African Thunder: The Victoria Falls

The Victoria Falls are one of the world's most spectacular natural wonders, and the inspiration for a wide range of emotional response in all who visit them. Whatever the response, all are agreed that the mighty Zambezi River, as it thunders into its self-made gorge in the greatest volume of falling water in the world, has the power to fascinate and hypnotize. In AFRICAN THUNDER, Jan and Fiona Teede give us the story behind the spectacle, and provide answers to a series of intriguing questions. How were the Falls formed? Was it by a "cataclysmic event", as Livingston surmised, or by the erosive force of the river itself? Who was the first European to visit them? And what are the secrets of the so-called Rain Forest? The authors take us on a journey from the dawn of time through the history of early man in the area to the Falls' present-day status as a world-renowned tourist attraction. Their long experience of the Zambezi River and its famous waterfall is augmented by careful research into the writings of 19th-century travelers such as Chapman, Baines, and Falls' 'discoverer', Livingstone. Over many years, the Teedes have photographed the Victoria Falls at different seasons and in varying moods - in their full summer glory, at sunrise in winter, or eerily lit by the moon. They here present a collection of magnificent photographs of the Falls, of the Rain forest in all its lush beauty, of the islands of the Upper Zambezi, and of the wealth of wildlife in the bushveld areas around the Falls. Sensitive pencil sketches by wildlife artist Larry Norton show birds, animals and plants in richly textured detail and add atmosphere to the informative text. This visually stunning book will serve as a memento for all who have visited the Falls, and whet the appetite of those who are planning a visit for the first time.