David Livingstone and the Journey to Victoria Falls

In November 1855, Scottish missionary and explorer David Livingstone travelled along the Zambezi River with local guides and paddlers. He was on an expedition to explore the region and find routes through the interior of Africa.

As his journey continued, something remarkable began to happen.

The sound of rushing water grew louder. A column of mist appeared above the trees, rising into the sky like smoke. As Livingstone and his companions moved closer, they encountered one of the most spectacular natural sights in Africa.

It was Mosi-oa-Tunya — “The Smoke That Thunders.”

The waterfall was already well known to local communities long before Livingstone arrived. The name Mosi-oa-Tunya perfectly captured its character: the thunderous roar of millions of litres of water plunging into the gorge below, accompanied by enormous clouds of spray.

On 16 November 1855, Livingstone reached an island near the edge of the Falls, now known as Livingstone Island. From there, he viewed the enormous waterfall and the deep gorge carved by the Zambezi River.

The sight made a lasting impression on him.

Livingstone later wrote about the beauty and scale of the Falls, describing the combination of water, mist, vegetation and rainbows as something extraordinary. He subsequently gave the Falls the name Victoria Falls, in honour of Queen Victoria.

But the story of Victoria Falls is much older than Livingstone.

For generations, local communities had lived alongside the Zambezi and knew the Falls as Mosi-oa-Tunya. Their knowledge of the river, the landscape and the surrounding area was essential to Livingstone's journey.

Today, visitors can walk through the rainforest surrounding the Falls and experience the same powerful combination of mist, thunder and immense natural beauty that Livingstone encountered more than 170 years ago.

Stand at the edge of the gorge and listen carefully. Beneath the sound of tourists and cameras, you can still hear what gave Mosi-oa-Tunya its name:

The Smoke That Thunders.

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