A Lunar Rainbow

A Wonderful Sight Not To Be Missed......

Scores of local and foreign tourists thronged the Victoria Falls at night over the weekend to watch the lunar rainbow.

A check at the entrance to the Victoria Falls from Friday showed that many tourists entered the site to see the exciting natural phenomenon, which is formed when moon rays pass through the sprays of the Victoria Falls after heavy plunges of the Zambezi waters.

One tourists from the United Kingdom, described the amazing formation as wonderful.

 "It really looks so unreal to be real. It was a wonderful sight which needs more marketing at international level so that more people can come and see it, otherwise you are losing a lot of money," she remarked enthusiastically.

Other excited tourists took pictures in the night as the rainbow curved across the gorge, displaying an exciting bright arch formation.

The moonbow occurs for three days in each month from January to September. The lunar happens when the water levels in the Zambezi River is high enough to cause heavy spray to blend adequately with the moon rays. In the cold months it can be viewed from 19.30hours to midnight. But during the dry season in about October when the water level is very low the rainbow is not bright enough to view – because of lack of spray.

Sometimes the rainbow will rise from the gorge to somewhere above the falls depending on the position of the moon. The Victoria Falls, a world heritage site, is currently the only one which has a full lunar rainbow.

The Niagara Falls used to have one but no longer because of the bright lights of the New York city.

 A special Tour – can be booked through some of the local tour operators in Victoria Falls.

Definitely a wonder of nature – Not To Be Missed…...

2009 Falls Tour of Victoria Falls dates

Below are the dates on which the Victoria Falls National Park is open for lunar rainbow tours, which are conducted by a guide. Entrance on these nights is USD30 per person.

ZIMBABWE PARKS AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY
“In harmony with Nature”
Moonlight viewing days for the Rainforest 2009
 

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