Livingstone Discovers the Victoria Falls

Livingstone mounumnet On the 16th of November 1855, a hundred and fifty years ago David Livingstone discovered the Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River. To commemorate this anniversary an expedition is being led by Sir Ranulph Fiennes in Zambia to recreate the discovery using Livingstone's diaries to do this. They will erect a plaque in his memory on Livingstone Island. Livingstone was born in Scotland on March 19th 1813. He got into Glasgow University where he studied medicine and theology. He went to Africa as a missionary in 1840 and he would later say that Africa gained his soul. After discovering the Victoria Falls he went back to England to see if he could get financial support to explore further. He also at that time gave up being a missionary.
Victoria falls during the dry season
When Livingstone first saw the Victoria Falls he is believed to have said "Scenes so lovely must be gazed upon by angels in their flight." The Zambians always referred to them as Musi - oa - tunya which means "the smoke that thunders." This is because of the noise it makes and the spray it creates the misty spray then looks like smoke from the distance. Livingstone however named them after Queen Victoria. The Victoria Falls are on the Zambia and Zimbabwe border.
top of the falls
I have been fortunate enough to see the Victoria Falls from both the Zambia and Zimbabwe sides. It was the most amazing, breathtaking natural wonder I have ever seen. A five year - old girl who saw it for the first time said "I never knew anything like this even existed in the world."
On the Zambian side is the knife edge bridge which you walk across or in the rainy season you can sit and slid along it. The spray is so great during the rainy season that it is a good idea to dress as it you are going for a swim. When I was there the place remained unspoiled and natural. So much so you had to be careful as it could be extremely dangerous if you weren't. There would be signs that would state "Don't go beyond this point." If you did - well if doesn't bare thinking about.
Victoria Falls

Flight of the Angels

The view from Zimbabwe was completely different to the Zambian one. We walked through the rain forest instead of going on the knife edge bridge. But what gave me the greatest thrill was the flight of the angels. Going in a small plane to view it from this angle gave you an idea of the length of the falls. It is such a beautiful awesome sight and it never lost that impact on me no matter how many times I saw it. Living in Zambia I got the chance to see the Victoria falls quite a few times, seeing it during the dry season and the rainy season. If you are ever given that chance don't hesitate, take it.
David Livingstone died in Zambia on the 1st of May 1873 his body was bought back to England and he was buried in Westminster Abbey. His heart though remains in Zambia, it was buried there.
If you would like to know more about the expedition then visit www.vicfallsexpedition.com

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Livingstone Discovers the Victoria Falls On the 16th of November 1855, a hundred and fifty years ago David Livingstone discovered the Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River. To commemorate this anniversary an expedition is being led by Sir Ranulph Fiennes in Zambia to recreate the discovery using Livingstone's diaries to do this. They will erect a plaque in his memory on Livingstone Island. Livingstone was born in Scotland on March 19th 1813. He got into Glasgow University where he studied medicine and theology. He went to Africa as a missionary in 1840 and he would later say that Africa gained his soul. After discovering the Victoria Falls he went back to England to see if he could get financial support to explore further. He also at that time gave up being a missionary. When Livingstone first saw the Victoria Falls he is believed to have said "Scenes so lovely must be gazed upon by angels in their flight." The Zambians always referred to them as Musi - oa - tunya which means "the smoke that thunders." This is because of the noise it makes and the spray it creates the misty spray then looks like smoke from the distance. Livingstone however named them after Queen Victoria. The Victoria Falls are on the Zambia and Zimbabwe border. I have been fortunate enough to see the Victoria Falls from both the Zambia and Zimbabwe sides. It was the most amazing, breathtaking natural wonder I have ever seen. A five year - old girl who saw it for the first time said "I never knew anything like this even existed in the world." On the Zambian side is the knife edge bridge which you walk across or in the rainy season you can sit and slid along it. The spray is so great during the rainy season that it is a good idea to dress as it you are going for a swim. When I was there the place remained unspoiled and natural. So much so you had to be careful as it could be extremely dangerous if you weren't. There would be signs that would state "Don't go beyond this point." If you did - well if doesn't bare thinking about. The view from Zimbabwe was completely different to the Zambian one. We walked through the rain forest instead of going on the knife edge bridge. But what gave me the greatest thrill was the flight of the angels. Going in a small plane to view it from this angle gave you an idea of the length of the falls. It is such a beautiful awesome sight and it never lost that impact on me no matter how many times I saw it. Living in Zambia I got the chance to see the Victoria falls quite a few times, seeing it during the dry season and the rainy season. If you are ever given that chance don't hesitate, take it. David Livingstone died in Zambia on the 1st of May 1873 his body was bought back to England and he was buried in Westminster Abbey. His heart though remains in Zambia, it was buried there. If you would like to know more about the expedition then visit www.vicfallsexpedition.com © Children's Web Magazine 2005
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