Mosi-oa-Tunya

You will hear and see the name Mosi-oa-Tunya often on a Zambian safari. It is the local name for the Victoria Falls. Mosi-oa-Tunya is also the name of the national park just outside Livingstone, Zambia. 

Zambia

Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park is home to hippos, crocodiles, antelope, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, elephants - and Zambia’s only white rhinos. There are no permanent predators in the park.

The Falls flow all year round, but they reach peak levels during the dry season between May and September. The summer season, between October and March is lovely, with plenty of migrant birds adding to the spectacle in the region.

Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park is a small reserve wedged between the town of Livingstone and the Zambezi River, on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The park is just a stone’s throw from the Victoria Falls.

When visiting the Falls, it’s best to wear a rain jacket or a waterproof poncho, as the spray can be drenching. Make sure you have something that will fit over your backpack and camera bags to keep them dry as well.

Mosi-oa-Tunya means ‘the smoke that thunders’ in the local Lozi and Kololo languages spoken in this region of Zambia. It is named for the sound of the water roaring over the Batoka Gorge and the cloud of spray which looks like smoke.

Morsi-wa-Toonya

66km²

Yes, Victoria Falls is the English name, and Mosi-oa-Tunya is the local name, for the world’s largest sheet of falling water.