Tourists a Danger to Victoria Falls

Hoping to preserve Africa’s majestic Victoria Falls, officials of the Zimbabwean and Zambian governments have called for a moratorium on new hotels and development near the falls. At the two countries’ border, the falls are created by the 300-foot plunge of the waters of the Zambezi River, and the mist has created a rain forest that is home to a variety of birds and monkeys. But helicopters and small planes fly over frequently, and two dozen boats carry tourists on the river, creating noise and pollution. Hotels on both sides of the border have a total capacity of more than 3,200 beds. About 286,000 tourists visit Victoria Falls each year, and the number is expected to double in 10 years.