Livingstone: Culture, History and Nature

If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to Livingstone, you can start by deciding which themes you want to shape your stay. In the city, museum collections and historical walks take centre stage; nearby, the landscape of Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park adds another dimension. The differences between the city’s history, nature and the various park activities give you concrete points of reference for planning your trip.

Nature and activities nearby

Near Livingstone, Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park includes the Eastern Cataract of Victoria Falls. It is also known as Mosi-oa-Tunya (“the smoke that thunders”). The waterfall’s spray sustains lush rainforest in the park. The waterfall and rainforest are therefore connected features of the landscape: the name refers to the thundering smoke, while the mist also nourishes the lush vegetation.

You can explore parts of Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park in different ways: in your own vehicle, on a wildlife-viewing safari, on a guided walking safari with an armed ranger, or on a boat trip on the Zambezi. The options differ in how you get around and whether you are accompanied. A walking safari is guided and takes place with an armed ranger, the boat trip goes along the Zambezi, and wildlife viewing is the main focus of the safari. This makes it easy to distinguish the park activities by format.

The Old Drift Crossing Point and a cemetery where the first European settlers are buried are also located within the park. These historical sites add further themes to the natural landscape. If you would like to consider nature and history together, both aspects can be found side by side in the park’s surroundings.

Museums and city history in Livingstone

The Livingstone Museum is considered the largest and oldest museum in the country and dates from the 1930s. It houses a large collection of mementos of David Livingstone, donated by the Livingstone family. This highlights both the museum’s special standing in the country and the collection’s clear biographical focus.

The Livingstone Railway Museum on Chishimba Falls Road offers a different way to explore the city’s history. Its collection includes old steam locomotives, historic passenger carriages, railway memorabilia and old photographs from the city’s pioneering days. The combination of railway vehicles, memorabilia and photographs gives it a different focus from the collection at the Livingstone Museum. If you would like to explore the city’s history mainly through railways and historical photographs, this distinction is a useful guide.

Walking tours of Livingstone focus on colonial architecture and the city’s history; they can be booked through most agencies. The availability of individual providers may change. Check booking options in advance if a walking tour is important to your plans. This city theme can be distinguished from the museums’ collections: the walking tour brings architecture and city history together as its main topics.

Other interests and regional context

Livingstone has an 18-hole golf course. If golf is part of your plans, check current playing opportunities before your visit. This keeps golf as a separate item in your trip planning, alongside museum visits, city walks and activities in the park.

The wider Livingstone area also includes the Dambwa and Simonga Local Forests in Livingstone District. They offer opportunities for birdwatching and hiking, as well as picnic sites. The transboundary Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls World Heritage Site includes areas in Livingstone District in Zambia and Hwange District in Zimbabwe. This regional perspective complements the themes within Livingstone itself and helps you consider the city’s history and nature destinations in the wider area separately in your plans.

For the broader travel overview: Livingstone.