Who was the first white man to see the Victoria Falls?

David Livingstone became the first European to see Victoria Falls. He returned again in 1860 for a more comprehensive study and was accompanied by John Kirk, a fellow explorer.



The first European (and "white man") to see Victoria Falls was the Scottish missionary and explorer David Livingstone. On November 17, 1855, during his transcontinental journey across Africa, he was taken by the local Makololo people in dugout canoes to a small island (now known as Livingstone Island) at the very edge of the falls. He was so overwhelmed by the sight that he later wrote in his journal that "scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight." While the falls had been known to local indigenous tribes for centuries as Mosi-oa-Tunya ("The Smoke That Thunders"), Livingstone named them "Victoria Falls" in honor of the British monarch, Queen Victoria. Today, his legacy is commemorated with a famous statue on the Zimbabwean side of the falls, looking out over the chasm he "discovered" for the Western world.

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David Livingstone, the Scottish missionary and explorer, is the first European recorded to have viewed the falls on 16 November 1855, from what is now known as Livingstone Island, one of two land masses in the middle of the river, immediately upstream from the falls near the Zambian shore.

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David Livingstone, became the first recorded European. to see Victoria Falls, after being guided there by local. tribesmen.

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In spite of his paternalism and Victorian prejudices, Livingstone believed wholeheartedly in the African's ability to advance into the modern world. He was, in this sense, a forerunner not only of European imperialism in Africa but also of African nationalism.

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Only one photo-loving tourist is known to have fallen at the Victoria Falls and survived. Wang Shunxue, a Chinese tourist was lucky to be pulled alive from a horrific fall in November 2013.

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As Victoria Falls is situated on the Zambezi River, there is most definitely crocodiles in Victoria Falls.

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In comparison, Victoria Falls is the world's largest sheet of falling water and is almost double the height of Niagara Falls and half a kilometer wider. In the wet season, the spray from Victoria Falls can rise 400m above the falls and can be seen from up to 48km away.

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It is possible to swim in the rock pools right underneath the waterfalls at certain times of the year ('low water'). This is an unforgettable adventure right in the heart of one of the most beautiful places on earth!

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The Zambezi River forms the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. This is why Zambia and Zimbabwe share Victoria Falls, with roughly two-thirds of the Falls lying on the Zimbabwe side.

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Originally known as the Old Drift, Livingstone owes its existence primarily to the Victoria Falls and was established as a staging point across the Zambezi River. The town is named after Dr. David Livingstone, the first European to see, name and publicise the Falls.

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Here are some fascinating facts which may surprise you, or simply encourage you to see the area for yourself.
  • IT IS THE LARGEST WATERFALL IN THE WORLD. ...
  • VICTORIA FALLS IS PART OF THE ZAMBEZI RIVER. ...
  • IT IS FOUND IN TWO NATIONAL PARKS. ...
  • ITS ENGLISH NAME WAS CHOSEN BY DAVID LIVINGSTONE. ...
  • YOU CAN SEE THE FALLS FROM TWO COUNTRIES.


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