What you didn't know about Africa's Adventure Capital

When researching my holiday to Victoria Falls, one phrase kept popping up- “The Adventure Capital of Africa”. Like a bee to honey, I was instantly drawn in, and I surrendered my imagination to a whirlwind of dazzling photographs, dramatic descriptions and funky videos. When I eventually arrived in Vic Falls, I felt as though I had stepped through my computer screen into this fantastical, exhilarating world.

Meals

Instead of a quick sandwich at a street-side, carbon copy café, I had dinner on the Zambezi River, silently slicing across the smooth surface while I sipped gin and tonic and ate grilled Zambezi bream. The next evening was a full moon, so I ventured onto the edge of the Batoka Gorge where the Wild Horizons Lookout Café is perched. When I took the first bite of my sherry infused rack of ribs, I actually felt my taste buds quiver with pleasure. The mist from the waterfall, silver in the light of the moon, drifted eerily through the lips of the gorge while the roar of the Zambezi rapids filled my ears. The entire evening was a sensory overload like no other.

Shopping

Walking up to the curio market, I couldn’t help but feel underwhelmed. From the outside, I could only see dusty, off-white walls and a rickety sign that pointed inside. Just as I was thinking a strong gust of wind might dismantle the entire place, I stepped into the market and felt my jaw drop. Bold, bright chitenge material in a dizzying array of colours was draped over the walls. Malachite bowls were dotted along the mat-covered ground, like stunning green flowers bursting through the earth. Roaming among these were intricate woodcarvings of rhino, hippo, elephant and antelope. I must have looked slightly dazed, because as I stood there gawking a young man sitting behind his stone sculptures told me, “Don’t worry, looking is free”. I can’t imagine I would get that kind of consideration on 5th avenue.

Bike tours

I love bicycle riding and make an effort to hire a bike or go on a bike tour in all the places I travel. Victoria Falls made me realise what I had been missing. Instead of cycling past gas stations and museums, we wound our way around the ‘Big Tree’ and over the bridge that is suspended between the lips of the cavernous gorge, connecting Zimbabwe and Zambia. Turning my face upwards, I caught a playful spritz of mist from the Victoria Falls. One moment we were in town gearing up, the next we were veering across a path along the gorge- the quick, stark contrast emphasising the adventurous essence of the town.

There seems to be no limit to the adrenaline-inducing activities you can do, but I soon realised that this is not why the town deserves the title of Africa’s Adventure Capital. What truly inspired my wanderlust was the way that Victoria Falls has transformed everyday activities into unique and memorable moments.