A Natural Wonder
The Zambezi River
The Victoria Falls
Formation of the Victoria Falls
People of the Victoria Falls
Enter the Ndebele
Discovery of the Victoria Falls
In Livingstone's Footsteps
Development of the Railway
To the Banks of the Zambezi
Development of the Falls
To The Congo
Development of Tourism
Development of Victoria Falls Town
Recent History
Further Information
Collectables

    
Discover the Victoria Falls with the Zambezi Book Company

To The Victoria Falls

Development of the Victoria Falls



The following text is adapted from 'Footsteps Through Time - A History of Travel and Tourism to the Victoria Falls', researched and written by Peter Roberts and published in 2017. Please visit the Zambezi Book Company website for more information.



Formation of Federation

A preliminary conference on the proposed unification of Southern and Northern Rhodesia, together with Nyasaland (Malawi), was held at Victoria Falls in 1947. A series of conferences were held in London during 1952/3 where the three African countries, with negotiators from the British government, finally agreed a complicated federal structure. The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, also known as Central African Federation (CAF), came into effect on 1st August 1953.

Joint Publicity

Under the Federation, Northern Rhodesia, and Livingstone in particular, benefited from the experienced publicity knowledge of their Southern Rhodesian counterparts. Unified tourism information brochures publicised both sides of the Falls and the services available on each side of the river. A guidebook published by the Southern Rhodesian Public Relations Department promoted the Federal Tourist Centre in Livingstone, where “the Federal Tourist Officer and a competent staff are available to give assistance to visitors” (Southern Rhodesia Public Relations Department, c1955).

Tourism infrastructure on both sides of the river had been developed to cater for independent travellers arriving by road.

“The standard of accommodation and cuisine at the famous Victoria Falls Hotel, which overlooks the Falls themselves, is extremely high, and hotel accommodation of good standard is also obtainable in the town of Livingstone. But many people, especially those with families, may prefer the more free and easy life of the Rest Camps which have been established on both the Southern and Northern banks of the Falls.” (Southern Rhodesia Public Relations Department, c1955)

The 1953 Rhodes Centenary Regatta


Watching the Zambezi International Regatta, 1953.

In 1953, as part of the celebrations planned to mark the centenary of the birth of Cecil Rhodes, another Zambezi Regatta was planned.

An unknown newspaper article from the period records the 1953 Rhodes Centenary Regatta:

Local supporters were given a good start to Saturday afternoon’s events by an exciting victory by the Zambezi Boat Club crew over their Salisbury rivals – Hunyani – in the Rhodesian Challenge Cup race confined to the Rhodesian crews. Zambezi were slightly ahead throughout and excepts for a few seconds when the Hunyani crew made their last spurt too soon and came within a length of Zambezi the result was never in doubt.

It was once again the Victoria Lake eight which gave the crowd its biggest thrill of the afternoon when they nosed past the post half a length ahead of Wits University in the open eights final. It was anybody’s race until the last 50 yard when, striking 42, the winners finished with a burst which had to be seen to be believed.

Apart from the South African intervarsity boat races, the senior of which Witwatersrand won by two lengths from UCT an the Rhodesian Challenge event, two South African rowing clubs cleared the board at Saturday’s finals. They were Kroonstad, who won four of the six finals, and Victoria Lake, whose rowing in the Centenary Eights was described by the umpires as the finest they had seen outside Britain.

The consistency and will to win of the Kroonstad team was quite phenomenal. Four times their crews rowed up to the start and four times they finished in front of their opponents, and although they were forced to yield the premier trophy of the day, their superiority in the other classes was never in doubt...

After a two-hour break in the rowing programme during which the powerboat pilots made attempts on South African records, the afternoon programme commenced with the Rhodesia Challenge race over 1 mile between Zambezi Boat Club and Hunyani Rowing Club.

The Hunyani crew averaged 8 lb . per man heavier than Zambezi, whose 10 st . 9 lb. was the lightest average .for a male crew in the regatta.

Hunyani were off to a very fast start, and were a canvas tip after the first few, strokes but Pringle settled down to a -very steady strike and the boats were level after the first ten strokes.

