Victoria Falls History, Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls History is said to be around 3 million years old which means that this waterfall has seen almost every kind of historical change. Various archeological excavations around the waterfall have shown the presence of Homo Habilis artifacts which were present on this earth around 3 million years ago.

Many tools were also found which are said to be around 50000 years old and belong to the Middle Stone Age. Lastly, these excavations have revealed a large number of weapons which belong to the Late Stone Age. These excavations have increased the importance of Victoria Falls History as the interest of various historians has increased exponentially in last few decades.

Victoria Falls History - The Stone Age

During the Stone Age, Bantu tribes were the ones that had inhabited the area around this fall. Before the Bantu tribes, it was the Khoisan hunter gatherers who had been living on these lands. Bantu tribes replaced them and this land became inhabited by Tonga people who were part of these Bantu tribes. Tonga were called as Batoka/Tokela and they used to call this fall by the name Shungu na Mutitima.

Lately, the Matabele arrived on this land and called this waterfall aManz’ aThunquyo. Other tribes namely Makololo and Batswana called this fall Mosi – oa – Tunya. One must note that all these names have the same meaning “smoke which thunders”.

Victoria Falls History - The Arrival of Europeans

It was the year 1852 when the first European (namely David Livingstone) came to see this miracle of nature. He was actually on a journey from the upper part of River Zambezi to its end between 1852 and 1956 when he passed by this huge waterfall. Livingstone had paddled to a nearby island, as he was already aware of the presence of this fall. Today that island is called Livingstone. He named this fall Victoria Falls in honor of Queen Victoria.

He went back to his home and told stories of this huge waterfall to various Europeans. Soon many Europeans came to Victoria Falls to admire its beauty. Famous artist Thomas Baines was one of them. He is said to have drawn many paintings of this huge waterfall.

You could also visit Harare the largest city in Zimbawe and Gabone, Botswana 445 miles away