Zambesi River Cruise
Zambezi River
Victoria Falls Town
Republic of Zimbabwe
May 27, 2024
Hello,
Below are just a very few details and highlights of the course of the Zambezi.
The fourth longest river in Africa travels through five countries: Zambia, Angola, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique.
The Zambezi rises in a black, marshy dambo (shallow wetland) in dense, North-Western Province, Zambia, at about 1,524 meters (5,000 ft) above sea level.
The river flows to the southwest into Angola for about 240 km (150 mi), then is joined by sizeable tributaries such as the Luena and the Chifumage flowing from highlands to the north-west. Zambezi turns south where it re-enters Zambia.
Here, the river is broad and shallow and flows slowly. As it flows eastward towards the border of the great central plateau of Africa, it reaches a chasm into which the Victoria Falls plunge.
From Victoria Falls, the Zambezi flows swiftly through the Batoka Gorge and continues east into Mozambique, through the Lupata Gorge, and finally to its delta into the Indian Ocean.
The Zambezi travels 2574 km (1600 mi) across Southern Africa. The Zambezi is the fourth-longest river in Africa (Nile, Congo, Niger), the longest east-flowing river in Africa, and the largest flowing into the Indian Ocean from Africa.
Total Zambezi River basin: 1,390,000 km2 - 536,682 m2
Discharge into delta 3,424 m³/sec = 4,478 yd³/sec
On a personal note: It was a pleasure to cruise on the Zambezi and to visit the Batoka Gorge and the Victoria Falls and in Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Perhaps one day I will visit the Zambezi and the falls in Angola and the gorges and delta in Mozambique.
For more information