After an hour of watching in silent awe, I made my way back to town, where I set up my tent and stocked up on some much-needed supplies. That evening, still not fully dry, I returned to the falls.
Moonbow-viewing tips:
• For the best chance of seeing a moonbow, plan your trip around the full Moon, ideally two to three nights before and after when the moonlight is strongest, says tour guide Omen Mudenda.
• The best viewing months are usually February to July, when Victoria Falls has a strong volume of water and spray.
• Bring a waterproof jacket or poncho, comfortable non-slip shoes, a camera with low-light settings and an extra warm layer during the cooler months.
• Because access to the falls at night is controlled, Mudenda recommends booking a guided moonbow tour ahead of time, particularly during peak travel periods. A guide can also help visitors move safely between viewpoints as conditions shift through the night.
Moonbows form in much the same way as daytime rainbows – through the refraction, reflection and dispersion of light in water droplets.
Moonbows are rarer than rainbows because they are fainter and so are best seen when the Moon is near full and at its brightest,” Dr Kimberly Strong, a physics professor at the University of Toronto, later explained.
For a moonbow to appear, several conditions must align: a bright Moon low in the sky, cloud-free skies and enough water droplets in the air. The observer must also be positioned with the Moon behind them and spray in front.
Victoria Falls is one the few places in the world where moonbows can be seen with some regularity, thanks to the sheer volume of water mist rising from the falls. Even so, there is no guarantee. The window is narrow, usually limited to a few nights each month and only visible for a few hours each time.
