Mpala Jena Camp is located on the bank of the Zambezi River in Zambezi National Park, far from the crowded tourist area close to the waterfall.

The camp is located 10 miles (16 kms) west of the Victoria Falls on the sandy bank of the Zambezi River, offering a feeling of remoteness compared to staying close to The Falls. Guests can still easily visit Victoria Falls town and experience everything there is to do at The Falls by taking a 40-minute boat cruise from the camp.

The camp is designed to evoke a feeling of "barefoot luxury", with natural sand around the open-air bar, hammocks, swings, and views over the Zambezi River. A lounge and dining building features accordion doors that fold back to make for a completely open-air space that opens onto an outdoor dining deck, the adjacent 'beach' bar, and the swimming pool.

Mpala Jena has just 5 guest suites, two of which have two bedrooms and are designed for two couples traveling together or a family of two adults and up to three children. The suites all offer river views and include en-suite facilities that comprise an outdoor bath, indoor shower, twin vanities, and a separate flush toilet. The suites are built atop slightly-elevated, wooden decks with wooden supports, canvas walls, natural stone, and thatched roofing.

'Mpala Jena’ means 'white impala', which is the name of the small tributary stream that runs through the camp and flows seasonally into the Zambezi River in front of the camp.

Activities at Mpala Jena include guided safari drives and bush walks in Zambezi National Park, boat excursions on the Zambezi River, and a guided tour of the Victoria Falls.

A seemingly endless list of activities can also be booked at extra cost, including the adrenaline-inducing bungee jump off the Victoria Falls bridge, white-water rafting in the gorge below The Falls, flights above The Falls (helicopter or microlight), canopy tours, and many more.

About The Victoria Falls

The legendary waterfall named for Queen Elizabeth and known locally as 'Mosi-oa'Tunya' (which means 'The Smoke that Thunders' in the Lozi language) is one of the great wonders of the natural world and one of Southern Africa's most visited attractions. Besides touring the waterfall (which is an amazing experience at either high water or low water), there are myriad adventure activities that can be enjoyed both above The Falls and in the gorges below.

The Victoria Falls are created by water in the Zambezi River, which originates far to the north in northern Zambia. Around 20 000 years ago, the river was redirected to its current course and it began cutting into fissures in the volcanic, basalt rock in this area and causing huge chunks of rock to crack off. Over time, deep gorges were created and The Falls have progressively moved upriver to the west, with a total of six individual gorges existing today. Collectively the gorges below The Falls are known as the Batoka Gorge.

At 5 604 feet (1 708 meters) wide and 354 feet (108 meters) high, the Victoria Falls forms the largest single curtain of falling water in the world, measuring 1.5 times the width of Niagara Falls and twice as high. In terms of combined height and width, only Brazil's Iguazu Falls is comparable.

The border between Zimbabwe and Zambia runs through the middle of the Zambezi River, both upstream and downstream of The Falls, so the river and waterfall are shared by both countries. In order to view both sides of The Falls, visitors must have a visa for both countries.

Where to stay

Visitors planning to visit The Falls can choose from a multitude of accommodations on both the Zambian side and Zimbabwean side. The Victoria Falls Bridge, which was completed in 1905 and spans 2nd Gorge just below The Falls, connects the two countries via roadway and rail. The Falls can be viewed from either country (regardless of which side is used for accommodation) and many visitors obtain visas to allow viewing from both sides.

The small town of Victoria Falls (on the Zimbabwe side) was long the preferred base for visitors coming to The Falls, while Livingstone town in Zambia was largely overlooked. However, due to Zimbabwe's political tension and instability over the past 20-30 years, a good portion of the tourism has shifted to the Zambian side and today, guests stay roughy equally on both sides.

About Zambezi National Park

Covering an area of 216 square miles (560 sq kms) on Zimbabwe's border along the Zambezi River, Zambezi National Park is the largest protected area in The Victoria Falls area. The park was split off from Victoria Falls National Park in 1979 and is bisected east to west by the Kazungula Road, which connects Victoria Falls Town and the border post of Kazungula (which leads into Botswana and a few miles to the north, into Zambia).

Safari drives are offered by various operators and the road network which runs along the Zambezi River is the best place to see wildlife. Animals that are commonly encountered, especially along or near the river, include elephant, buffalo, giraffe, sable antelope, greater kudu, zebra, hippo, and crocodile. Predators are also present, including lion, leopard, spotted hyena, jackal, and African wild dog.

There are numerous self-catering lodges spread out along the riverfront, a few self-camping sites, as well as over 20 picnic spots, which are a lovely place to stop for lunch or snacks. There are several private lodges located inside the park, offering a more upscale experience and guided activities. Self-drive safaris are permitted, but exiting your vehicle is only allowed at designated picnic sites and walking is only permitted with a park-provided guide.

The park is busiest on the weekends, as it is a popular destination for locals, but is relatively quiet during the rest of the week. The section south of the Kazungula Road (known as the Chamabonda Section) is mainly open grassland, with a few small rivers that only flow during the rainy season. This southern section is less productive for wildlife viewing

Activities at The Falls

The Victoria Falls region has become known as The Adventure Capital of Southern Africa and this is for very good reason: there are seemingly endless activities beyond just seeing the waterfall. Some of the most popular activities are discussed below.

White-water rafting
White-water rafting is perhaps the most popular of all the 'adrenaline' activities offered at The Falls. The gorges below The Victoria Falls offer some of the most spectacular rapids and scenery of any river in the world and rafting here is renowned amongst enthusiasts. The rapids here are mostly Class IV and V, but no prior experience is required as the rafts are steered by experienced guides.

During low water (usually August thru late December), rafting trips cover a long stretch of the river. The rapids at this time of year are at their most spectacular, with lots of white water, exposed rocks, high waves and pronounced troughs. This is the most desirable time to experience rafting on the Zambezi.

Rafting is also offered during high water (generally February to July), but the trips are shorter, starting just below Rapid #9 on both sides of the river. Rapid #9 is always a walk-around/portage, as it is too dangerous even during low water. Although high water rafting may seem less dramatic, as there is much less white water, it is actually much more dangerous due to the vicious undercurrents and whirlpools. When the water becomes very high (usually March thru May), all rafting is postponed.

More Adrenaline Activities
One of the most popular activities at The Falls is the hair-raising bungee jump off The Victoria Falls Bridge, where jumpers leap off a platform and free-fall 364 feet (111 meters) into the gorge with the Zambezi River water below. For thrill seekers, this is certainly one of the most intense activities at The Falls. Tandem jumps are also offered. Jumpers are winched back up after the jump. During the rainy season (Nov-May), there are interruptions in this activity, as the cords have to be dry.

From mid-August to late December (October/November is best), the low water levels at The Falls allow daring visitors to take part in a guided adrenaline activity, by swimming a short distance from Livingstone Island to the 'Devil's Pool'. Devil's Pool is a natural pool of water created by a depression in a rock wall along the lip of The Falls that limits the water flow enough for people to sit safely within. This amazing infinity pool is located right at the precipice of The Falls and one can peer over the edge and down the long drop into the gorge below.

For those wishing to see The Falls from above, there are several ways to get bird's-eye views. These flights are commonly called the 'Flight of Angels', after the famous quote by the explorer David Livingstone. Options include helicopter, microlight, and light fixed-wing aircraft

Additional popular activities include canoeing on the upper Zambezi River, abseiling, canopy tours, gorge swinging, river boarding, kayaking, zip lining, the flying fox, jet boating, the bridge slide, and the bridge walk.