The World's Most Spectacular Waterfalls
Victoria Falls, Zambia/Zimbabwe
Wow Factor: Victoria Falls (also called Mosi-oa-Tunya, or “the Smoke that Thunders”) is where the otherwise nonchalant Zambezi River takes a sudden dive off a basalt plateau in a showy 350-foot drop that measures 5,700 feet across. The water lands in the 60-mile-long Batoka Gorge of southern Africa. Elephants, hippos, and crocodiles all enjoy the river but sometimes plummet right over the waterfall’s edge.
Keep in Mind: Mist clouds can rise more than 1,000 feet above the falls (especially from January to April after the summer rains), obscuring the views but creating a natural spectacle in themselves.
Base Camp: The Zambezi Sun, located on the edge of Victoria Falls’ eastern cataract, on the Zambian side, features earthy architecture inspired by an African walled village.