Zambezi were a canvas up at the end of the first minute, rowing strongly and steadily at 33 to the minute, whilst Hunyani were striking at 29 . The home crew continued to draw away steadily and were two lengths to the good with 1/4 miles to go.

Christie, the Hunyani stroke, made half-minute a final effort in the last and increased the strike considerably. The lead was reduced to less than a length, but at this stage there was little doubt that Zambezi would be comfortable winners.

The speedboating was the first of its kind on the Zambezi.

A crowd conservatively estimated at nine thousand (over two thousand adults paid for admission and children, Africans and some three hundred guests were admitted free) lined the north bank of the Zambezi on Sunday to watch the most thrilling spectacle of sport Livingstone has ever seen. From first light until nearly dusk the river reverberated with the noise of powerful motors as South Africa’s finest speedboat pilots and fastest craft competed in race after race on a one-mile circuit marked out by four-buoys.

Heroine of the day and winner of the trophy for the highest number of points scored was Mrs Phyllis Makepeace of East London in her outboard hydroplane. This capable woman pilot, travelling down straights at over a mile a minute, secured one first, three seconds and one third in five appearances on the river...

The one spill of the day occurred in the ‘E’ Class Victoria Falls Championship when Tommy Durand over-turned ‘Miss Mavis’ on rounding the buoy at high speed opposite the Boat Club. A rescue launch was on the spot within a matter of seconds and Tommy was picked up little the worse for wear.

His boat sank almost immediately, however, and it was some time before volunteer divers were able to secure ropes and haul it sufficiently near the surface to be towed to the jetty. The fact that he was able to report less than two hours later that the engine was in action again was proof of the amazing versatility of these pilot-mechanics and the toughness of their craft...

Mrs Makepeace’s performance was superb. Entering every race for which he was qualified, she was consistently amongst the winners and hurled her beautifully-tuned outboard around the buoys with the cool precision of a veteran. Her duels with Felix Du Plessis in a boat of similar size and power were amongst the most exciting spots on a programme filled with excitement.

The event was a resounding success:

One of the greatest compliments which could have been paid to the organising committee of the Zambezi Regatta was made by Mr . H. J. McJannet, president of the South African Amateur Rowing Union in the course of a speech at the presentation of rowing prizes on Saturday afternoon.

"In fifty years of rowing experience, which has taken me to regattas in almost every country in the world," he said, "I have not had the pleasure of seeing a better organised regatta or one that has not only been right up to time all the time but in several cases even before time."

Mr. McJannet thanked the committee on behalf of the South African oarsmen who had competed and said that every one of them had been overwhelmed by the generous hospitality accorded them . He had never seen a more pleasant stretch of water on which to hold a regatta.

His Excellency the Governor, Sir Gilbert Rennie, introducing the Hon, Betty Clay, who presented the prizes, said he hoped the event would be repeated in two years' time when Livingstone celebrates the Centenary of the discovery of the Victoria Falls.


The Zambezi International Regatta, 1950s.

...

The Livingstone Mail of Wednesday, 13 July, 1955, records the attendance of the Governor of Northern Rhodesia, Sir Arthur Benson, at the 1955 regatta. Witwatersrand University brought two 8 men hulls and raced against Leander Club.

Victoria Falls Trust

Another significant development on the northern bank was the formation of the Victoria Falls Trust, to oversee the preservation of the physical environment of the Falls from ecological damage and to encourage tourism, on 15th March 1954. Members were from the Livingstone community and appointed by the Governor of Northern Rhodesia.

The wider area was de-gazetted as a National Monument but several smaller archaeological sites within the reserve were declared as National Monuments. The Historic Monument Commission continued to oversee the conservation and management of the Falls whilst the Trust concentrated on tourism management.

The work of the Trust included overseeing the development and management of Rest Camp and Camping Site tourism facilities on the site close to the river above the Falls, which now offered 36 self-catering chalets for visitors.

