More than half a million tourists flock to Livingstone town yearly to see the gushing waters of one of the world’s largest waterfalls. Victoria falls, which is on the Zambezi River, the fourth largest river in Africa and defines the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, remains one of Africa’s greatest attractions.
“This is our tourist center or our tourist capital as Zambia. It does deserve to be called so because it summarizes what Zambia has to offer to a tourist.” Said Joseline Mutita, Zambia Tourist Board
As the falls have slowly become a choice destination for both local and international tourists, Livingstone town, which has a population of over 100,000 people, has seen its residents, from the farmer to the hotel owner, greatly benefit from the obvious economic and social significance of the falls.
“The whole economy of Livingstone is anchored on tourism. Because of the same activities that are around obviously people when they come they want to eat as a result we have our surrounding farmers needing to grow more to supply to the hotels, to the lodges and guest houses.” added Ms. Mutita
The town is embroiled in the history of this natural wonder. Historians claim the falls were discovered by David Livingstone in 1844, but locals here strongly disagree, saying Shungu na Mtitima, as they know it, was a sacred place ages before Livingstone set foot in the country.
There are spots around the Victoria falls where the local people of Mukuuni consider very sacred because they do many rituals there. They carry out all their traditional ceremonies or when they want to consult the spirits at the Victoria Falls.
The locals here maintain that the deep cultural heritage is a big part of the Victoria falls experience, with the Maramba cultural village and Mosotunya National Park offering a look into the historical significance of this natural wonder.
