Africa’s fourth-longest river, the Zambezi, is known for its most famous feature, Victoria Falls. The falls, which straddle the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe in Southern Africa, are considered the world’s largest sheet of falling water. In the local Lozi language, their name is Mosi-oa-Tunya or “The Smoke that Thunders.”
The Zambezi itself traverses 1,599 mi (2,575 km) as it flows from its origins in Zambia through eastern Angola, along the north-eastern border of Namibia, the northern border of Botswana, and then along the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe to Mozambique, from where it eventually empties into the Indian Ocean. The verdant landscapes along the Zambezi support a rich variety of flora and fauna, including hippopotamuses, monitor lizards, buffalo, zebras, giraffes, elephants, and numerous bird species. This helps make the Zambezi one of the best river destinations in the world for nature exploration and wildlife watching.
