From:REUTERS
Victoria Falls (Tokaleya Tonga: Mosi-oa-Tunya, "The Smoke that
Thunders") is a waterfall in southern Africa on the Zambezi River at the
border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It has been described by CNN as one
of the Seven Natural Wonders of the world.
By the end of the 1990s almost 400,000 people were visiting the falls annually, and this was expected to rise to over a million in the next decade. Unlike the game parks, Victoria Falls has more Zimbabwean and Zambian visitors than international tourists; the attraction is accessible by bus and train, and is therefore comparatively inexpensive to reach.
By the end of the 1990s almost 400,000 people were visiting the falls annually, and this was expected to rise to over a million in the next decade. Unlike the game parks, Victoria Falls has more Zimbabwean and Zambian visitors than international tourists; the attraction is accessible by bus and train, and is therefore comparatively inexpensive to reach.
Both countries permit tourists to make day trips across the border to
view the falls from both viewpoints. Visitors with single-entry visas
are required to purchase a visa each time they cross the border; visas
can be obtained at both border posts. Costs vary from US$50–$80 (as of
January 2017). Visa regulations change frequently; visitors are advised
to check the rules currently in effect in both countries before crossing
the border in either direction. Additionally, foreign tourists may
purchase a KAZA visa for US$50 that will permit visitors to travel
between Zambia and Zimbabwe for up to 30 days as long as they remain
within the covered countries.
A famous feature is the naturally formed "Armchair" (now sometimes
called "Devil's Pool"), near the edge of the falls on Livingstone Island
on the Zambian side. When the river flow is at a certain level, usually
between September and December, a rock barrier forms an eddy with
minimal current, allowing adventurous swimmers to splash around in
relative safety a few feet from the point where the water cascades over
the falls.[20] Occasional deaths have been reported when people have
slipped over the rock barrier.
The numbers of visitors to the Zimbabwean side of the falls has historically been much higher than the number visiting the Zambia side, due to the greater development of the visitor facilities there. However, the number of tourists visiting Zimbabwe began to decline in the early 2000s as political tensions between supporters and opponents of president Robert Mugabe increased. In 2006, hotel occupancy on the Zimbabwean side hovered at around 30%, while the Zambian side was at near-capacity, with rates in top hotels reaching US$630 per night. The rapid development has prompted the United Nations to consider revoking the Falls' status as a World Heritage Site. In addition, problems of waste disposal and a lack of effective management of the falls' environment are a concern.
The numbers of visitors to the Zimbabwean side of the falls has historically been much higher than the number visiting the Zambia side, due to the greater development of the visitor facilities there. However, the number of tourists visiting Zimbabwe began to decline in the early 2000s as political tensions between supporters and opponents of president Robert Mugabe increased. In 2006, hotel occupancy on the Zimbabwean side hovered at around 30%, while the Zambian side was at near-capacity, with rates in top hotels reaching US$630 per night. The rapid development has prompted the United Nations to consider revoking the Falls' status as a World Heritage Site. In addition, problems of waste disposal and a lack of effective management of the falls' environment are a concern.
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