Victoria Falls: New vision for accessibility, experience development

(The Zambian Post, 22 July 2025)

Opinion Piece by Kaluwe Libingi

As proud custodians of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World - Mosi-oa-Tunya (Victoria Falls), we must continue to strike a thoughtful balance between preservation and innovation. 

While we rightly appreciate the National Heritage Commission's efforts to maintain the natural integrity of the falls, we must also ask: can modern technology enhance the visitor's experience without compromising environmental values? The answer, I believe, is yes.

The Victoria Falls area already has man-made features such as the iconic Victoria Falls Bridge and the Knife Edge Bridge, which blend harmoniously with the natural surroundings,

Building upon this precedent, I propose a transformative upgrade: replacing the current Knife Edge Bridge with a glass-bottom 'cracking' bridge, like those popular in Chine.

These thrilling structures, with their optical illusions of cracking glass, provide safe yet unforgettable adrenaline-filled experiences for tourists.

Imagine walking above the gorge, with the thundering Zambezi beneath your feet, adding an exhilarating layer to the visual and emotional experience of the falls.

It is an innovation that would not only attract global attention but also increase Zambia's tourist revenues and elevate our standing on the international tourism map.

More importantly, our tourism model must become inclusive. Currently, the path to the Boiling Pot, a unique vantage point at the bottom of the falls, is steep and treacherous.

This effectively excludes the elderly, the disabled, and families with young children from experiencing one of the most spectacular views of the falls.

This exclusion contradicts our national values of inclusively and equity.

I propose the construction of a scenic elevator built discreetly into the gorge wall, offering safe, comfortable, and breathtaking access to the boiling pot as seen here in China.

This development would serve not only as a practical solution for accessibility but also as an added tourist feature in itself.

Imagine a panoramic lift offering unmatched views of the gorge as it descends down the boiling pot.

Livingstone town, as the gateway to the Victoria Falls, holds immense untapped potential in my view.

With a functioning international airport, proximity to wildlife, and the unique geography of Kazungual Four-Border Point, Livingstone can be transformed into a regional magnet for investment, tourism and luxury living.

A portion of land on the outskirts could be carefully developed into high-profile residential plots marketed to international celebrities, entrepreneurs and eco-conscious investors seeking privacy and prestige.

These developments would not only inject foreign currency into the local economy but also uplift the profile and real estate value of Livingstone itself.

A holiday home in Livingstone could very well become the 'African retreat' equivalent to a villa in Tuscany or a chalet in the Swiss Alps.

To connect all these innovations, let us dream even further

We already have luxury trains like Royal Livingstone Express and Rovos Rail gracing our tracks.

Why not extend the existing luxury train line from Victoria Falls to Kasane, offering tourists a seamless journey from Zambia to Botswana's wildlife sanctuaries?

This rail extension (renovating the Mulobezi rail track and extending it to Kazungula) would not only complement Kazungula Bridge but also position the Victoria Falls region as a multi-country experience hub, boosting regional cooperation and joint tourism ventures.

It is time we dared to dream.

With careful planning, environmental assessments, and partnerships with local and international stakeholders, Victoria Falls can remain a majestic natural wonder while evolving into a global powerhouse.

By embracing accessibility, modern infrastructure, and visionary development, Zambia can ensure that the falls remain relevant, inclusive, and competitive on the world stage for generations to come.

The author is an international educator currently teaching in China, licensed in British Columbia, Canada, with a doctorate in business administration.

Source: Victoria Falls: New vision for accessibility, experience development (22/07/25)

Unesco World Heritage Committee endorses Mosi-Oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls Declaration

 THE Unesco World Heritage Committee has officially adopted the draft decision on the progress report on the World Heritage Convention and Sustainable Development, acknowledging the Mosi-Oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls Declaration on World Heritage and Sustainable Development in Africa.

The milestone was reached on Saturday last week during the committee's meeting in Paris, France.

The declaration emphasises that Africa's cultural and natural heritage should catalyse sustainable development, peace-building and the promotion of human dignity.

It calls for integrating heritage into national development plans and highlights the importance of empowering communities as custodians and co-managers of heritage.

Zambia's nature expert on the World Heritage Committee, Kagosi Mwamulowe, presented amendments to the draft decision, which were supported by Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal and Zimbabwe.

“The declaration will serve as a foundation for fostering sustainable development projects that will transform the livelihoods of local communities in and around world heritage sites in Africa, while showcasing Victoria Falls as a sustainable tourism model,” Mwamulowe said.

He said the declaration aimed to promote Africa's cultural and natural heritage as a catalyst for sustainable development, peace-building and human dignity.

The committee's adoption of the amended decision requires the World Heritage Centre and advisory bodies to support African State parties in implementing the declaration, subject to the availability of budgetary resources.

However, the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site faces increasing threats from individual and cumulative infrastructural developments.

Unesco's report warns that the site's outstanding universal values could be considered in danger if current development proposals proceed without proper consideration for the environment.

The proposed Batoka Gorge Hydro Electric Scheme has given rise to concerns about its potential impact on the ecological status of the Victoria Falls.

Unesco's World Heritage Committee also called on State parties to revise the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment in line with the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context.

The Victoria Falls World Heritage Site is also threatened by tourism infrastructural development, noise pollution and waste management issues.

Effective regulation and control of tourism development pressures will be crucial for site managers.

The Joint Integrated Management Plan for the property is being revised to incorporate necessary safeguards and thresholds to mitigate against developmental pressures for the protection of the property's outstanding universal value.

The Unesco World Heritage Committee also expressed concern over the increasing tourism infrastructural development pressures within and around the property, including the start of the construction of the Mosi-oa-Tunya Livingstone Resort Hotel within the buffer zone of the property.

The committee called on State parties to halt further activities until further consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN have taken place and all relevant environmental and social impact assessments have been submitted to the World Heritage Centre and reviewed by IUCN.

It further indicated that the potential impacts of the infrastructural developments on the outstanding universal values of the property should also be adequately assessed.

Source: Unesco World Heritage Committee endorses Mosi-Oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls Declaration (17/07/25)