Zimpapers Logo

Leonard Ncube, [email protected]

VICTORIA FALLS, famed worldwide for its majestic curtain of water cascading into the Zambezi River gorge, offers a breathtaking panorama from above. But for those craving a more intimate encounter with this natural wonder, there’s abseiling — an adventure that brings you face-to-face with its raw power from a completely different perspective, at the bottom of the gorge.

The thrilling activity offers tourists the unique opportunity to descend into the depths below the falls, where the roar of the water and the misty spray envelop them in the heart of the landscape. While the view from the top is undoubtedly awe-inspiring, abseiling allows adventurers to explore the falls’ beauty from a vantage point few ever experience, fostering a deeper appreciation of their scale and grandeur. It’s an experience that blends adrenaline with nature, revealing the hidden beauty of this iconic landmark from below.

Since its introduction in 2019, before a sudden closure due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, abseiling has rapidly become synonymous with Victoria Falls, attracting visitors from across the globe.
James Chinotimba, who operates an abseiling company in the resort city, explains that abseiling offers the ultimate Victoria Falls experience.

“Abseiling is an adrenaline activity, a complete package where people descend into the gorge to enjoy the view of the Victoria Falls from their base,” he says.

Chinotimba, an experienced operations and retail manager who spent years in South Africa before returning to Victoria Falls to venture into the hospitality industry, draws on his diplomas in education and business studies to run his businesses.
Abseiling in Victoria Falls brings visitors up close and personal with nature, enjoying the view from the gorge floor.

“People descend with confidence. They’re harnessed with equipment strong enough to hold an elephant. Safety is paramount, and clients receive a thorough safety briefing before deciding to descend. There are two dedicated lines, and if someone is willing but nervous, they are accompanied by a jump master.

“At the bottom, a guide will detach the harness, allowing clients to freely enjoy the breathtaking views of the Zambezi River, the Falls, rapids, Victoria Falls Bridge, the Boiling Pot, and jet boats. People visit the Rainforest, but they don’t realise the beauty that lies at the bottom of the gorges,” Chinotimba said.

Emmanuel Akot

Abseiling began in 2019 but was interrupted by the pandemic. The activity reopened last year, and Chinotimba reports an overwhelming response, with clients travelling from all corners of the world to experience this rare activity. It’s also popular with the local market, especially from Bulawayo and Harare.

“Abseiling has made a significant contribution to tourism,” said Chinotimba.
During his recent visit to Victoria Falls, 11-year-old Ugandan Pan-Africanist Emmanuel Akot, who aspires to be the future President of a United Africa, tried abseiling during a tour of the Rainforest with Tourism and Hospitality Industry Deputy Minister Tongai Mnangagwa.

Brighton Munaku, an abseiling marketer for a company in Victoria Falls highlights the positive influence of social media on making abseiling popular.

“Most people were unaware of the product, and now they are beginning to understand that there is an activity that allows them to see the Victoria Falls from the bottom of the gorge.

“The media has played a significant role, and we are doing everything to market Victoria Falls to the world. Whenever we take pictures, we showcase the backdrop of Victoria Falls — the armchair, the gorge, the rapids, Knife Edge Island, and everything that can be seen from inside the gorge — so people can appreciate the beauty.”