Rainbow Sky Bath - African Wild Luxury in Zimbabwe and Zambia's 'Falls City'

This trip to Africa offers not only the tallest sand dunes but also the highest waterfall, located on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Victoria Falls has a total width of 1,708 meters and a height of 108 meters, making it the world's largest curtain of falling water. The drop of the falls is twice that of Niagara Falls. In 1855, a European man dressed in hunting attire traveled down the Zambezi River in a dugout canoe. As he approached the falls, he could see the mist from the waterfall from a distance, which puzzled him. He later wrote: 'The river seemed to disappear from the earth. After only 80 feet, it vanishes into the crevice on the opposite side... It is the most magnificent sight I have seen in Africa.' He also wrote: '...Apart from a white mist, nothing could be seen. The mist was like thousands of little meteors, all racing in one direction, each leaving a trail of spray behind.' Despite countless poets and writers praising the falls, it seems that Livingstone's initial commentary remains the most classic. The extraordinary and grand spectacle came so suddenly and fiercely that it filled Livingstone's heart with amazement and awe. The local blacks had already named it 'Mosi-oa-Tunya' (Mosi-oa-Tunya), meaning 'the smoke that thunders.' However, faced with this magnificent gift from nature, he suggested to the Queen to give this world wonder the name 'Victoria Falls.' With the falls becoming world-famous, the British imprint was thus deeply engraved here. The transnational Victoria Falls is actually divided into six sections. I first entered Zambia, where it is called 'Eastern Falls.' Then I went to Zimbabwe, starting from the 'Devil's Falls,' to the 'Main Falls,' 'Livingstone Island Falls,' 'Horseshoe Falls,' and 'Rainbow Falls Valley,' which is an interesting and enjoyable journey. After viewing each section of the falls, one needs to walk a distance to see the next, and the scenery along the way is uniquely beautiful. The opposite side of the Main Falls looks like a wilderness, unimaginably lush and verdant, as if entering a tropical rainforest like Xishuangbanna. I have visited the other two of the world's three great transnational waterfalls (in North and South America). Although Victoria Falls' fame is well-known, and I had many hints of its grandeur, I still felt calm and could not find that soul-stirring sensation. However, this dullness was quickly offset by surprise and busyness. I chased the secret rainbows reflected in the roaring white waves at the edge of the cascading falls. I did not wear the raincoat provided by the guide, just protected my camera, letting the 'smoke that thunders' fall on my head, face, and body. Soon I was drenched, but the appearance of each rainbow, or double rainbows, revived me. I calmly accepted the wetness from the mist and thoroughly enjoyed this 'sky bath.' This is one of the world's seven natural wonders, listed by National Geographic as a must-see in one's lifetime. The British Livingstone made the falls world-famous, and Livingstone himself became a blessing and a hero to the people of both countries, highly respected and supported throughout the African continent. Now, the city named 'Livingstone' is on the north side of the great falls, belonging to Zambia. Victoria 'Falls City' is on the south side, belonging to Zimbabwe, with the Victoria Falls Bridge connecting these two small cities. Another establishment named after the Queen, the 'Victoria Hotel,' is Zimbabwe's first five-star hotel. Staying there, one can feel the grandeur in front of the great falls and the colonial history of more than 100 years. The 'Elephant Hills Hotel' in Zimbabwe, where I stayed, not only has a helipad with views of the great falls canyon but also long-tailed monkeys that sneak into rooms to steal 'Crunch' from the guests, offering a perfect blend of wild charm and luxury. There is an old African proverb: You can leave Africa, but Africa will never leave you... (The End)