Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe: Livingstone Statue

There's a bit of a walk from the main gate to Victoria Falls, and it goes through a dense rain forest. Before seeing the actual water passing over the rocks, though, most tourists notice a statue close to the edge. It is indeed David Livingstone, missionary and explorer. The statue comes with a short explanation of his exploits in the region. 

Livingstone turned up here in 1855, and wrote down his thoughts upon seeing the waterfall for the first time. He even named the falls after Queen Victoria, the boss back home. He wasn't the first person to see the falls, of course. Nowadays, we'd say it takes a little nerve to claim the naming rights like that - for reference, see Mount McKinley in Alaska. But the name has lasted.  

There are those in Zimbabwe who aren't thrilled about such a large reminder of the colonial days involving Great Britain. Zambia was willing to take the statue off Zimbabwe's hands. But inertia is a powerful force of nature, and the object remains in place a handful of feet from the water.