VICTORIA FALLS

Southland Times, Issue 25302, 4 June 1935, Page 12

VICTORIA FALLS

AFRICAN WONDER HIPPOS AND MONKEYS (Contributed.) There were shrieks of delight from the delegates to the Fifth Imperial Conference when they saw five hippos swim in slow procession down the Zambesi river, within a few hur ved yrrds of the Victoria Falls. The visitors were proceeding in launches up the river when the hippopotami suddenly appeared, and, as the launches drew quite close, the hippos took up a position at the mouth of a small stream and gave the delegates a thrill which all will long remember. For a while only the heads of these huge animals remained above water, but eventually one by one they stood U"> and gave the pressmen an excellent view. Thus many of the visitors had their first experience of seeing wild animals in their natural state, and they' lingered for quite a while in order to' obtain photographic records to show! to their friends in the far off countries! which they represented. There were! three adults and two young hippos in' the group, and it is said that they fre-' quently pome from up-river especially' when the Zambesi is in flood, remaining for weeks at a time close to the 1 falls before returning to their natural 1 habitats.

The tropical growth on the heavilytimbered Zambesi proved also a great' fascination, and the delegates derived' much amusement from groups of' monkeys as they dashed excitedly' from tree to tree. The natives in picturesque attire were of all-absorbing, interest, and the delegates found themselves in an atmosphere filled with one exciting thrill after another. The visitors were advised to keep a sharp look out for a crocodile, but altl ough they are frequently seen, and the delegates eagerly scanned the banks of the Zambesi, this was their only disappointment. “Only a Perspiration.” Of the Victoria Falls volumes have been written. They are far-famed, and Southern Africa’s claim to the possession of the world’s leading river attraction would be difficult to dispute. Many of the delegates had already visited Niagara, and it was genc ally considered that Victoria Falls’ surpass anything the Americans can claim in this respect. The story is told' o an American who, after gazing admiringly at the Victoria Falls, exclaimed, “Well, after that I guess Niagara is only a perspiration!” Victoria Falls were first brought to the notice of the world in 1855, when David Livingstone traversed the continent of Africa from west to east, and they can, with justice, be described as a gratifying “Mecca” of every traveller to-day. The falls are over a mile wide, and the drop to the Zambesi liver ranges from 320 to 400 feet. The natural grandeur of the falls has in no way been tampered with—as ’ Livingstone saw it 80 years ago, so the Press delegates saw on their visit the enormous volume of water dashing its way down the faced block basaltic rock to foam and roar in the narow chasm which winds its tortuous way below. Falls at their Grandest. A remarkable peculiarity of the falls is that the general level of the country remains the same above and below the cataracts, the water disappearing into a great fissure or canyon, the precipitous sides of which are at right angles to the course of the river, thus providing wonderful vistas from every vantage point. During the time the delegates were there the falls were at their grandest as the Zambe river was high, following heavy Autumn rains, and thus its beauty war added to by the dense spray which rose from the water many hundreds of feet above the surrounding countryside. Sometimes it hangs like a curtain a thousand feet above the falls. Clad in oil-skins and wearing only light clothing and all looking like long-lost mariners in their souwesters, parties of Press delegates spent a whole day looking at the falls from various points, and it was almost impossible to decide which was th; best view. The spray was so thick that they were fairly drenched, and f us were grateful for the raiment so thoughtfully provided by the hotel management. Thus, spellbound, they stood where Livingstone stood three-quarters of a century ago, and where his statue stands to-day, on the very brink of the mile-wide plunge of the Zambesi river into the narrow and winding gorge four hundred feet below, with the spray lashing* their faces, hearing the deafening thunder of the mighty cataract, watching th rainbows in their many brilliant colours, dancing before the spray, with the whole expanse of the falls spread out in full view. Never can such a memory fade from the minds of those who beheld this majestic scene. ’ Modesty of Rhodesians. Standing there they marvelled at the modesty of the Rhodesians. They have the greatest river wonder of the world, yet among the many attractions for tourists it is not brought very prominently before them. The tourist traffic is, nevertheless, considerable and must assume great proportions when “the smoke that thunders,” as the falls are called, are better known to travellers overseas.

It was a surprise to the delegates on their arrival to find themselves accommodated in one of the largest, and certainly the most modern hotel in Southern Africa, set in beautiful surroundings within a few hundred yards of the falls. The visitor found that his comfort was the main consideration of the management, and he had to confess that his expectations of .an outback hotel with its crude service were' ir. no way realized any more than his! anticipation that sight-seeing at th® falls involved long walks or aduoua climbing, such as one experiences in 1 viewing so many of the scenic attractions in most of the countries visited) The accommodation provided was ex- 1 cellent, and, with the falls only a 1 short distance away, little or no ex-! ertion was needed to view them from 1 the best possible vantage points. And,' then, when the sight-seeing was at an end there awaited the visitors miniature railway carriages on a two-foot-) wide line on which they were pushed' back to the hotel by freely-perspiring! but hefty native boys, who seemed tb enjoy thoroughly the task of propelling; their freight of sight-seers up the steep incline to tneir comfortable quarters at the Victoria Falls HoteLl The beaming smiles of these gOod-| nntured natives on receiving the fewi shillings subscribed by the delegates! were alone worth the money, aparil from the unique little experience of| train-travel per man-power on sweltering hot day. t The stay at Victoria Falls was all; too short, and the delegates reluc-, tantly bade farewell to an experience! which all must long remember aSi among their most happy and thrilling, recollections.