David Livingstone was born in Blantyre, Scotland 200 years ago. He remains the most celebrated of all Victorian explorers, equally known for his humanity and humanitarian work as for his feats of exceptional exploration. All the countries that he explored and traversed are celebrating this year and in the first of three articles, we look at Zambia.
His motivation as an explorer was the abolition of the African slave trade and important to achieving this aim was to navigate the Zambezi River and discover the source of the Nile making these arteries a Christian highway into the interior of Africa. Part of his success as an explorer lay in the fact that he travelled comparatively lightly with only a small retinue of porters and servants and with an absence of soldiers or armed guards. He was consequently not seen as a threat by most chiefs and villages he passed through nor mistaken as a slave trader.
Over several expeditions and journeys, he explored and mapped for western civilisation large regions which had previously been blank. As well as the Victoria Falls, the upper Zambezi River and some of the Congo river basin, he explored Lakes Banweulu, Malawi and Ngami and some of lakes Mweru and Tanganyika.
David Livingstone died in Ilala southeast of Lake Bangweulu in present-day Zambia on 1 May 1873 from malaria. His heart was buried there under a mpundu tree by his loyal servants before they departed for the coast carrying his body. The Livingstone Memorial was built in 1902 and this brick and plaster obelisk topped by a bronze cross can be visited. The visit can be incorporated with a safari to the nearby Kasanka National Park. His body lay in repose before burial in Westminster Abbey, at 1 Savile Row, then the headquarters of the Royal Geographical Society and now the home of Gieves and Hawkes which can also be visited for all your tailoring needs!
David Livingstone viewed the Victoria Falls (which he named) from what is now Livingstone Island ( a great picnic and lunching spot!) near the Zambian town of Livingstone. It is this town which is most closely associated with the celebrations and we give below a calendar of events. This is not an exhaustive list and there are many more sporting events which are planned during the course of the year which our consultants will be happy to indicate to you:
19-21 April 2013
International Academic Conference in Livingstone Zambia – Imperial Obsessions David Livingstone, Africa and world history: a life and legacy reconsidered. Jointly hosted jointly by The London School of Economics, UK; The Livingstone Museum, Zambia and The David Livingstone Bicentenary, Livingstone
1 May 2013
Livingstone Memorial Day
David Livingstone died in Zambia on 1 May 1873, after spending half his life exploring the African continent.
19-21 April 2013
International Academic Conference in Livingstone Zambia – Imperial Obsessions David Livingstone, Africa and world history: a life and legacy reconsidered. Jointly hosted jointly by The London School of Economics, UK; The Livingstone Museum, Zambia and The David Livingstone Bicentenary, Livingstone
1 May 2013
Livingstone Memorial Day
David Livingstone died in Zambia on 1 May 1873, after spending half his life exploring the African continent.
4 May 2013
David Livingstone Bicentenary Golf Tournament.
7-9 June 2013
International Cultural Festival and Carnival
Neighbouring countries through which Livingstone travelled will be invited to participate in this fun, vibrant, colourful international part of the bicentenary celebrations. Street carnival, national stands, food and lots more.
16 November 2013
Grand Finale
River events, and memorial on Livingstone Island. This is the date that Dr Livingstone first viewed the Falls, from Livingstone Island.
Celebrating David Livingstone in Zambia
- Old Mondoro
On the banks of the Zambezi River in the Lower Zambezi National Park some 35km downstream from Chiawa Camp this is a beautiful and remote site overlooking a maze of hippo-inhabited islands and channels.
Old Mondoro is the Lower Zambezi's most intimate and private safari camp.
- David Livingstone Safari Lodge
The David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa on the Zambian banks of the Zambezi River near Victoria Falls, invites guests to step into pure natural luxury,
The hotel is a two-storey 77-roomed hotel overlooking the wilds of the Zambezi.
- Kafunta Three Rivers Camp
Kafunta Three Rivers Camp is located at the confluence of "three rivers", namely; the Luangwa, Kapamba and Lusangazi in South Luangwa region of Zambia.
A small and unique safari camp where wildlife and birdlife sightings and photography are the main attractions.
- Chongwe River Suites
Chongwe River Suites is the proud culmination of years of design and experience and is also the perfect marriage between Chongwe Camp and Chongwe House.
The two rooms share a lounge and dining area appointed with fine furniture and antiques that over look a private pool and the Zambezi.
- Stanley Safari Lodge
Stanley Safari Lodge is the exclusive oasis for explorers of this region.
From all the 10 cottages at Stanley's, one is able to see the distant views of the spray of the Victoria Falls drifting upwards towards the heavens.
- Kafunta Island Bush Camp
Kafunta Island Bush Camp, a rustic and authentic safari camp, awaits those seeking to escape the modern world whilst experiencing some of the best wildlife Africa offers.
Island Bush Camp is all about that South Luangwa walking safari experience.