Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe: Zambezi River

A trip on the Zambezi River is a good way to be introduced to this part of south-central Africa. After all, it's the river that goes over Victoria Falls in a violent way. 

This is the fourth-longest river in Africa, checking in at about 1,600 miles. The Zambezi is the longest river on the continent that runs to the East, as it empties into the Indian Ocean in Madagascar. It starts in Zambia; the area around it is a national park. From there it winds through a series of countries as it flows downhill. There are a couple of other waterfalls along the way, and there are two dams as well that provide power for the region. 

Any discussion of the Zambesi should include hippos. There are a lot of them, and seeing them is a highlight of the cruise. Just don't expect too much energy; this guy seems a bit tired.