The Falls Call
Had David Livingstone known, when he first set eyes on the plumes of spray rising from the depths of the Batoka Gorge, that Victoria Falls would one day host Africa’s most exhilarating three-day New Year’s extravaganza, he might have had second thoughts before renaming it after his tight-lipped queen.
The settlement of Victoria Falls is Zimbabwe’s only town situated within a national park, so it’s ill advised to walk around after dark. Wild animals do roam. Hippos use the roads as shortcuts, buffalos appear out of nowhere, and you might accidentally bump into elephants who prefer not to have their personal space invaded.
This makes the little village on the edge of the world’s biggest waterfall sound a lot more
sinister than it actually is. The most dangerous thing you’re likely to spot from your hotel terrace is gangs of warthogs hoovering up the manicured lawns or cavorting in muddy pools.
Come New Year’s Eve, though – and over the days leading up to the big switch-over to 2015 – there’ll be another kind of wildlife swinging into town. The annual Jameson Vic Falls Carnival – serving up three days of music, dancing and high energy fun – now draws thousands of party animals to play in Africa’s adrenaline capital. While Vic Falls village is unmatched for its full-on views of the most powerful water show on earth, it’s hardly renowned for its nightlife, which generally comes down to displays of traditional dancing accompanied by dinner in one of the hotel restaurants.
Not that Vic Falls is immune to loud, cacophonous, rumbling noises. There’s fair reason that the great natural wonder at the heart of it all is known locally as Mosi Oa Tunya, or “The Smoke That Thunders”. The falls give off a deep-bellied roar as millions of litres of water torrentially plummet 100 m into the depths of Batoka Gorge, kicking up tremendous plumes of mist and spray. When water levels are at their peak, the resulting white cloud is visible from 80 km away.
And all around this gigantic wall of falling water exists a natural wonderland of coursing rivers with fast churning rapids, huge skies, and an immense animal-populated landscape where safaris promise astonishing animal encounters.
Which is why you’ll struggle to find such an awesome and awe-inspiring setting for an end-of-year celebration elsewhere. Three days’ worth of entertainment, in fact, has been lined up to herald the New Year, starting with a Vic Falls classic: A ride on a vintage steam train, with contemporary electronic dance music as a sound track. Gliding through Victoria Falls National Park, the train mixes a party atmosphere with the chance to spot animals in the bush. It then arrives at a secret location for a DJ-fuelled extravaganza under a canopy of stars.
The following day the open-to-the-sky dance floor at Vic Falls Farm School fills with revellers flinging fistfuls of coloured powder at one another, followed by several different official after-parties scattered through the town.
All this, though, is really a warm-up to the big night when the main stage will be graced by legendary Zimbabwean musician, Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi, and South Africa’s most successful electronic duo, Goldfish. Also on the evening’s bill are Harare’s dancehall reggae king, Winky D, and Cape Town band Beatenberg.
The first such music festival started as a fairly small event in 2009 and by 2012 transformed into the Vic Falls Carnival, but struggled to find its feet. That year, Craig Bright, co-founder of Seed Experiences, the events company responsible for Rocking the Daisies, came to have a look, saw its enormous potential, and decided to climb on board. They invested heavily, brought in Jameson as a sponsor, and set about transforming the event into what Craig envisions as a global bucket list festival. “My dream is for Vic Falls Carnival to be the kind of once-in-a-lifetime travel-to-party destination event that people from around the world will plan a year in advance to get to. There’s no other location in the world that can offer this kind of New Year’s experience,” he says.
Craig and his team are also known for his company’s commitment to fostering a spirit of green, sustainable festivals. Seed Experiences is the first African company to win a global award for its festivals’ ecological initiatives, and the Carnival is another platform where they’ll be raising awareness of conservation issues, including anti-poaching.
“Victoria Falls is not only a magical place because of the presence of one of Africa’s most exhilarating natural wonders, but also for the incredible adventures on offer. You come to celebrate New Year, for sure, but you can add on many unique adventures, experienced in one of the world’s most incredible locations.”
This tiny village has developed a well-deserved reputation as Africa’s adrenaline capital, and with New Year traditionally a time when caution is thrown to the wind, there’s plenty here to get the blood pumping. Thrill seekers take pleasure in diving off the bridge connecting Zimbabwe with Livingstone on the Zambian side of the border attached to a bungee cord – understandably one of the world’s most famous and exciting jumps.
The gorge swing is the other way to experience the heart-pounding jolt that comes with freefalling towards the Batoka Gorge, this time harnessed to the world’s highest commercial high wire. Daredevils step off the cliff and – bombs away – savour the sensation of freefalling for 70 m before swinging peacefully above the river. They’ll also happily flip your feet over your head if you’d like to launch from a handstand position. It’s your party, after all.
And, of course, while you’re flying high on end-of-year spirit, you might as well head into the clouds for a real flight above the Falls. The quietest experience is aboard a microlight, which also brings with it the sense of freedom you get from having the wind in your face.
There are also ways to get even closer to the water. Here you’ll find some of the world’s most challenging commercial white water rafting. Or, for the bone-idle, mellow sunset cruises on the Zambezi River, where the hardest you’ll work is lifting drinks to your lips while watching the waters radiate golden-red hues as the sun sinks on paradise. Away from the water, there are zipline tours through the forest canopy, elephant back safaris, and more conventional vehicle based game viewing.
Or you could throw caution and sense to the wind and roam the village streets after dark. I wouldn’t recommend it, though. Far better to be enjoying the party, where the wildest creatures you’ll encounter will be party animals celebrating their hearts out, just like you.
SIDEBAR - A Few Essentials
- Tickets for the Jameson Vic Falls Carnival are available from www.vfc.nutickets.co.za. Visit vicfallscarnival.com for travel package details.
- You can book experiences in and around Vic Falls with Wild Horizons, which also handles all-inclusive packages for trips to Zimbabwe for the three-day festival. Wild Horizons also has its own accommodation, the luxurious Wild Horizons Elephant Camp. Visit wildhorizons.co.za.
- Even if you don’t stay at the most well-known and old-fashioned hotel in town, be sure to enjoy high tea on the terrace of the legendary Victoria Falls Hotel. Visit africansunhotels.com.
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