A view of Victoria Falls from high above a microlight is an experience that will stay with visitors for life. Photos by D J Clark / For China Daily
The magnificent Victoria Falls is to Africa what the Great Wall is to China, and Zambia's Livingstone offers the perfect place to experience it, says D J Clark.
In China it is often said that you really have not seen the country properly unless you have climbed the Great Wall. In Africa they say no visit is complete without seeing the Victoria Falls.
The falls lie on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe and can be viewed from both banks. However, the unstable political situation in Zimbabwe has put tourists off and pushed prices up, allowing its lesser-known neighbor, and in particular the town of Livingstone, the chance to revive its historical past.
Back in the colonial days, Livingstone was the center for the exploitation of the area's natural resources with the world's tallest bridge, the world's longest railway line and a thriving town.
In Zambia the falls have a far more descriptive name, Mosi-oa-Tunya (the smoke that thunders), which by the end of the rainy season is a pretty fair description. From the Royal Livingstone hotel on the Zambian bank you can take a small boat to Livingstone Island on the edge of the waterfall and experience the might of the gushing water by standing on the edge and looking down.
The view is both breathtaking and very wet but not to be missed for the full Victoria Falls experience. A sight the explorer David Livingstone described as "unimaginable to anyone who had not left the shores of England".
The island trip is best rounded up with a meal, served under a tarpaulin sheet to protect you from the constant spray.
There are many ways to experience the Victoria Falls and you can easily spend two days taking in its splendor. Paths take you around the side of the falls to a variety of viewpoints, all of which are extremely wet, so come prepared for a soaking. The more adventurous can walk down to the Devil's Cataract at the bottom of the falls and gaze up. However, the spray makes viewing from land a selective process as only small sections can be seen from any one spot.
A better alternative is to view them from the air, either by helicopter, or better still, from the back seat of a microlight. It is an expensive option with tickets starting around $100 each for a 15-minute ride but an experience that will stay with you for a long time.
As well as the falls, Livingstone has other attractions worth visiting. The Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park that borders the town is home to many of Africa's better-known animals, such as white rhinos, buffalos, elephants, giraffes, zebras, monkeys and several species of antelope, and can be reached with a game drive or simply by taking a boat trip up the Zambezi.
The Royal Livingstone Express steam train also passes through the park on its 15 km sunset dinner ride. Traveling along the Mulobezi track, built by Cecil Rhodes in 1916, you will be pampered in true colonial style with South African wines and a five-course evening meal. However, the railway is not the best way to see the wildlife, which tends to steer clear of the train.
Hotels in the town are plentiful and cater for all tastes and budgets but for those who can afford it there are some very distinctive options.
The Royal Livingstone Hotel, voted best hotel in Zambia and temporary home to many a president and movie star, takes you back in history to Livingstone's heyday. The 176 old-style rooms all have views of the river, some of the falls, and the lounge and bar seem a fitting place for any would-be 19th Century explorer.
For those prepared to skip a little luxury and experience the bush in style, the Tongabezi Lodge and the River Club both offer open-air rooms right on the river with just a mosquito net between you and the water. The eco friendly Tongabezi even owns an island with five rooms, and offers dawn and dusk boat rides to view the wildlife.
The River club boasts "the world's best" infinity swimming pool, that melts into the Zambezi river and offers the perfect place to finish the day.
