The majestic Victoria Falls, located on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, are certainly one of the most impressive waterfalls on our planet and are one of the most famous sights in Africa. A visit to this fascinating place can be perfectly combined with a few relaxing days on the Zambezi River and a safari in the animal-rich Chobe National Park in neighbouring Botswana.

The 10,698 km2 Chobe National Park in Botswana is best known for its huge elephant herds. It is home to the largest population of wild elephants in the whole of Africa with over 120,000 specimens. To experience the grey giants and the African wildlife up close, it is recommended to stay in one of the numerous lodges on the edge of the Chobe National Park and to rent a 4WD car. Besides guided game drives in the morning and/or in the afternoon, I strongly recommend to take part in a boat safari on the mighty Chobe River. From the water you will experience the animals from a completely different perspective. Moze, our guide and boat driver, explains everything about the up to 4 meter long Nile crocodiles living here and of course about the hippos. Did you know, for example, that hippos are very bad swimmers and therefore almost always move continuously at the bottom of the water? The huge herds of elephants that swam across the Chobe to get to the delicious reed grass on the already Namibian side remain in my best memory to this day. Swimming in the wide river, sometimes only the trunk of the pachyderms, similar to a submarine, still peeps out of the water. The old bulls and cows help the young animals, carry them piggyback or push them forward.

Besides guided safaris I like to discover the African wildlife in my own vehicle. With a robust jeep and a little practice, even deep sandy tracks are no problem. On good tracks you drive through the park at walking pace and discover new creatures every few meters. Besides all the bigger animals like giraffes, antelopes and of course elephants, the bird life of the Chobe River is also very colourful and diverse. Really beautiful are the rare malachite kingfishers. And with a bit of luck you can also discover a chameleon.

In the four-country corner Namibia/Sambia/Botswana/Zimbabwe, where among other things the Chobe National Park is located, it is a stone's throw to the Victoria Falls. The entry to Zimbabwe is relatively easy to master with a little patience in your luggage. Although you pay sometimes suspicious fees - it smells a lot like "ripping you off" - but the experience is unique. The formalities at the Kazungula border took about two hours, after that it takes about half an hour to reach the village of Victoria Falls. The place is teeming with accommodations - you can dig a little deeper into your pockets - it's worth it.

The majestic Victoria Falls are one of the largest and most impressive waterfalls on earth, next to the Iguazu Falls in South America. The Zambezi River between Zambia and Zimbabwe plunges from a height of 60 metres into the depths with a loud roar.

No wonder that the Kololo tribe living here also calls the falls "Mosi oa tunya" in their language. This means something like "thunder that smokes". Between April and August, after the rainy season, over 500 million litres of water from the Zambezi River thunder over the steep precipice into the narrow Batoka Gorge. Due to the constant spraying of spray, an enchanting, evergreen, small rainforest has formed next to the falls, which has been declared a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO. Small tip: buy a rain pellerine at the entrance of the national park and protect your camera. You will get soaking wet, like fresh out of the shower, without exaggeration!

If you still feel like some thrill after visiting the falls, bungee jumping is offered at the Victoria Falls Bridge, which forms the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia.

A recommendable alternative with less adrenalin rush, but highly attractive, is a helicopter flight over the falls. Standing on the edge of the Victoria Falls is very exciting, but even more fascinating is the view of the falls from above. Only from the air one really realizes the dimension of the Victoria Falls, how the Zambezi River thunders over the 1.700 meters wide canyon into the depth. Furthermore, not a drop of water blocks the view of the spectacle. Simply unique!

If you still feel like a bit of action and music in the evening, we recommend the restaurant "The Boma" with its traditional drum show every evening.