Mohamed Ameen Dabhelia, 2016-03-02

Tourists staring in wonder at the sheer beauty of the Zambezi River cascading over Victoria Falls struggle to believe the region is suffering one of its worst ever drought.

Water levels have dropped to 30-year lows at the waterfall bordering Zambia and Zimbabwe’s shared crossing, as almost no rains and soaring temperatures take their toll across southern Africa.

Local guide Patrick Sakala says all is not well.

“At this time of year you usually wouldn’t be able to hear me over the thunderous roar,” Sakala told Reuters, pointing at rocks piercing through a vast sheet of water dropping 100 meters, twice the height of Niagara Falls.

“You wouldn’t see those rocks. You might not see anything because of the smoke all around you,” he added, referring to the clouds of mist thrown up from the swells in the chasm beneath the falls, known locally as “The Smoke That Thunders”.

According to the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA).Nearby, Kariba Lake – which is the world’s largest manmade reservoir, is only 12 percent full, compared to 53 percent at the same time last year.

Kariba is the water source for a hydro plant which provides Zimbabwe and Zambia with much of their electricity and power cuts have become a daily occurrence this year due to low water levels and drought stricken weather – Reuters

(Twitter: @thedabhelia)

(Edited by Faizel Patel)