Romantic encounters

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7 FEBRUARY 2006
Natural wonder, Zambia
Both awe-inspiring and humbling, it’s little surprise that Victoria Falls is one of the natural wonders of the world. Just over a mile wide and twice the height of Niagara, the cascade sends millions of gallons of water over the edge every five seconds, sending a giant cloud of spray billowing up into a deep blue sky.

When David Livingstone discovered the falls as he paddled along the Zambezi River in a dug-out canoe, he named them after his queen, but the local name, Mosi-oa-Tunya or “the smoke that thunders”, is a far more fitting description.

You can best enjoy the sight from the five-star Royal Livingstone Hotel, where the veranda and rooms have stunning river views. For an even closer encounter, you can race the rapids in a raft or tandem kayak, abseil above them or plunge down on a 300-foot-high bungee jump that’s a pure adrenaline rush.

But if you just want to dip your toes into this wonder of nature, take a trip to The Devil’s Armchair on Livingstone Island (the explorer first sighted the phenomenon from there in 1855), a totally safe natural swimming pool right on the edge of the falls. It’s an experience you’re unlikely to forget.