Into the Devil’s Pool at Victoria Falls, Zambia

I really can't believe they let people do this kind of thing at Victoria Falls. This is about as far as they'll let you lean, over the edge, at the infamous Devil's Pool on the Zambia side of Victoria Falls in Africa.

No safety nets, no coned-off areas, just the sheer power of the falls a few feet away. Devil's Pool, Zambia.

Alright. Talk about your wild adventures. Today was the last full day on our Grand Africa Safari extravaganza, so we wanted to go out with a bang. A friend of Greg and Sue's had put the idea of experiencing the Devil's Pool into their heads, and I was more than happy to make that happen. The Devil's Pool is a naturally occurring infinity pool formation, right at the edge of the might Victoria Falls. When the water isn't too high, it can be possible to hike, wade, and swim out to this pool of calmer water, and even peek over the side of the falls, down into the gorge below. It sure doesn't sound safe enough to be a thing in the States, but we were willing to try it out and see just how crazy this Devil's Pool really is.

Since we were staying at the Victoria Falls Hotel on the Zimbabwe side of the waterfall, we had to go through customs and passport control into the country of Zambia. Luckily we had visas which allowed us entry back and forth, so it was relatively painless. Plus we got some cool new stamps in our passports and a seventh country to add to our itinerary.

A small speedboat zipped us close to rocks and around rapids as we cruised from the banks of the upper Zambezi river towards Livingstone Island. This island stands in the middle of the curtain of water that is Victoria Falls. Even in high water, the Zambezi flows around this island and pours over the falls into the gorge below. So this is where we step off and get ready to start towards the Devil's Pool. We had to make our way over slippery rocks, and then wade through fast moving water....sometimes holding hands to be extra safe. We clamored over some dry rocks, and then there before us, was the Devil's Pool.

A portion of the pool looked calm enough that you wouldn't get swept over the falls, but all around it was pretty dicey. The falls were in full power just a few feet away. The pool itself is about 12 ft deep, with a big rock wall, just submerged, separating the pool from the edge. So the thing to do here is to get up on the wall...like the edge of an infinity pool, and look over the edge. It is just crazy. We can't help but think, back in America, we wouldn't be allowed within 100ft of something like this. I got most of my upper body over the edge, while one of the local guides held my ankles. I could feel the water flowing past me and tumbling down, then getting blasted back up as mist. The power and immensity of Victoria Falls was all encompassing at that point. Somehow my sunglasses didn't fall, and the other guide snapped some great photos with my phone. The rainbows were in full effect below the falls.

The Devil's Pool experience was highly worth it. They have been running organized trips out here for about 30 years now with no one being swept over the edge. I would suggest doing it sooner, rather than later, because who knows if they will allow this forever.

We celebrated our thrilling adventure back in our favorite private lounge at the Victoria Falls Hotel. But we kept it pretty low-key, because we knew our day wasn't over yet. We still had a sunset dinner cruise on the upper Zambezi planned. Like I said, we wanted to go big on our last day!

About 4:30pm, we got onto a bus out in front of the hotel with quite a few other people. But after a short drive out of town, we reached our check in location. In line, we watched as the first few couple were checked in and sent on their way to the big double decker boat. Then when it was our turn, the check in lady told everyone else in line to please wait because she had to escort us to the boat. "Pretty nice" I thought. But then she took us to a different, much smaller boat, with white table cloths. It turned out that we were the only group on the entire boat. It was so fitting, that after having such incredible luck all trip, we would get our own private dinner cruise... complete with a delicious six course dinner, delicious wine pairings, and great service.

And to top is all off, we came across a family of elephants playing close to the waters edge. As we approached, the elephants all got in the water, and started to snorkel their way across to the mainland. A couple of times an entire elephant would disappear underwater, with only the end of its trunk sticking up like a snorkel. With the setting sun in the sky, a glass of South African pinotage in our hands, and the endless memories of our grand Africa trip running through our minds, it was the perfect culmination of our trip. Even though we knew the end was near, we could not have been more in the moment and the place, than right then.

We didn't have to worry about blocking anyone elses photos, because we were the only three on the entire dinner cruise boat.

After swimming in the Devil's Pool, we walked down the edge of the falls towards Angel's Pool. This is the view from there.

This is the edge of the Devil's Pool at Victoria Falls. Greg got up ontop of the infinity pool rock wall to peek over the edge of the falls into the gorge below.

This is what it looks like if you stick your camera over the edge at Victoria Falls. Not for the feint of heart.

Greg and Sue, soaking up the vibe while living on the edge, at the Devil's Pool.

Looking back at the wildness of visiting the Devil's Pool at Victoria Falls.

I just can't believe they let us do this. The rock wall at the edge creates an infinity pool type area here. However, water is still going over the top, and there is a good current inside the pool. Also, just a few feet beyond the pool water is rushing over the falls at full speed. Plus little fish are exfoliating your legs the entire time. What an experience.

There are waterfalls tumbling over the edge of the gorge all around us.

Sue, getting wild at the Devil's Pool on the edge of Victoria Falls.

Even the speedboat ride over to Livingston Island was a blast. We saw hippos and cormorants on the way.

This is the spot where David Livingston first saw the might Victoria Falls.

Speeding along the Zambezi River towards the edge of Victoria Falls.

They told us that these water shoes would be the best $2 we ever spent.

This is an island that is the highest point, right in the middle of Victoria Falls. It is our jumping off point for visiting the Devil's Pool.

Looking farther down the gorge towards rainbow falls and horseshoe falls part of Victoria Falls. This area goes pretty dry at this time of year, but still quite beautiful.

Greg and I thought we looked pretty tough with our lifejackets and towels.

They kept saying, "farther, farther, farther." I stopped here.

Greg was the guinea pig for this move, as he was the first one of the day to peer over the edge of the falls.

The three of us wasted no time in jumping in and swimming over to the edge of the Devil's Pool. We could hear the people across the gorge, on the Zimbabwe side, hooting and hollering for us.

Elephants playing above Victoria Falls as our private dinner boat pauses for the unexpected animal show.

Sue and Greg in their safari fashion, ready for our dinner aboard the Zambezi Reflections.

Did someone order up a private boat, just for us? Nope, but we will take it!

Elephants swimming past our dinner cruise on the Zambezi River. They were using their trunks like snorkels.

What a scene for our final dinner on our Great African Safari. We had snorkeling elephants, a beautiful sunset and a fine dining experience aboard our private boat. It was so funny when these other, double decker, crowded dinner boats would come by us... they must have thought we were movie stars or something.

The Ostrich and springbok were delightful, and the wine pairings were on point!

Even though dinner was spectacular on our Zambezi river cruise, we had to stop and appreciate our last spectacular African sunset.

Each course of our six course dinner came with a wine pairing. Osborne, our server, could tell we were having the time of our lives.

As always, keep traveling and keep sharing!
Living life to the fullest!
-Dai Mar