by Sandra Mallinson, 27 June 2010

My overriding memory of my first trip to Victoria Falls is putting on a raincoat in the brilliant Zimbabwean sunshine, then walking wide-eyed into a misty world of shimmering rainbows and thundering spray.

I was eight years old at the time, and felt I'd entered somewhere magical - like falling down the rabbit hole or wandering into the Enchanted Forest.

My second trip - a couple of decades later - was another whirlwind of unforgettable firsts including hurtling over the Zambezi River attached to the world's longest Foofie Slide (Zip Line) and losing my heart to Chizi, an orphaned baby elephant.

Recently I returned for a third time in search of a calmer break, and once again Vic Falls didn't disappoint. I stayed in a small lodge upstream of the Falls and my holiday highlights included falling asleep to a lullaby of honking hippos, a sunset cruise on the Zambezi and wandering mist-soaked paths on the Zambian side of the Falls.

Three visits to the same destination, three completely different experiences. And it's this unique combination activities and lodges which makes Victoria Falls a popular destination for everyone from overlanders to luxury travellers; families to honeymooners.

What's more, the location of this tumbling, churning curtain of water - straddling the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe - puts it just a short flight, boat cruise or wildlife-packed drive from some of Southern Africa's top game reserves.

Crossing Over to Chobe

It's highly unlikely that you'll visit Victoria Falls and not see wildlife. Go for a Zambezi river cruise and you'll float past the twitching ears of submerged hippos, the knobbly silhouette of a basking croc, and an elephant or three coming down to the water to drink.

In fact if you stay at The Royal Livingstone you won't even need to leave the hotel grounds for your first wildlife encounters: zebra graze on the hotel lawns, while cheeky vervet monkeys nip down from the acacia trees to steal the morning croissants.

But if you really want to see large herds of big game, you need to cross over to Botswana's Chobe National Park. Getting there from Victoria Falls is so easy that some visitors pop across for the day, but we think this area deserves more time.

Although not a Big 5 destination, between the months of June and October the Chobe River area is known for phenomenal game viewing. Alongside Southern Africa's largest elephant population, Chobe has massive herds of buffalo and zebra, puku and red lechwe, and with all these tasty herbivores the lion and wild dogs aren't far behind either.

Life on the Chobe River is truly peaceful with game drives, river safaris and unforgettable sunsets. Stay at one of the lodges or tented camps on the riverbank or even on the river itself on a luxury houseboat, The Zambezi Queen.

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Article © Copyright 2010 Go2Africa.

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