Livingstone - Zambia
The Home to Victoria Falls
The development of the city of Livingstone followed the completion of Victoria Falls Bridge in 1904. The railway bridge crossed the mighty Zambezi River just downstream from the Victoria Falls and created the main border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. The city was named in honour of the Scottish explorer Dr David Livingstone who had become the first European to set eyes on the Falls 50 years earlier.
In
1911 the city of Livingstone had grown to such a size that it became the capital
for the British colony of Northern Rhodesia. Lusaka became the capital city
of Zambia in 1935, when the government decided to move to its more central
location.
By the 1920’s Livingstone had become a vital locomotive depot in Africa, and visitors today can visit the Railway Museum. This is home to an internationally recognised collection of steam locomotives, and offers an excellent insight into the development of railways in the area and Zambia as a whole.
The Livingstone museum boasts a fine collection of over 37,000 specimens of traditional cultural material, historical items and natural history specimens. Also of interest is the remarkable collection of Dr Livingstone's memorabilia including his jacket and braided cap, medicine chest, notebooks, personal letters and diaries.
Since the discovery of the Victoria Falls over 150 years ago
(by Dr David
Livingstone), Livingstone has become the focal point for many tourists
to Southern Africa. There is much on offer for all types of visitors
from game drives in the Mosi oa Tunya National Park for the laid-back
tourist, to the adrenalin pumping adventure of bungee jumping off
the Victoria Falls Bridge 111 meters down, making it the second
highest jump in the world.
There is also canoeing above the falls for those who want to experience the tranquillity of the Zambezi River, jet boating in the Batoka Gorge below the falls, river boarding on the rapids of the Zambezi, and the internationally acclaimed one-day white water rafting experience.
For a day of fun and adventure there is also abseiling, gorge swinging and rap jumping in the gorge, or, for the best views of Victoria Falls, try a microlight or helicopter trip.
For a full selection of things to do in Livingstone and the surrounding area visit our Livingstone Activities page.
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