Home | Victoria Falls Activities | Victoria Falls Bridge Tour

Victoria Falls Bridge Tour

Truly a Wonder of Victorian Engineering

Victoria Falls Bridge and Steam Train

The Cape to Cairo railway line was the vision of English-born businessman, mining magnate and politician Cecil John Rhodes. The Railway line pushed northwards at incredible speed but the Zambezi Gorge presented a huge natural barrier that they had to overcome if it was to continue on towards Cairo (Egypt).

The Victoria Falls Bridge built 1904-5 was to span this gorge. It was designed by Mr. George Hobson of Sir Douglas Fox and Partners. At the insistence of Rhodes it was to be positioned so that the spray from Victoria Falls would fall on the carriages as they crossed over the bridge.

Read Experiences and Reviews from other travellers - or why not share your own Experience with us. Find out more...

 

Victoria falls bridge tour

Georges Imbault entertains his guests

Bridge visitor centre

Guided tour of the Visitors centre

Tour under the bridge

On the Catwalks under the Bridge

Victoria Falls Bridge and Zambezi below

Zambezi River below the Bridge

Victoria Falls Bridge

Victoria Falls Bridge Tour ends

In May 1903 Rhodesia Railways awarded the contract for the construction of the bridge to The Cleveland Bridge Company of Darlington, England, for a price of £72,000 pounds sterling. The entire bridge was fabricated in Darlington, England and then shipped in parts to the port of Beira, Mozambique and then transported by rail to Victoria Falls.

It is one of the many outstanding achievements - that the bridge, built in England, could be fitted together so perfectly more than 8,000km away in the heart of Africa.

This is just a snippet of the history surrounding this bridge and how it was built, so early in the 1900's. At the time of it's construction it was the highest railway bridge in the world.

The Historical Bridge Tour unveils the whole history in an unusual and entertaining way and even if you weren't interested before, I would dare to say you will be afterwards.

The Victoria Falls Bridge Tour Begins...

You are collected from your hotel and transferred by vehicle through customs and immigration to the Victoria Falls Bridge Visitors Centre. After registration, the tour begins.

It starts with a very entertaining performance by an actor impersonating Mr Georges Imbault who was the chief engineer during the construction of the bridge (and also responsible for the Syndey Harbour Bridge in Australia).

This show last about 45 minutes as he regales stories of how and why the bridge was constructed, the enormous problems they encountered and how they overcame them. It's enthralling and fascinating.

After this is finished an informative guide shows you around the Visitors Centre, where information and pictures of the Bridge's history is displayed. This visual part of the tour enhances what was mentioned in Georges Imbault's theatrical presentation.

There is plenty of opportunity to ask any questions you might have. You will more likely than not, now be engrossed and fascinated by the history of the Bridge.

After the Visitors Centre walk is completed, there is an “optional” physical under the Bridge tour, where you get the rare opportunity to walk on the catwalks used in the original construction of the Bridge.

After a short safety briefing and the donning of a safety harness by which you attach yourself to safety ropes under the bridge, you are then led on a guided walk underneath the bridge which gives you a real opportunity to marvel at the Bridge's construction.

Once back at the Visitors Centre you have the opportunity to enjoy wandering around on your own for approximately 30 minutes before heading back to your respective pick up points.

 

The onsite thatched Bridge Cafe and Bar offers tasty burgers, a cold drink and respite from the baking sun. It overlooks the spectacular Zambezi gorge and you can enjoy watching the more adventurous throw themselves off the bridge doing Bungee, Bridge slide or Bridge swing. Of-course there's a shop with a selection of Clothing and Memorabilia to say you've done it.

There are 2 tours scheduled per day with approximate pick up times being 10h00 and 14h00. All Trips include courtesy transportation to and from all major lodges/hotels in Victoria Falls.

The Bridge is considered "No Mans Land" and therefore it does not count as an exit or entry into the country, therefore it does not affect your entry visa status.

We thoroughly enjoyed the Victoria Falls Bridge Tour and feel no trip to the Falls is complete without it.




[Top of Page]



Download this 100% FREE Travel Guide with all things Victoria Falls


THE VIC FALLS BUSH TELEGRAPH
our Bi-Monthly E-Newsletter

Each issue has a destination update, loads of information about conservation and wildlife, specials offers, traveller tips, community projects, website highlights and tons more...

Find out more about our Bush Telegraph

"Your newsletter keeps me informed about new and old and is the best I've seen in a long while - informative, not commercial, just plain perfect!"  - I.Skliros

Don't worry. Your e-mail address is totally secure. I promise to use it only to send you The Vic Falls Bush Telegraph.

 

 


Return from Victoria Falls Bridge Tour to our Victoria Falls home page



All Activities

Adrenaline & Adventure
White water rafting
Adventure Jet Boat
River boarding
Bridge swing
Gorge swing
Bridge slide
Zip line
Flying fox
Canopy tour
Bungee jump
Devils Swim

Wildlife and Safari
Upper Zambezi canoeing
Overnight Canoe Safaris
Siduli Hide
Game drive ZNP
Rhino search game drive & dinner
Elephant Encounter
Chobe day trip
Zambezi fishing
Horse back safaris
Walking safaris
Lion Encounter

Scenic Tours
Tour of Falls
Helicopter flight
Microlite flight
Sunset cruise
River Safaris
Sunset and dinner cruise
Zambezi Explorer Sunset Cruise
Ra Ikane cruise
Historical bridge tour
Steam train trips
Victoria Falls Tram
Livingstone Island tour
Crocodile Farm
Lunar rainbow tour
Bike tour

Cultural
Boma Dinner
Dusty Road Experience
Traditional Village Tour
Victoria Falls Theatre: Simunye

Specialised
Art of Africa
Birding Safari
Photographic safari
Photographic boat safari
Rovos Rail
Shongololo Express
Vic Falls Photographic Tour

Family Friendly Activities

Prices for various Victoria Falls Activities in Zimbabwe




Customer Feedback

Brilliant service and so helpful
by Sally (Blisworth, U.K.)
I stumbled across Victoria Fall Guide by accident, but I am so glad I did. Tony and Boo were so helpful, advising us on the best activities for us as I have mobility issues, and arranging our itinerary and booking everything. I had no worries about using them, or sending a very large payment to someone I didn’t know. Everything they booked for us was so well organised, pick ups on time, knowledgeable and friendly guides, clean transport. We did the walking tour of the falls, the sunset dinner cruise, full day at Chobe, the team, lion encounter and the helicopter and every single one was faultless. We were also due to do the lunar rainbow but unfortunately it was cancelled, however boo arranged the refund immediately. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone. We are so grateful to them for making our special holiday even more so.

Read more reviews or Add your own



Simunye - We are One - Live theatre show in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Click to book!
Luxury Journeys by train from Pretoria to Victoria Falls, on the Rovos Rail
Stone Dynamics Gallery in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe






Powered by SBI!

Copyright© 2008 - Tony and Boo Peel. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.