Victoria Falls National Park

This article is about the Zimbabwean national park. For the main article about the falls, see Victoria Falls. For the Zambian national park, see Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park.
Victoria Falls National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Location Hwange District, Zimbabwe
Nearest city Hwange
Coordinates 17°55′S 25°40′E / 17.917°S 25.667°ECoordinates: 17°55′S 25°40′E / 17.917°S 25.667°E
Area 23.4 km² [1]
Governing body

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority

Designated January 3, 2013 [2]


Open to visitors throughout the year, the Victoria Falls National Park in north-western Zimbabwe protects the south and east bank of the Zambezi River in the area of the world-famous Victoria Falls. It extends along the Zambezi river from the larger Zambezi National Park about 6 km above the falls to about 12 km below the falls.

A notable feature of the park is the rainforest which grows in the spray of the falls, including ferns, palms, liana vines, and a number of trees such as mahogany not seen elsewhere in the region.

Visitors have the chance to view elephant, cape buffalo, white rhino, hippopotamus, eland and a variety of other antelope during drives and walking safaris. Crocodiles may be seen in the river, and a nearby Crocodile Ranch offers a safer view of these dangerous animals.

Accommodation is provided in campsites in the Zambezi National Park and in the numerous resorts and hotels in and around the town of Victoria Falls which forms part of the western boundary of the park.

Visitors are required to take precautions against malaria.

Notes

This park is considered for inclusion in the 5 Nation Kavango - Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area.

References

  1. ↑ National Parks and Nature Reserves of Zimbabwe, World Institute for Conservation and Environment.
  2. ↑ "The Annotated Ramsar List: Zimbabwe". The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Retrieved 14 May 2013.