Getting To Know Africa: Victoria Falls - Mosi-oa-Tunya
It's breath-taking! No wonder this majestic site is also known as "Smoke That Thunders".
The spray shoots over 400 meters in the air and can be seen from 30 kilometers away. It is twice the height of Niagara Falls.
There’s no doubt about it. Victoria Falls is massive and awe-inspiring. Located in southern Africa, at the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls is considered the largest waterfall in the world, based on its width of 1.7km, plus its height of 108 meters. The Zambezi River, which originates in northern Zambia, feeds these mighty falls. During the wet season, over 500 million liters of water crash down over the edge per minute. Victoria Falls is considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1989. Today two national parks protect the falls on either side. Victoria Falls, with its ever-present rainbows, is a gorgeous site to behold. It’s no wonder several hundred thousand people visit the falls each year.
Source: Wikipedia
Smoke That Thunders
Scottish explorer Dr. David Livingstone is believed to be the first European to view the falls. When first coming across the falls in 1855, he reportedly said, “Scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight.”
David Livingstone by Frederick Havill
Source: Wikipedia
Livingstone named the falls after Queen Victoria, who was the monarch at that time.
But well before Livingstone, the falls had another name. In the Kololo language, the falls are aptly named Mosi-oa-Tunya—meaning “smoke that thunders.”
The World Heritage List officially recognizes both names.
- Walk the various trails- There are numerous trails on both sides with impressive vistas, but the Zimbabwean side affords the best panoramic view. Baboons and warthogs are common in the area, so you may catch a glimpse.
- Take a train- Hop on the Royal Livingstone Express—a luxury and historic train that offers lunch and dinner trips
- From the air- Take in the sheer magnitude of the falls from a helicopter. You may even see elephants and other wildlife. For added excitement—fly over in a microlite (a small glider-like plane with a motor).
The Royal Livingstone Express
Source: Sun International Resorts
Feeling More Daring?
Obviously for most people it’s enough to gaze at the falls and absorb the surrounding natural beauty. But for those looking for more, the area around Victoria Falls offers a variety of activities for adventure travelers and adrenaline junkies.
Devil’s Pool is a natural rock pool on the very edge of Victoria Falls. During the dry season, it’s shallow enough for people to safely swim in it. A natural rock wall, just below the surface, stops swimmers from plunging over the edge. Obviously this is not for the faint of heart, and you have to be a strong swimmer to even get there.
Experience Swimming in Devil's Pool
Source: YouTube - Lindspiper
Imagine having your guide hold onto your ankles as you scoot out to the rim and peer over the precipitous drop to watch the water crash on the rocks 100 meters below.
If you’re not scared of heights, there’s no shortage of activities. How about bungee jumping off the bridge between Zambia and Zimbabwe? No doubt you’ll feel your heart pumping as you plunge 111 meters into the gorge. Or perhaps you’d like to try rappelling down a cliff or shooting down a high-wire zip line.
For something lower down— but just as exciting—you can go white-water rafting on the Zambezi River to truly feel its power. Source: YouTube, Bundu Adventures
A Delicate Balance
All of the activities and tourist attractions that crowd the area around Victoria Falls are fun, but don’t lose sight of what’s truly special. And that of course is the mighty waterfall itself.
Source: YouTube - Victoria Falls Guide
Shona Soapstones
The Shona people are the largest ethnic group in Zimbabwe. Today they are known for their beautiful soapstone carvings, although it’s a relatively new art form for them. Zawadee - Bring Africa Home offers a collection of these intricate carvings, including gorgeous serving bowls infused with vivid colors and images of wildlife.
Cover Photo Source: Wikipedia - Victoria Falls
This water sustains numerous animals in an otherwise parched land. It’s an oasis for the abundant wildlife from the surrounding harsh, dry landscape.
This concentrated lushness has made the Okavango Delta one of the greatest wildlife viewing destinations in the world. There’s beautiful scenery and stunning animals at every turn.
