12 Waterfalls So Stunning They’ll Make You Want to Travel the World

There are few things in this world more majestic than a waterfall. Water cascading down a mountainside is one of the most incredible sites you’ll ever see. Some of the best places to see waterfalls are at national parks.

There are more than 6,500 national parks worldwide, and each one has something special. However, not all of them have waterfalls. Today, we’re going to explore the 12 best national park waterfalls in the world.

1. Victoria Falls National Park – Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls lies on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. It’s one of the world’s largest waterfalls, not in height but in width—5,604 feet long! That’s equal to 18 football fields.

To get to these falls, you can fly into Victoria Falls Airport and then book a tour from there to the falls. There are lots of viewpoints that you can get to within the National Park, but keep in mind that from the moment you walk into the park, you are going to be wet, so bring a poncho.

2. Parque Nacional Canaima – Angel Falls

This is the tallest waterfall in the world at 3,212 feet! It’s deep in Venezuela’s forest and difficult to get to. The best way to do it is by booking a tour and having them take care of it for you. The most common route to the falls is taking a flight to the Canaima Airport, which is in the middle of the jungle, and then take a 3 night river cruise to the base of the falls.

December to March are the dry months in Venezuela, so don’t plan your trip during these months.

3. Yosemite National Park – Yosemite Falls

Now, I’m from California, so you know that this is my favorite waterfall on this list. Yosemite is arguably one of the most beautiful national parks in the world, and Yosemite Falls is one reason for this.

At 2,425 feet, this waterfall doesn’t even come close to cracking the top 10 highest falls. However, its beauty is stunning. The water almost shoots out of the granite rock wall, covering the entire valley in mist. There are two parts to this waterfall: the upper and lower falls. You can practically drive up to the lower falls, but the upper falls are about a 6.5-mile out-and-back hike.

4. Iguazu National Park – Iguazu Falls

Iguazu Falls is right on the border of Argentina and Brazil. You can enter the National Park from either country, but you’ll want to go through the Brazilian side for the best views. This will allow you to walk right into the heart of the falls and see it from the best perspective.

Another thing to remember is that Brazil is the only country that allows helicopter tours of the fall. So, starting in Brazil will be your best option if you want to see the falls by air.

5. Plitvice Lakes National Park – Veliki Slap Waterfall

This is the most popular National Park in Croatia and has some of the planet’s best waterfall and lake views. Hiking to all the waterfalls in the park is a fair amount of work, but it is definitely worth it!

Veliki Slap Waterfall (or Great Waterfall) is the biggest waterfall in the park, but there are 90 other waterfalls that you can visit while you’re here!

6. Huangguoshu National Park – Huangguoshu Waterfall

The Huangguoshu Waterfall is one of the tallest waterfalls in Eastern Asia. People from around the world come to view this incredible waterfall in the Guizhou province of China. It is 243 feet tall and part of the Huangguoshu National Park, which also includes 18 other waterfalls and lots of lush greenery.

This waterfall is just a 30-minute walk from the parking lot and has an amazing scenic view.

7. Royal Natal National Park – Tugela Falls

Tagela Falls is in South Africa and is the second-tallest waterfall in the world; some even say it’s the tallest. It’s right on the border of Lesotho (a country within South Africa), and the landscape surrounding it is almost as incredible as the falls themselves.

To get the best views of the falls, enter Royal Natal National Park and park at the Sentinel car park. Then, it’s about a 7-mile out-and-back hike to the top of the falls, giving you incredible views along the way.

8. Skógafoss National Park – Skógafoss Waterfall

Iceland is quickly becoming one of the top tourist spots on the planet. The Skógafoss Waterfall is one of the top waterfalls to visit in this up-and-coming county. This waterfall is just a 3-minute hike from the parking lot, which makes it super accessible!

There’s also a museum and other hikes in Skógafoss National Park that you won’t want to miss!

9. Etosha National Park – Epupa Falls

These falls are right on the border of Angola and Namibia and are some of the most beautiful waterfalls you’ll ever see. To get here, you’ll drive to the small town of Epupa in Namibia, and then the falls are just right there in the city.

There are many places to camp in this area and even a beautiful lodge that overlooks the river.

10. Kaieteur National Park – Kaieteur Falls

Kaieteur Falls is the largest single-drop waterfall in the world. Getting to the falls is an adventure on its own. You’ll have to fly into the tiny Kaieteur Airport Guyana and then drive an hour with a national park tour guide through the jungle to the falls. The only way to get to the falls is by booking a tour from Georgetown, Guyana, and then everything is usually included in the tour price.

Kaieteur Falls is 740 feet tall and 300 feet wide and, unlike the other falls on this list, isn’t broken up into multiple sections. It’s a 700-foot drop straight down to the rocks below.

11. Mollem National Park – Dudhsagar Falls

This series of waterfalls looks like it could be straight out of the Avatar movie. There are multiple tiers of falls that all range in height, but the total height is 1017 feet, and is ranked among the tallest waterfalls in India.

Once you are near the waterfall, there are lots of places where you can swim and spend the day relaxing and taking in the views of these massive falls. There’s also a train that goes almost through the falls, which is an incredible sight.

12. Girringun National Park – Wallaman Falls

Last up, we have Wallaman Falls in Australia. It’s the tallest single-drop waterfall in Australia, and the views are insane. You can drive right up to the falls, walk just a few hundred feet, and see one of the most incredible things you’ve ever seen.

It’s super easy to get to and there’s no hike needed to get there. Could it get any better?!