Jumping into Victoria Falls

We used to just see fishermen from Zambia working their way out along the edge of the falls.  Now it's become a tourist attraction.  Wonder how long it'll be before some idiot gets careless and goes over the falls.

Jumping into Victoria Falls

Tourism Risks

Bungee cord snaps above crocodile-infested waters

Some New Ways to View Zimbabwe

I'm testing out some new software so I can present the beauty of Africa in different formats. Here are some old photos shown in new ways.

Old photos make old movies.

Fanning Scenes of Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls Rain Forest

A rain forest stretches from the Devil's Cataract to the Main Falls.

Heavy spray from the falls makes possible the lush vegetation of the rain forest.

The rain forest scenes in the 1985 version of the movie King Solomon's Mines staring Richard Chamberlain and Sharon Stone were filmed in the rain forest at Victoria Falls.

The 1985 version of King Solomon's Mines is probably the worst movie adaptation of the book ever made. When driving down Enterprise Road in Harare one day my family and I saw what appeared to be a huge clay pot on the back of a lorry in front of us. It turned out to be a prop from the movie. In the movie Richard Chamberlain and Sharon Stone are tossed into a pot full of plastic vegetables, presumably to make some sort of unappetizing soup. (Typical of the silliness of this movie.)

The set for the exotic town scene in the movie was constructed beside the main highway from Harare to Kadoma near the cut-offs for the Larvon Bird Garden and the Lion and Cheetah Park. Plans were for it to be developed as a tourist attraction. It mysteriously burned without ever being exploited for tourism.

A visit to Victoria Falls and a stroll through the rain forest is highly recommended. Only watch the 1985 version of King Solomon's Mines if you need a few laughs. (The 1950 version of the movie staring Stewart Granger and Deborah Kerr filmed in East Africa is the best version. An earlier version with Paul Robeson is interesting as well.)

Victoria Falls Revisited

Treasures of Zimbabwe

Another Look at Victoria Falls

Looking down on Victoria Falls

The bottom of the falls

Going over the falls

The wall of Devil's Cataract

Main Falls Framed

Victoria Falls Pseudostamps

With the instability of Zimbabwean currency these days, it's impossible to know how many zeros to put on the postage price. Since this is just for fun and these psudostamps won't be used on letters, it doesn't really matter.

Aged Zimbabwe Scenes

In the Valley Enclosure of Great Zimbabwe

The Main Falls of Mosi oa Tunya - Victoria Falls

More Victoria Falls Dancers

Here are a couple more dance scenes from the Victoria Falls Hotel show.

Makishi dancers

Ndebele dancers

(These look better at full size. Click on the picture to see full size view.)

Victoria Falls Dancers

Here are a couple of looks at a dancer in the Traditional Dance Show at the Victoria Falls Hotel.

At the show these dancers are called Makishi dancers. I've never learned the exact tribal grouping they represent or whether they're from the Zambia or the Zimbabwe side of the Falls. The costuming reminds me of the Yao dancers from the Chewa people in Malawi.

Victoria Falls

(Click on picture to view full size.)

Mosi Oa Tunya

A "fly-by" over Victoria Falls.

Africa Gallery

Gallery of African photos.

Mosi-oa-tunya

One of Zimbabwe's most famous natural attractions is Victoria Falls, or as it was known pre-Livingstone, Mosi-oa-tunya, "The Smoke that Thunders."

Edge of the falls from the Zambia side

Top of the Devil's Cataract

Central Main Falls Area

View of Main Falls from Devil's Cataract Area

Main Falls

Bridge between Zambia (left) and Zimbabwe (right)

Victoria Falls from Devil's Cataract (near) to Zambia (far)