Last updated: January 14, 2013
First published: March 24, 2008
Article written by Brett M. Christensen
About Brett Christensen and Hoax-Slayer
We wanted to see Victoria Falls from the Zambia side. We managed to get a free trip from our hostel and were told from people that we had met in Cape Town that there were swimming holes near the falls. We did not realise how amazing this would be. The swimming hole was called Devil's pool. We went to the spot to meet a guide, and for $5 each, he took us first on a long walk to get to this place. The falls were right beneath us, and as we were crossing the water you could feel the current underneath your feet. The first steps were a ledge that you had to manouver carefully step by step. We then walked for about 15 mins across the top of the falls, to a first swimming hole, but he said the second one was better. We decided to carry on. It was incredible! We swam over to an island and then walked over these rocks to a pool that was literally, literally on the edge of Victoria Falls!!! As we jumped in, there was a rock at the far side that stopped us going over. It was exhilarating being right on the edge of the falls. As we bent over the rock we were on the top of Victoria falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. We were right on the edge.Although certainly not for the faint of heart, swimming in the Devil's Pool is probably not as dangerous as it appears in the photographs. A natural rock ledge reduces the current and stops swimmers from being swept over the edge. As the email notes, the pool is only safe to use at times of the year when water levels are comparatively low. At other times when more water flows down the river, the ledge does not offer enough protection for swimmers and the pool is inaccessible.
Last updated: January 14, 2013
First published: March 24, 2008
Article written by Brett M. Christensen
About Brett Christensen and Hoax-Slayer