walking.
When crossing the bridge,
all visitors need is their
passport. Thompsons
Holidays offers trips that
cover both sides of the
Falls, but it is recommended
that guests book in
advance, says John.
Travellers can be
significantly inconvenienced
at the border controls if
they don’t have a tour
operator to fast track the
experience, notes Colin
Fryer, owner of Centre
Stage Travel. He says there
are often big trucks passing
through the border and
travellers have been known
to be delayed for up to
three hours.
In terms of timing,
Ross Kennedy, ceo of
Africa Albida Tourism, says
between the drier, low-water
months of late September
to mid-December, there is
usually little to no flow over
the Zambian side of the
Falls. “It’s essential visitors
know this and make time
to cross from Zambia to
Zimbabwe even for just a
half day.”
He says the best time to
see the Falls is between
late March and July.
Did you know?
The Victoria Falls Hotel
and Bushtracks Africa have
introduced The Victoria, a
luxury jetboat cruise on the
Zambezi that holds a small
group of 20 passengers.
Able to get close to the
edge of the Falls thanks to
its jet propulsion, it carries
a hotel chef on board who
prepares gourmet canapés.
Hotel pick-up and drop-off
are included and children
are welcome.
Navigating the ‘Activity Capital of Africa’
DUBBED the ‘Activity Capital
of Africa’, Victoria Falls has
countless activities on offer for
travellers from all walks of life.
From helicopter flights over the
Falls to game safaris, bungee
jumping and boma dinners
with African delicacies such as
warthog and crocodile, deciding
what to do can be challenging.
To help navigate the area’s long
list of activities we have asked
the experts to pick out a few of
their favourites.
White-water rafting
The Victoria Falls is arguably
home to some of the best
white-water rafting in the world
and is an adrenalin rush not to
be missed, says Liane Venter
from AfricaStay. While low-water
rafting takes place between
August and December, highwater
rafting happens between
December and August.
Liane warns that a reasonable
level of fitness is required for
the activity.
“Fitness is needed not only
for the rafting, but also for the
walk into and out of the Batoka
Gorge which is quite steep,”
she says.
“The gorge is over 100m deep
at the Falls and increases to
over 200m by the end of a fullday
raft trip.
Dinner Steam Safaris
For special occasions, travellers
should try the Dinner Steam
Safari, which can be experienced
from either side of the Falls, says
Thompsons Holidays’ John Ridler.
The steam train experience
offers luxury fine dining with all
the romantic ambience one might
expect. It includes a journey on
to the bridge and can be easily
booked through Thompsons,
though John says this should be
done before departure to avoid
disappointment.
Cultural village tours
To experience the culinary delights
of Vic Falls, Hara Jackson of Legacy
Hotels recommends a cultural
village tour.
The tour allows travellers to
venture back in time and experience
the day-to-day routine of life in an
authentic African village. Hara says
the tour can be booked through
most operators.
To the point
The Skydive Tandem Co (STC), known for skydiving in Mauritius,
recently launched an operation at Victoria Falls, operating out
of the Zambezi National Park, 7km from the Falls. Prior to the
jump, the aircraft offers a 30-minute scenic flight, affording an
‘angel’s view’ of the Falls. Premium slots for the experience are
at sunrise and sunset. Jumps from Kazangula airfield take place
at 10 000ft and, depending on body weight, speeds of up to
200kph are reached.
New airport brings increased numbers of SA travellers
VICTORIA Falls is set to
become a regional tourism
hub as a result of the newly
completed Victoria Falls
International Airport – a
development that is prompting
an increase in South African
travellers to the region.
“Tourism in Zimbabwe is
definitely on the rise as is
evidenced by the numbers we
are seeing,” says Airlink ceo,
Rodger Foster, who attributes
the increase to Vic Falls’
growing hub status.
Ongoing research shows
that Victoria Falls is growing
in popularity with the South
African market, agrees Hein
Kaiser, gm of marketing and
communications for fastjet.
He says anecdotal evidence
from recent consumer and
trade fairs indicates that
the destination is growing in
popularity as both a weekend
and longer-term vacation
destination.
“The upgraded Vic Falls
Airport is a game changer,”
says Centre Stage Travel’s
Colin Fryer.
He says it is already starting
to establish itself as the
central point connecting major
tourist hotspots in the region.
The airport is well positioned
to continue this trend as
African airlines look to link
destinations across Africa,
such as those in the northern
parts of Botswana and the
southern parts of Zambia,
he adds.
Airlines such as Kenya
Airways are already taking
advantage of this, having
launched flights from Nairobi
to Vic Falls and linking them
with existing services to
Cape Town.
Colin explains that Vic Falls’
development as a regional
hub has resulted in a drive to
develop new tourism products.
“From hotel groups to
distribution and warehousing
at the VFA, to housing
developers, we are aware
of a number of international
investors that are seriously
looking at Victoria Falls as a
key investment location in the
coming one to four years,”
says Ross Kennedy, ceo of
Africa Albida Tourism (AAT).
Colin reveals that AAT
itself is investing a further
US$600 000 (R8,5m) on a
major upgrade to its Victoria
Falls Safari Club product.
“Legacy Hotels has also
recently signed an agreement
with African Sun to upgrade
and manage five of its
properties,” he says.
The increase in high-end
hospitality brands investing in
upmarket properties is a sure
sign that business confidence
in the destination is on the
rise, agrees Rodger.
Airlines are also investing in
the development of the region
with the likes of fastjet
actively working to help
promote tourism to Vic
Falls. Hein reveals that the
airline has been busy with
destination-specific campaigns
as well as media and trade
familiarisation trips.
Greater air capacity into Vic
Falls is also already providing
travellers with increased
access, says Ross.
“For example, the route
departing Cape Town has
certainly seen added choice
and fare competition.”
Rodger reveals that Airlink’s
Cape Town-Vic Falls service
is performing beyond the
airline’s expectations. “We will
be increasing capacity on this
route in the near term.”
Should demand increase
over time, fastjet would also
look to increase its Vic FallsJohannesburg
service,
says Hein.
More accommodation
options, including new lodges,
camps and hotels across the
budget spectrum, are also
driving competitive rates and
offerings, all to the customer’s
advantage, says Ross.
Ultimately, all these
developments, in conjunction
with special deals and
packages specifically for the
South African market, are
assisting the potential growth
of South African arrivals, he
concludes.
