From My Archive I Choose…
V is for Victoria Falls…
Victoria Falls were so named by the Scottish Missionary David Livingstone when he found them on 17 November 1855 as he followed the course of the Zambesi River.
A statue to his memory has been erected on the Zimbabwe side of the river close to the visitor centre.
The Falls, known as aManz’ aThunqayo (The Smoke that Thunders) to the local Ndebele people, are recognised as one of the most spectacular sights in the natural world and are quoted as being the largest waterfall based on the combination of width and drop.
This image taken from the air in 1997 shows the falls immediately after the end of the rainy season
Here are some images from ground level where the noise is deafening and the air is full of spray…
…As you can see from the last photo – it can get very wet. It is possible to hire umbrellas or waterproof coats from local vendors should you so wish. We just enjoyed the artificial rain after a couple of weeks on the dry and dusty farm! Wet T-Shirt competition anyone 😉
After Livingstone’s visit, only a few other Europeans ventured to Victoria Falls until after 1905 when the Railway arrived from Bulawayo and the Victoria Falls bridge was built to carry the line forward to Livingstone on the other side of the Zambesi – the Victoria Falls Hotel had opened the previous year in anticipation of a growing tourist trade!
The bridge was designed by George Anthony Hobson and built by the Cleveland Bridge & Engineering Company in Darlington before being shipped to Beira and carried to site by the railway for assembly. It is now an international border crossing between Zimbabwe and Zambia, and it is also a popular bungee jumping location.
Victoria Falls station has regular tourist steam services operated by Zambia Railways from Livingstone and is the interchange point for freight services between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Above, a Zambia Railways 10th Class steam locomotive waits with a tourist train whilst below a Zambia Railways General Electric U20C waits in the yard with the daily freight service from Zambia.
…A visit to a station in Zimbabwe and not a National Railways of Zimbabwe locomotive in sight! Maybe they hadn’t got any fuel that day 😉
Images from Finchley 
One day I hope to go to Victoria Falls! Thanks for sharing… 🙂
Worth a visit – add Lake Kariba, Hwange National Park and Great Zimbabwe at Masvingo to your list. 🙂
Thank you for your suggestions!! 🙂
so glad you thought of this martin … i was there as a five year old with my mother … i still remember sleeping in a round grass hut, in a rectangular bed, of course i fell out in the space made by the curve of the wall …. and we saw hippopotami in the zambesi … a few bits of excitement 🙂
Sounds great Christine – The main house on the farm was a modern rectangular building but we used to cook in a circular hut. Great fun 🙂
Maybe this year
🙂
Go for it 🙂 If you like ancient monuments (saw your Easter Island Statues) then make sure you visit Great Zimbabwe too.
Love that No. 156 train . . . what a beauty. 😀
And the falls are pretty spectacular too.
LoL Nancy – Even I was more moved by the falls than the Steam Engine 😉
wow, you’ve composed a great tribute to the Victoria Falls,
found by David Livingstone 1855 as he followed the course of the Zambesi River…
Thanks Frizztext 🙂
Love these pictures. It’s beautiful. The fall, the train… I like everything about this post. I hope you must had a great time there.
Hi Arindam – Thank You 🙂 Yes we certainly enjoyed our visit to the falls and other parts of Zimbabwe during a week out and about from my Mother-in-Law’s farm.
This is definitely an exciting series
of photographs my friend and I especially
like the trains… Have a fun weekend 🙂 🙂
Androgoth
Hi Androgoth – Thanks 🙂 You have a great weekend too!
The falls are amazing — especially compelling when we consider you only included three railway shots!!!
😉
LoL Judith – you’ve nailed me down as the transport enthusiast that I am 🙂 Glad you enjoyed the falls. Zimbabwe is a beautiful country with wonderful people – well worth a visit!
Stunning photos. This is a trip I would really like to make in my lifetime.
I’d love to visit some of the beautiful sights that Canada has to offer – just lucky that my wife comes from here 😉 Go for it – so many beautiful things to see 🙂
I love trains, especially the older ones. They are such a hard-working piece of world history. And those waterfalls look lethal. Just imagine the force of the water as it hits the water below. Interesting statue and history as well. You have a wonderful variety here, Martin … really nice share. Thanks for taking the time to post, even if I am late in getting to ‘v’isit! 😉
LoL Marcy – I suspect that like me you have your time filled with a variety of activities so it isn’t always possible to visit every post 🙂 I like to do a round of catch-up on friends blogs from time to time… So I’m often late visiting posts! Glad you enjoyed the mix of subject matter 🙂
Are you kidding me? For some things I just have no words!
Absolutely stunning, Martin!
I would imagine you can hear that thunder rolling from miles away!
🙂
Bob – you’re quite right – you can hear it from many miles away, hence – the Smoke that Thunders 🙂 Put it on your holiday list and ignore the stories of Zimbabwe being a wild and lawless place – just normal travel precautions and watch out for mosquitos / tetsi fly. The people are superb – always friendly to visitors 🙂
ps – hope you enjoyed the wife’s wet tea-shirt entry 😉
I visited in 2010 and was dazzled by the falls. The sound, mist, and scenery was stunning. Thanks for sharing the photos and bringing back some wonderful memories.
Thanks TBM – Glad you enjoyed your visit and I brought back some great memories for you 🙂
Great one for the theme! I’d love to go there some day. Thanks for sharing the great pics.
Thanks Fergiemoto – I’d recommend the visit 🙂