“The Rest Huts in this Camp are equipped with electric light and adequate furniture, with separate bathrooms and outside fireplaces for cooking. Accommodation costs 3s per person per day (children under 12, 1s 6d) but tenants are expected to supply their own food and cooking utensils. Bedding is supplied, if required, at an extra charge of 2s 6d for the first night and 1s per night thereafter. A tearoom which is open until 10 pm where full meals are served and tinned goods stocked, is situated near the camp. It is advisable to book bungalows in advance, especially from May to August and over the Easter, Christmas and Rhodes and Founders holiday periods.” (Southern Rhodesia Public Relations Department, c1955)

In addition the Trust oversaw the development of tourism attractions such as the Maramba Cultural Village and the Livingstone Zoological Park (later the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park), opened in 1955. The period saw rising tourism arrivals to the region, with 43,000 arrivals recorded for Livingstone in 1955 and over 47,000 in 1956, a fifty percent increase since 1953 (Economic Survey of Livingstone, 1957).

Livingstone Centenary

On 16 November 1955, a ceremony was held to commemorate the centenary of Dr David Livingstone’s first arrival at the Falls. In attendance at the ceremony and staying at the Falls Hotel was Dr Hubert Wilson, Livingstone’s grandson, and Miss Dianna Livingstone-Bruce, his great grand-daughter.

A second plaque was unveiled at the Livingstone Statue on the southern bank by Lord Llewellin, Governor-General of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. The dedication read:

“On the occasion of the centenary of David Livingstone’s discovery of the Victoria Falls men and women of all races in, and from all parts of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland assembled solemnly to dedicate themselves and their country to carry on the high Christian aims and ideals which inspired David Livingstone in his mission here.

“Unveiled by his Excellency the right honourable the Lord Llewellin, GBE, MC, TD, DL Governor-General of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland and dedicated by his grace the Lord Archbishop of Central Africa, Edward Frances Paget, on 16 November 1955.”

Boat trips to Livingstone Island took guests to the very spot where Livingstone first saw the Falls, and some still claimed to know the tree upon which he carved his initials.

“The African paddlers will point out to you a towering tree round which has been placed a circle of stones and will tell you this is the tree on which the famous explorer cut his initials, but there is now no proof that this is so and searches by the Museum authorities and others have so far failed to reveal a tree still bearing the initials.” (Woods, 1960)

The disputed ‘Livingstone Tree’ was still standing into the mid-sixties, and even featured in a BBC television series on the Zambezi made in 1965 by a young natural history presenter, David Attenborough (later Sir David). Another ‘Livingstone Tree,’ located upstream at Sesheke, and under which Livingstone camped, had blown down in storms the previous year (Attenborough, 1965).

External Link: Pathe News Report - Centenary of Livingstone's Discovery of the Victoria Falls.

External Link: Pathe News Report - Centenary of Livingstone's Discovery of the Victoria Falls (spare footage).

The Falls in the Fifties

Federation tourism brochures celebrated that one hundred years after Livingstone first reached the Falls tourists could still witness them unspoilt in their full natural splendour, promoting the Falls as the ‘greatest river wonder of the world.’

“When you see the Victoria Falls today you see them as Dr Livingstone first saw them on November 16, 1855. With the exception of the great rail and road cantilever bridge which links Southern and Northern Rhodesia, nothing has been added to or taken from Nature.”

Viewing the Falls

The extensive commercial development of the Falls envisaged by Leopold Moore fifty years earlier in the pages of the 1907 Christmas issue of the Livingstone Mail were thankfully still unrealised fantasies - although it could be argued he painted a realistic picture of the Falls today, over a hundred years later. A small visitor information centre was developed at the entrance to the Falls on the south bank, curiously showcasing the construction of the Kariba Dam. A chain-assisted path (known as the Chain Walk) descended down the western end into the gorge, enabling the visitor to experience the power of Devil’s Cataract. Above the Falls a canoe could be taken to Cataract Island, for the fee of one shilling, return.

“When you wish to return to the mainland go back to the landing stage where a rail will be seen hanging from a tree near the water. Striking this several times will call the canoe boys.”

Or the visitor could walk further along the riverbank to the Hotel Boat House, where tea was served on the banks of the Zambezi. Back at the Hotel scenic flights over the Falls could be booked for the price of 25 shillings.

