Question: where does the water from victoria falls go

title: Victoria Falls
text: In 1964 , Northern Rhodesia became the independent state of Zambia . The following year , Rhodesia unilaterally declared independence . This was not recognized by Zambia , the United Kingdom nor the vast majority of states and led to United Nations - mandated sanctions . In response to the emerging crisis , in 1966 Zambia restricted or stopped border crossings ; it did not re-open the border completely until 1980 . Guerilla warfare arose on the southern side of the Zambezi from 1972 : the Rhodesian Bush War . Visitor numbers began to drop , particularly on the Rhodesian side . The war affected Zambia through military incursions , causing the latter to impose security measures including the stationing of soldiers to restrict access to the gorges and some parts of the falls .