After breakfast, we set off from the hotel along the well-trodden walkway toward the entrance of Victoria Falls’ rainforest area. This Victoria Falls walk is quite popular among tourists. Just outside the gates, a long line of people hired raincoats—clearly a wise move, as we soon discovered. Entry at the time could only be paid in South African Rand, a quirk from 2007 when Zimbabwe still had its own currency. Raincoats on, we headed for the Devil’s Cataract, struck by the sight and sound of water thundering into the gorge below.
Experiencing the Devil’s Cataract
Devil’s Cataract sits at the western edge of the falls, dropping about 60 meters into the ravine. We gazed at water plummeting onto rocks, the spray shooting skyward and drenching everything in its path. Along the walking track on the Zimbabwean side, every pause revealed another waterfall segment—each with its own character, from Main Falls to Rainbow Falls and beyond.
The river’s spray intensified as we approached the famous Boiling Pot—by then, our raincoats (and cameras) worked overtime to handle the moisture that filled the air. The dense rainforest around us thrived thanks to this perpetual mist, providing a home for spectacular birdlife and lush vegetation.
Main Falls, Boiling Pot, and Bridge
Each new viewpoint brought us closer to the Main Falls’ pounding curtain of water. At the Boiling Pot—where water churns before rushing downstream—the spray was so fierce it looked like torrential rain in our photos. We completed the loop, ending up near the Victoria Falls Bridge, where we watched a brave soul bungee jump off the edge as a rainbow danced through the waterfall’s mist.
Practical Tips for Visitors
- Always hire a raincoat—no one stays dry in the rainforest zone! The spray is relentless in peak season.
- The falls walk is long; waterproof shoes and camera protection are essential.
- Entry sometimes requires foreign currency due to shifting Zimbabwean economic issues.
- Go early for quieter paths, better light for photos, and more rainbows.
Concluding Thoughts & Call-to-Action
- Our morning at Victoria Falls was a sensory feast—thundering water, swirling mist, and the rainbow’s arc in the spray
- We could see the water crashing to the bottom of the ravine and the spray of water from bouncing on the rocks below caused the spray to rise into the sky.
- The walking track followed the land on the opposite site of the falls and allowed us to see many of the segments that make up Victoria Falls.
- The further we walked the wetter we became – the wetter my camera became.