“To see the Falls in proper relation to the river and surrounding country, see them from the air. For a charge of 25s you are assured of 20 minutes of glorious views. Not only is the river very picturesque but the Gorges are seen at their best from the air.”

Tea by the riverside, with uninvited guest

Whilst the period saw declining numbers arriving at the Falls by rail, there were growing overall visitor totals to the Falls Hotel with numbers boosted by increasing aviation arrivals. In 1957 the Hotel recorded over 21,000 visitors, staying an average of just over two nights, at the time a record for the Hotel.

Trolley Service Terminated

The growth of motorised transport and development of local road infrastructure paved the way for a more flexible method of local transportation for visitors around the Falls and the local trolley system was eventually decommissioned.

“In 1957, the Southern Rhodesia Government built a road to the Boat House, and in December of that year the hotel replaced the hand-pushed trolley by a service of nine-seat minibuses.” (Price, 1966)

Hotel trolley service

Under the shade of the mango trees in the Falls Hotel courtyard stands a reminder of days past - one of the original trolleys used to transport guests to the Falls preserved and displayed, and offering a shady seat for quiet contemplation. A plaque records:

“The Victoria Falls Hotel trolley service, which operated from the Hotel to the Bridge and the Boat House, was introduced in 1920. Before this date the Hotel guests were conveyed to various points of interest by means of rickshaws. During their life the trolleys were used by some 2 million guests, and were replaced by motor coaches in December, 1957, after 37 years of romantic, yet reliable service.”

The decommissioned 45 lb (20.4 kg) rails were acquired by the Gwelo and District Light Railway Society and used to build a short two kilometre local track.

Falls in Flood

In 1957 and 1958, during the construction of the Kariba Dam, the Zambezi experienced unprecedented seasonal floods. In March 1957 the rising waters flooded part of the Power Station in the Gorge.

“In 1957, however, the river rose higher than ever known before and reached, on the surge, a height of about 11 feet above the level of the floor of the power station. All the windows by that time had been bricked in and practically all the main doorway was bricked in and reinforced with sandbags. No one knew how long the building could withstand the tremendous buffeting of the high waves of the Zambezi in spate and the power station staff with pumps going night and day cleared the building of water as it seeped in through many places in the walls. Access was gained by a temporary bridge of two steel pipes which swayed and swung as the mighty surges of water swept around the building like gigantic rollers on the sea shore.

A protecting wall was constructed against a possible repetition but was still incomplete when the 1958 floods came, and the station was again seriously flooded.

“Profiting by the experience gained during this drama of man against nature, protective measures were taken and a reinforced concrete wall set in 2-3 feet of solid rock now surrounds the building to a height of 20 feet above the floor level inside. An access bridge on concrete pillars now leads to an emergency doorway and the main entrance has been fitted with watertight doors... Again the Zambezi turned to fury in February and March 1958 and rose to an unprecedented high level, surging up to 15 feet above the level of the floor inside the building with occasional waves splashing over the roof on the down-stream side. The power station staff were, however, the victors once again and marked yet another score against the Zambezi on the painted post at the side of the main entrance marking the highest levels reached by the turbulent water... It is estimated that with the heavy concrete protection now completed the building can withstand a river level of up to 10 inches more than the 1958 record flood.” (Woods, 1960)

Above the Falls on the northern bank of the Zambezi a stone monument erected by the National Monuments Commission marks the highest recorded level of the Zambezi in March 1958. On the south bank the barrel boom below the Hotel landing stage, installed to reassure passengers and act as a safety barrier in event of mechanical problems, was washed away in the floods (Woods, 1960).

The Kariba hydro-electric dam was constructed between 1955 and 1959 at a cost of $135 million, creating the largest man-made lake (by volume) in the world - holding an estimated capacity of 180.6 cubic kilometres of water - a title it still holds to this day. The formation of the lake displaced an estimated 57,000 Tonga people living along both sides of the river valley.

Millionaire’s Playground?

In November 1957 the Northern Rhodesia Government invited bids for the lease of a site above the Falls for a new Hotel development, almost ten years after initially identifying the land for investors. In 1962 it was reported that an American investor, Mr Rendell Mabey (an ex-Senator and president of the Utah Industries Corporation), had been found for the development.

