Today we are heading to Victoria Falls, one of the most awe inspiring places on the planet. Known locally as Mosi oa Tunya, the Smoke that Thunders, this is a place where mist hangs in the air, the earth vibrates beneath your feet, and nature puts on a show unlike anywhere else in Africa.

I am joined by Sara Gardiner, owner of Matetsi Victoria Falls, a beautiful lodge just minutes from the Falls and surrounded by incredible wildlife. Sara and I chat about the legends that shaped local understanding of the Falls, what those first explorers must have felt when they encountered this massive curtain of water, the rewilding of the Matetsi reserve, and her favorite ways for travelers to experience both the adventure and the quiet magic of this region.

Book your stay HERE.

Listen to hear:

• 02:17 – What is happening in and around Sara’s surroundings
• 03:07 – Why this region deserves a place on every traveler’s itinerary
• 03:59 – How Victoria Falls connects to other parts of Zimbabwe
• 05:55 – What earlier generations believed and understood about the Falls
• 07:41 – About the legends and spiritual stories tied to Mosi oa Tunya
• 08:43 – What it must have felt like to witness the Falls for the first time
• 10:35 – How Victoria Falls earned its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• 12:51 – Why humans across cultures are instinctively drawn to waterfalls
• 15:54 – Where Victoria Falls is located and how its setting shapes the experience
• 19:55 – How Sara’s personal journey led her to this place
• 23:59 – What inspired the ambitious decision to rewild the Matetsi reserve
• 29:21 – What is included in the safari experience and what guests can expect
• 31:34 – How the lodge was rebuilt and redesigned
• 33:25 – About a behind-the-scenes story that reveals what it really took
• 35:12 – How to experience the Falls in the most meaningful and memorable way
• 39:01 – Why this region feels different from other parts of Africa
• 41:16 – How even the buffalo seem more relaxed here
• 43:10 – What wildlife encounter Sara will never forget
• 47:01 – Why a guest experience still stands out years later
• 49:38 – About her favorite choices here
• 53:14 – What you will learn about the world by visiting Matetsi Victoria Falls

Listener Exclusive Amenities

Daily Breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom, served in the restaurant (already included in property rates)

$180 USD credit, once during stay, applicable towards Spa Treatments and/or Owner’s Collection Wines from our specialized wine cellar

Bookings in the River House Private Villa will receive an additional $180 USD credit (for a total of $360 USD)

Early Check-In / Late Check-Out, subject to availability

Complimentary Wi-Fi

A Welcome Gift: Matetsi Victoria Falls hand-knitted Gogo Olive keyring