It’s no wonder that the Okavango Delta got the cool distinction of being listed as the 1,000th UNESCO 
Cool Ways to Explore
There is plenty to see in the Okavango Delta. Here are some exciting ways to explore the area:
When you think of an African safari, chances are images of the Serengeti spring to mind. Nothing quite imbues the grandeur of Africa and its wildlife as the vast open plains of the Serengeti.
For centuries, Ethiopian Christians have claimed that the Ark of the Covenant is housed in a chapel in the town of Aksum, located in the northern highlands of the Tigray state.
The Chapel of the Tablet at the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion in Axum allegedly houses the original Ark of the Covenant.
The Tigray and the Amhara people were converted to Christianity hundreds of years before most of Europe. The arrival of Christianity in Tigrayan lands is dated to about the same time as Christianity arrived in Ireland.
The church is a very central feature of Tigray communities, most communities having a church with a patron saint. Most Tigray holidays are associated with the church calendar.
Tigray art is also associated with the church. The church architecture alone is amazing with many churches cut into solid stone (as pictured below). Icon painting is also popular.
Church music and praise songs are important to the Tigray. Church deacons may sing and accompany the voices with drums and a marroca-like, shaken instrument called at "sistrum".
A game much like field hockey is played but in a cross-country manner! Some seriously sports-minded Tigray "grow" their own hockey sticks by training saplings into the desired curve. While like field hockey, the Tigray play across country - even through creeks and over fences! Now that's track and field combined with field hockey!
The Tigray are a fascinating people, with interesting customs and traditions.
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The enslaved Yoruba people brought many traditions and cultural practices and languages with them. Their religious beliefs were firmly rooted in spirit and ancestor worship. Many enslaved Yoruba had tribal facial identification marks which unfortunately sometimes contributed to a slave owner being able to identify someone attempting to flee. Sadly, in the U.S. colonies, people of different ethnic groups were deliberately mixed together, making it more difficult for ethnic groups to communicate and to organize attempts at rebellion.
The Mandingo people are purported to be descendants of the Mali Empire (1230 A.D. to 1600 A.D.) Some scholars think the Mandingo's roots go back even further - to the legendary ancient city of Djenné-Djenno (3rd century B.C.)
The Mali Empire was established in the Senegambia region, deep in the heartland of West Africa. It is believed that they migrated there in the search for better agricultural lands and to expand their territory. More than half of the tribal group converted to Islam (from their indeigenous pantheist belief structure) after reaching West Africa.
Sadly, although the Mandingo people existed very nicely with the other settlers in the region, in the 15th century, Westerners arrived looking for human labour. The desire for farmland and the Industrial Revolution contributed to a period of slavery for the Mandingo. Unfortunately, many Mandingo merchants were themselves involved in the transatlantic slave trade. It is difficult to understand, but many Mandingo were sold as slaves by their own people!
As a result of the despicable slave trade, more than a third of the Mandingo population was sent to the Americas. This is why a large number of African-American people residing in the United States today are descendents of the Mandingo.
The Mandingo culture is both spiritual and musical. Griots are well-known for their "praise singing" in which they tell stories, sing songs and proverbs. They are the keepers of oral tradition spanning centuries. Take a look at the video we've included below. This is a fascinating recounting by Imiuswi Aborigine ~ Prince Diabata - a griot musician from West Africa - of the history of the griot legacy and their long traditional of oral history.
And they are so loved - the world round. The number of visitors to websites featuring the imminent birth of a baby giraffe is just astounding. And, who can forget the unbelievable response to the baby toy 'Sophie the Giraffe"? It was difficult to get your hands on one!
And, how can we forget the ubiquitious TOYSRUS mascot - Geoffrey the Giraffe? My grand-daughter can't get enough of the terrific children's book 
The design of each piece conveys a "message" - either symbolic, mystical, astronomical or something that illustrates the practicalities of life.
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