“The Northern Rhodesia Government has approved plans for the building of a luxury hotel-casino on a 35-acre site close to the eastern cataract of the Victoria Falls in Northern Rhodesia. The total cost of the development, including furnishings, will be nearly £1,500,000. Approval was given after the Government had consulted the Victoria Fall Trust and the Commission for the Preservation of Natural and Historical Monuments and Relics. Building is expected to begin next year and hotel will open in 1965.” (Northern News, April 1962)

Controversially the original plans for the 200-bedroom air-conditioned luxury hotel detailed a ten-storey building with rooftop gardens overlooking the Falls, described as ‘millionaire’s playground’ and ‘the lap of luxury.’

At the same time the Railway Company was considering the possible sale of the Falls Hotel on the southern bank. News of the potential sale of the Hotel, now regarded a ‘national asset,’ reached the national press in April 1958, with the Minister of Transport confirming to the Bulawayo Chronicle that disposal of the Hotel was being considered whilst denying that a deal had already been done with an American financier. A South African millionaire with American business interests, Mr Schlesinger, was named in press reports at the time as looking to develop a ‘drink-and-gamble-round-the-clock hotel on the south or north bank of the river’ (Roberts, 2016).


Ripples at the Landing Stage

In the early 1960s the Falls Hotel had looked at expanding its development at the landing stage. The site, a short distance upstream from the Falls along what is now known as Zambezi Drive, was leased from the government. Over the years the landing stage facilities had developed to include a boat shed, launch slipway and an open-air tearoom for waiting passengers, serving ‘the best tea and cream buns in the Falls.’ The Hotel management even considered expanding this into a fully-fledged restaurant with car-parking facilities. An internal Hotel report in 1963 concluded:

“After considering very carefully the provision of a restaurant at the boat house on the south bank of the Zambezi it was decided, that in view of the shortage of capital funds together with the fact that we were only able to obtain a very restricted liquor licence, the project should be abandoned.” (Rhodesia Railways correspondence, 26 March 1963).

Hotel management committee reports recorded that numerous delays were encountered in negotiations over the potential sublease of the landing stage site, and that during these delays, the launches and boat house were totally destroyed by a freak fire. Documents do not detail the cause of the fire and the site was abandoned. The Railway Company duly terminated the leases, held on behalf of the Hotel, for the landing stage site and also the picnic-site on Kandahar Island, bringing to an end the Hotel’s long association operating river launches and tours.

Requiring an immediate replacement for their launch services, the Hotel management turned to Livingstone based Greenway Launches & Taxi Services, operated by Mr A S Sussens from the north bank, the only operator with the capacity to deliver an adequate service for the Hotel. Whilst appreciating Mr Sussens cooperation in ensuring that the Hotel suffered no disruption to its launch services for its guests, the Hotel Management initially decided it unwise to pass all their clientele to a single operator, preferring to share their business among two or more companies and encourage some healthy competition.

In 1964 the Hotel’s transport and booking desk services were contracted to the United Touring Company, who were to manage and operate the Hotel’s river cruises and local tours for many years. The old crossing site originally established by Geise was abandoned, and new jetty sites developed further upstream.

Rail Replaced

In 1962 the Falls were visited by a party of American and Canadian tourists on a luxury world cruise, travelling to the Cape on the S.S. Brasil. Instead of travelling by train to the Falls, the group toured South Africa before flying to the Falls via Livingstone, reflecting shifting travel preferences as aviation arrivals overtook those travelling to the Falls by train.

“The passengers left the ship at Cape Town, and after touring the Republic they flew by charter ‘plane to Livingstone. One party arrived on the Wednesday morning and left again on Thursday afternoon ..., while the other party arrived on the Friday afternoon and left the next morning.”

“Many of them had recently visited the Iguaçu [Iguazú] Falls in South America, and they said that although these falls could boast greater volume of water, they were not so impressive as the Victoria Falls.”

