“Build a bridge across the Zambesi where the trains, as they pass, will catch
the spray of the Falls”
The above words are often ascribed to Cecil Rhodes, the man behind the Victoria Falls Bridge, though there is no written record to prove the quotation. Whether he said those actual words or not, they seem to capture his intention perfectly well. The bridge was just a part of Rhodes’ failed ambition to create a ‘Cape to Cairo’ railway, linking the entire length of the continent. Indeed, over 2,500 kilometres of this line , through Bechuanaland (Botswana) and the Rhodesias (Zambia and Zimbabwe) and on into the Congo, were constructed in under twenty years.
Rhodes was chairman of Rhodesia Railways and in 1901 he commissioned the extension of the railway from Bulawayo to the Victoria Falls, and gave his personal approval to the provisional design and location of the bridge. Construction of the Victoria Falls Bridge itself, however, did not start until 1904 when the railway reached the Zambezi, two years after Rhodes’ death.
The bridge was officially opened by Professor George Darwin, son of Charles Darwin, on 12 September 1905. The steel bridge measures 198 metres in length, with a main parabolic arch that spans 156.5 metres at a height of 128 metres above the lower water mark of the river in the gorge below. It carries a road, railway and footpath; it is the only rail link and one of only three road links between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
At the time of its construction there was much objection to its location so close to the beauty of Victoria Falls, but now it is an accepted part of the history of the area, with Visitor Centre and tours available. For those seeking more of a thrill, there is the famous Shearwater 111 metre bungee jump. I have to say that if I was going to do a bungee jump this would be an incredible place to do it. But I’m not, so don’t expect a follow-up post.
This view down from the helicopter was awe-inducing enough for me:
For more on the history and design of the bridge click here.
Linked to Monday Mellow Yellow.
Travel with Intent 
Hello I liked some of your posts. I would like to share some of them on http://winjaas.com do I get permission from you? Of course i would love if you can do it yourself
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You wouldn’t catch me bungee jumping either.
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I can’t begin to imagine: i) how in heck you build something like that, and ii) anyone having the intestinal fortitude to bungee jump off anything!
Yvonne
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Nor me. I’d be a jabbering wreck!
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Great shots, I have been on the bridge and watched the bungee jumpers nervously take that ‘leap of faith’ off the bridge, but must say I was never tempted either!
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