Scenes from Victoria Falls Trivia Quiz

Answer: Zambia and Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls, also called Mosi-oa-Tunya in the Tonga language, lies along the Zambezi river on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Victoria Falls is by far and away the most visited place in both countries. Historically speaking, the main sites of interest are mostly on the Zambian side but the Zimbabwean side sees more tourists because that side is more developed with hotels and amenities.

However since 2006, Zambia has seen a huge increase in tourists since political turmoil roiled Zimbabwe, leaving that side's hotels nearly empty.

Answer: Smoke

Mosi-oa-Tunya means (roughly) "the smoke which thunders" in the local Tonga or Zambezi language. This is a reference to the loud noise the water makes when it crashes and the mist (that looks like smoke) that rises up afterwards.

Answer: Swimmers risk being thrown over the falls

The Devil's Pool can be found on the Zambian side of the falls near Livingstone Island. From September-December, the rapids are very slow which allows swimmers to swim without the risk of falling over. However, during the rest of the year, the rapids are quite fast and swimmers risk being washed over the nearby cascade, leading to near certain death.

Answer: Boiling Pot

The Boiling Pot is a perfectly calm part of the Zambezi River when the water is low. However in high water, the water is unmercifully violent, full of bubbling whirlpools and often contains the remains of animals as large as hippos who fell over various cascades. Humans have also washed up in this area.

Answer: David Livingstone

David Livingstone was a famous British explorer well known for his expeditions to Africa and for his so-called disappearance there. He is believed to be the first European to see the falls during his Zambezi Expedition in the 1850s. A few other European explorers had previously made accurate maps of the region but it is believed that none of them visited the falls and only knew of their existence from the local Matabele people.

Answer: Rainbow Falls

Rainbow Falls is the highest part of the Victoria Falls. It is 354 ft or 108m high. True to its name, Rainbow Falls is famous for its rainbows. Moonbows are also somewhat common in the nighttime. Rainbow Falls is also known to be one of the more dangerous parts of the falls because the spray wets the rocks tourists stand on.

Answer: Second Gorge

The Victoria Falls Bridge is one of the most famous bridges in Victoria Falls. Cecil Rhodes ordered the bridge to be built over the Second Gorge so that the trains passing through would be splashed by the water from the falls. The water in the crashes are so powerful that it is sometimes called inverted rain because it feels like a downpour falling up.

Answer: It has the biggest curtain of falling water of any waterfall

Victoria Falls is sometimes referred to as the largest waterfall on Earth because it has the largest curtain of falling water in the world. Angel Falls in Venezuela is taller and Iguazu Falls in South America are wider. Niagara Falls in New York has a larger average volume of water flowing through it.

Answer: Going over the falls in a barrel

Beginning in the 1980s, Victoria Falls began becoming a center for adventure and adventure sports including bungee jumping and whitewater rafting among other extreme sports. Horseback riding has long been a popular activity. People are not allowed to go over the falls in a barrel. In fact, every precaution is made to prevent such an incident from happening.

Answer: The first European settlers to the region

The people buried in Old Drift Cemetery were among the first white settlers in the region. They mostly died of malaria but at the time the cause of their deaths was attributed to a poisonous plant. Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park is also known for its small, but crucial population of southern white rhinos.

The rhinos are critically endangered and are very small in numbers. Poachers have killed rhinos in the park despite the 24-hour protection the rhinos receive.