“Mrs Bernice Lynn, of Los Angeles, California, said that although her friends had often told her about the Victoria Falls, no one had told that there was a first-class hotel right on the spot. “Now I am going to tell all my friends what a fine hotel you have here”, she said. “It is unique; it is well managed, clean and the food is excellent. As a rule when one goes to see a natural wonder like the falls, the hotels do not bother too much about tourists. Mr William Schaff, of New Jersey, said that the Falls Hotel could compare very favourably with most of the hotels in the United States.” (Rhodesia Railway Magazine, July 1962)

In response to an increasingly diverse tourism travel sector the Railway Company introduced Rainbow Tours in 1962, special packaged holiday deals including rail and accommodation at the Falls Hotel.

“The colonial-style Victoria Falls Hotel, with its 120 bedrooms, also has a bank, hairdressing salons and shops, as well as a conference room. The national airline and United Touring Company (offering cars for hire) have their offices here. The hotel is famous for its multi-course table d’hoite menu. Many visitors come by rail, and there are all-exclusive Rainbow tours (by rail) from all centres in Rhodesia.” (Rhodesian National Tourism Board, 1967)

The 1962 census recorded the population of the small town as 1,601 (CSO, 1964). In an effort to attract arrivals, Livingstone Station was rebuilt and reopened in 1962 at a cost of £72,000 (Rhodesia Railways Magazine, May 1962).

Federation Folly

Increasing African nationalism, particularly in Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland, persuaded Britain to agree to the organised dissolution of the failing Federation. The ‘break-up’ negotiations, known as the Central Africa Conference, and involving delegates from five governments, were hosted in the Pullman Suite at the Falls Hotel over several days in July 1963. The Federation was officially dissolved on the 31st December 1963. Northern Rhodesia was granted independence on 24th October 1964, becoming the Republic of Zambia. Earlier in the same year Nyasaland also gained independence as the Republic of Malawi.

Whilst the period of the Federation saw increased integration of tourism operations from opposite sides of the river, the break-up saw division with border control facilities developed on the southern bank in 1963 and on the northern bank soon after. Despite the inconvenience of passports and paperwork, however, Livingstone residents still regularly patronised the Falls Hotel for social events.

“It was a bumper New Year’s Eve at the Victoria Falls Hotel when some 650 people thronged the main lounge and verandas to see the Old Year out and the New Year in. Customs barriers certainly did not seem to have deterred the many merrymakers who had come over from Livingstone for celebrations.

The enquiry counter in the foyer of the Victoria Falls Hotel has been taken over by the United Touring Company which has acquired one of the two tourist and safari businesses in Livingstone...

A new band is now in attendance at the hotel and is proving very popular. Known as the ‘Rainbow Trio’, it was started by Mr Bob Webb, who was transferred to Livingstone some four months ago.” (Rhodesia Railway Magazine, Jan 1965)

Following the dissolution of the Federation, Central African Airways was divided into the national carriers of Zambia Airways, Air Malawi and Air Rhodesia.

Livingstone on the Offensive

A June 1965 press release from the Zambia Information Department outlined another determined push to develop tourism in Livingstone.

“The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, in close co-operation with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Victoria Falls Trust, are going on to the offensive in their efforts to develop the Victoria Falls Trust Area and build up the tourist industry in competition with Rhodesia. To this end active steps are being taken to include in the proposed Four Year Development Plan extensive and co-ordinated projects to provide considerably greater facilities for tourists in the Falls area. At the same time, as the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources – Mr Kalulu – told a meeting of the Victoria Falls Trust in Livingstone last month, “We must beware of the general mania for development of this area which would be at the expense of the natural beauty of the Victoria Falls Trust region.”

”..He suggested that to most people development meant putting up wonderful buildings near and around the Falls, and said that it would be a sad thing if such a policy was implemented without discretion because once we lost our natural heritage it would be impossible to regain it… However, he was convinced that these matters need not militate against each other if properly planned and executed.” (Zambia Information Services Press Release, June 1965)

With independence the National Museums Board was created in 1966 and the Rhodes-Livingstone Museum renamed the Livingstone Museum.

Falls Floodlighting

In 1965 a controversial experiment was held with floodlighting of the Falls from the northern bank.

