Celebrating David Livingstone In Zambia

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

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Zambia Lodges Map
Popular Zambia Safari Lodges

  • Tongabezi Lodge

    Tongabezi Lodge, the first Zambezi River lodge on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls, was founded in 1990 by Ben Parker and the late Will Ruck-Keene. It is a privately owned and run retreat, focusing on exclusivity and romance, with the warmth and hospitality of the Zambian people.

    Days at Tongabezi have no fixed schedule and can be tailored to your preferences. Relax or enjoy various activities. Each house and cottage has a dedicated valet providing personalized service. The Treehouse cottage bathroom is renowned as one of the world's top five bathrooms.

  • Flatdogs Camp

    Explore Zambia's captivating wilderness at Flatdogs Camp, where an unforgettable adventure awaits. This sanctuary goes beyond accommodation to offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Open to nature enthusiasts and thrill-seekers, Flatdogs Camp embodies the African safari spirit with a warm, welcoming vibe akin to home.

    Whether relaxing in a chalet, up in the Jackalberry Treehouse, or surrounded by nature's sounds in a tented suite, Flatdogs Camp encourages you to embrace the wild, connect with nature, and forge everlasting memories.

  • Chongwe River Camp

    Set on the edge of the Lower Zambezi National Park, Chongwe River Camp stands as a beacon of luxury and untouched natural beauty. Boasting eight exclusive tented suites, this luxury safari camp offers guests an intimate encounter with Africa's magnificent wildlife and serene landscapes.

    Whether it's the thrill of an open safari vehicle drive, the tranquillity of bird watching, or the majesty of night safaris, Time + Tide Chongwe Camp is a place where nature's wonders unfold before your eyes, making every moment spent here a cherished memory.

  • Puku Ridge Camp

    Puku Ridge Camp offers a truly intimate atmosphere, providing guests with a unique and authentic safari experience nestled under canvas. Enjoy breathtaking panoramic views that stretch over the lush South Luangwa floodplain below, immersing yourself in the beauty of nature.

    Each of the seven generously sized tented suites boasts picture windows that frame the picturesque floodplain, inviting you to relax on your private viewing deck and witness the wonders of the surrounding South Luangwa wilderness.

  • Kakuli Bush Camp

    Kakuli Bush Camp stands out as one of the select few Zambian and South Luangwa National Park bush camps that welcome visitors during the months of January and November. During this period, the river reaches high levels, necessitating access by boat.

    The safari activities (walking safaris and game drives) offered revolve around exploring the river or the nearby dry, sandy terrains that encompass the camp, all while surrounded by exceptional wildlife and birdlife.

  • Anabezi Luxury Tented Camp

    Each stay at Anabezi is designed to transcend the ordinary safari experience, allowing guests to revel in the splendour of their surroundings from the comfort of their private tented suite. With its commitment to excellence and attention to detail, Anabezi Luxury Tented Camp sets the benchmark for safari adventures that are as luxurious as they are authentic.

    Anabezi Luxury Tented Camp is an exclusive safari retreat that offers the discerning traveller a fusion of unparalleled natural beauty, bespoke luxury, and a deep connection with the Lower Zambezi National Park.

  • Lion Camp

    Discover the ultimate safari experience at Lion Camp in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park. This exclusive sanctuary offers ten luxurious suites with breathtaking views in a wildlife-rich region of Africa. Lion Camp provides a perfect blend of luxury and adventure for an unforgettable stay.

    Nestled in the heart of the lush savannah plains of South Africa, the camp beckons adventurers and nature lovers alike to a place where Africa's wild, untamed beauty can be experienced in absolute comfort and style.

  • Chamilandu Bushcamp

    Welcome to a quintessentially African adventure woven with the threads of luxury and the spirit of the wilderness. Chamilandu Bushcamp, nestled in the iconic South Luangwa National Park, this exclusive bushcamp promises not just a stay but an odyssey that dances to the rhythm of the wild.

    From the raw beauty of waking up to a skyline painted with African sunsets to the thrill of close encounters with the untamed, each moment here is a chapter in your own epic tale of adventure.