Victoria Falls under threat as development pressure mounts

To the Tonga people, it is Mosi-oa-Tunya - "the smoke that thunders." To the world, it is Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders and the crown jewel of Zimbabwe's tourism industry.

But the iconic site is now at the centre of an escalating environmental crisis, with activists warning that unregulated construction and climate pressures are eroding its ecological integrity.

A new report by Keep Victoria Falls Wild (KVFW) claims the Victoria Falls-Mosi-oa-Tunya World Heritage Site is "crumbling" under the weight of illegal tourism infrastructure, despite being protected under UNESCO World Heritage Committee guidelines.

The report alleges that official submissions by Zimbabwe and Zambia under the Joint Integrated Management Plans (JIMP) have contained "gross inaccuracies," including poorly detailed maps that obscure the boundaries of protected zones. This lack of clarity, KVFW says, has opened the door for developers to erect permanent structures in ecologically sensitive areas.

Under UNESCO guidelines, the site is divided into zones of varying ecological sensitivity, with the High Ecological Sensitivity Zone (HESZ) - or "Red Zone" - strictly off-limits to permanent infrastructure. This zone includes the falls, rainforest and critical riverbank ecosystems along the Zambezi River.

However, the report identifies several developments within this protected zone, including a restaurant and a proposed lodge near the Elephant Hills area, arguing that such projects violate national parks regulations.

KVFW is calling for the closure and demolition of these structures, warning that allowing them to remain undermines the site's World Heritage status.

The watchdog also accuses park authorities of delayed and incomplete reporting, citing previous developments such as Victoria Falls River Lodge and Old Drift Lodge, which were only confirmed to be in restricted zones after construction.

Beyond governance concerns, the environmental toll is mounting. The riparian forest surrounding the falls - a rare ecosystem sustained by the mist from the cascading المياه - is under severe pressure from land clearing for lodges, golf courses and other infrastructure.

According to the report, soil erosion along the Zimbabwean bank is increasing, leading to siltation upstream and sediment build-up in the gorge. The forest itself is struggling to regenerate, with dense vegetation being replaced by sparse bush and shrubs, threatening wildlife habitats.

These pressures are being compounded by climate change. Variability in rainfall has drastically altered the flow of the Zambezi River, with water levels swinging from about 3 000 cubic metres per second in peak season to as low as 300 during dry spells.

During the 2019 drought, water levels dropped by more than half, exposing vast sections of rock and reducing the once-thundering falls to a trickle.

This decline directly impacts the rainforest ecosystem, which depends on the constant spray generated by the falls. As moisture levels fall, vegetation is drying out and dying, placing entire species of trees, birds and wildlife at risk.

Despite these concerns, development pressures are intensifying. The Victoria Falls Council Master Plan of 2024 proposes expanding the town's footprint from 22 square kilometres to 244, encroaching into protected areas such as Victoria Falls National Park and Zambezi National Park.

KVFW warns that this expansion could undermine the very tourism base the city depends on, particularly if it encroaches on the 500-metre buffer zone around the World Heritage Site.

International scrutiny is also increasing. In an August 2025 update, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee expressed "serious concerns" that both Zimbabwe and Zambia failed to meet a key reporting deadline and had not adequately disclosed developments in sensitive zones.

Further concern surrounds the proposed Batoka Gorge Hydroelectric Scheme, which could raise water levels in the gorge by up to 40 metres and alter the site's natural character.

UNESCO has urged both countries to finalise an updated management plan with clear usage limits and safeguards to protect the site's "outstanding universal value."

For conservationists, the message is urgent: restore strict protections, remove illegal structures and prioritise ecological preservation.

As pressures mount, the future of Victoria Falls hangs in the balance - with the risk that the "smoke that thunders" could one day fall silent.