The mighty curtain of water that forms the Victoria Falls is known by the locals as Mosi-oa-Tunya or the "Smoke that Thunders". These ancient and magnificent Falls were "discovered" in 1855 by Scottish explorer, David Livingstone. He had been attempting to find a route to the East Coast of the African continent when he encountered this wonder and gave it a Western name, the Victoria Falls – named after British Monarch, Queen Victoria. He had an island in the middle of the river on the lip of the waterfall named after him, of course, known as Livingstone Island and where the famous Devil's Pool activity begins.
Livingstone's reports spread across borders, and the Falls began to attract Anglo traders. A rustic trading settlement was set up on what is now the riverbank and became the original Victoria Falls town called Old Drift.
The number of foreign visitors rose steadily, and people travelled from South Africa to view the Falls. Malaria took its toll on the settlement and, at the turn of the century, Old Drift was shifted to the present-day town of Livingstone in Zambia.
Livingstone's lack of contact with the outside world over four years whilst attempting to find the Nile's source raised concerns for his welfare. It prompted the New York Herald to send Henry Stanley to find him. Stanley achieved his goal on 10 November 1871, approaching the explorer in an African village with the immortal words "Doctor Livingstone, I presume".
The two struck up a friendship which only ended when Stanley returned to America in 1872, having failed to persuade the intrepid missionary to accompany him. Dr David Livingstone died on 1 May 1873 at age 60. He had travelled some 50 000 kilometres in Africa, making a considerable contribution to the least known portion of the planet and became one of Southern and Central Africa's legendary figures. That legendary status is felt to this day as many names of towns in Africa have been changed to indigenous names, but the exception is names connected with this revered explorer. These include Livingstone and the famous Victoria Falls, remaining to this day, as a sign of respect and in memory of the great man.