a place where legends were written in water & stone

Livingstone Island is more than a spectacular viewpoint — it’s a site of profound historical, cultural, and spiritual significance.

On 16 November 1855, Scottish missionary and explorer Dr David Livingstone was paddled by members of the local Kololo tribe, under the leadership of Chief Sekeletu, to a small island on the edge of a thundering waterfall. From there, he caught his first glimpse of what the local people called Mosi-oa-Tunya — The Smoke That Thunders. So moved by the spectacle, he later wrote,

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Scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight.

He would rename the Falls “Victoria Falls” after the British monarch, but the island — now called Livingstone Island — remains rooted in its local identity and indigenous history.

A PROTECTED
WORLD HERITAGE SITE

Today, Livingstone Island is recognised as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site that encompasses Victoria Falls. As a fragile and sacred site, the island is carefully protected. Aside from a single permanent feature — the Livingstone Memorial Plaque, installed in 2005 to mark the 150th anniversary of his visit — all infrastructure is removable, in line with Green Safaris’ zero-footprint approach.

Protected Heritage site
Living Culture

STORIES, LEGENDS
& LIVING CULTURE

Long before it bore the name of a European explorer, the island was locally known as Namakaba or Mbuzi Island. These names reflect the area’s traditional connection to subsistence grazing, fishing routes, and its spiritual importance to communities along the Zambezi. Though the island’s official title may have changed, its legacy in Zambian oral histories and place names endures.

Livingstone Island is steeped in stories — both historical and mythical. From the spiritual beliefs tied to the Falls to local lore about the surrounding wildlife and waters, the island continues to inspire awe and reverence.

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