“The floodlighting of the Eastern Cataract of the Victoria Falls is proving a great attraction to residents and visitors alike, for a strange new beauty is being revealed in the delicately tinted rainbows which the floodlights throw into the heavy spray... People who wondered whether artificial light would produce the lunar rainbows for which the falls are famous have been agreeably surprised, and since the lights were first switched on it is estimated that some thousands of people have made the nightly pilgrimage to view the fascinating spectacle.” (Rhodesia Railway Magazine, Feb 1965, p23)

The experiment was, however, suspended soon after and the Falls returned to their natural nocturnal aspect. Woods, writing five years earlier in 1960, summarised the unspoilt magic of the Falls:

“The great appeal of the Victoria Falls is its unspoilt beauty and natural surroundings. There are no peanut vendors, no grim rows of iron railings, no artificial floodlighting and no toll gates.” (Woods, 1960)

Polarising Politics

The momentum for independent majority rule in Southern Rhodesia was growing. Against rising calls for democratic rule, however, the white-minority government under Ian Smith made its Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) from Britain on 11th November 1965. Smith made the announcement after days of tense negotiations with British Prime Minister Harold Wilson, who was only prepared to permit Rhodesian independence on the basis of giving the black majority population a fair share of power. The British Government, Commonwealth, and United Nations condemned the declaration as illegal, leaving Rhodesia unrecognised by the international community. Economic sanctions, the first in the UN’s history, were imposed on the breakaway colony. The Zambian customs and immigration post was built on the north bank soon after the declaration.

“On the north bank, the area immediately before the approach of the bridge was cleared. It had a magnificent view down to the Boiling Pot and across the Knife Edge, and became known as ‘scandal alley’: Livingstone residents would go down there on Sunday afternoons to drink and revel in the week’s gossip. The Zambian customs and immigration post was built on the... site soon after Ian Smith’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence from Britain in 1965.” (Teede and Teede, 1994)

Strict visa regulations introduced by the Zambian immigration department in 1966 negatively affected tourism, with it being recorded that tourist arrivals declined by 18 percent in 1966 (Moonga 1999).

Next page: Planes, Trains and Automobiles

References

Attenborough, D. (1965) Zambezi: A Journey. Episode 3: Livingstone’s River. British Broadcasting Corporation television film documentary.

Economic Survey of Livingstone (1957) Rhodesia and Nyasaland Prime Minister’s Department.

Northern News (1962) Victoria Falls Hotel Casino Approved. 13 April 1962.

Price, J. H. (1966) Behind the Headlines. Modern Tramway and Light Railway Review. Vol.29 No.338 p.48-49.

Rhodesia Railways (March 1963) Memo from General Manager, The Victoria Falls Hotel: Progress Report. 26 March 1963. [BRMA, unpublished]

Rhodesia Railways Magazine (May 1962) Livingstone - A New Station. Vol.11 No.1, p.13 [BRMA]

Rhodesia Railways Magazine (July 1962) Luxury Cruise Tourists Visit The Falls. Vol.11 No.3, p.19 [BRMA]

Rhodesia Railways Magazine (January 1965) District notes, Victoria Falls, Vol.13 No.9, p.44. [BRMA]

Rhodesia Railways Magazine (February 1965) District notes, Victoria Falls, Vol.13 No.10, p.41. [BRMA]

Southern Rhodesia Public Relations Department (c1955) Victoria Falls, Greatest River Wonder of the World. Public Relations Department of Southern Rhodesia.

Teede, J & Teede, F (1994) African Thunder - The Victoria Falls Tutorial Press Ltd, Zimbabwe

Woods, Jonah (1960) Guide book to the Victoria Falls, S. Manning.

Zambia Information Services (1965) Press Release, June 1965.

Further Reading

Roberts, P. (2021) Footsteps Through Time - A History of Travel and Tourism to the Victoria Falls. Zambezi Book Company.

Footsteps Through Time - A History of Travel and Tourism to the Victoria Falls


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Discover the Victoria Falls with the Zambezi Book Company

'To The Victoria Falls' aims to bring you the wonder of the Victoria Falls through a look at its natural and human history.

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