Tourism and Environment

This is how the famous Victoria Falls Bridge came into being

Published

4 years ago

September 17, 2021

BY SIOBHAN DOLYE

Victoria Falls Bridge was the brainchild of British administrator and financier Cecil Rhodes, who envisioned a railway scheme the length of the African continent, from Cape Town, South Africa, to Cairo, Egypt.

The former governor of Rhodesia (today Zambia and Zimbabwe) reputedly instructed the bridge’s engineers to “build the bridge across the Zambezi where the trains as they pass will catch the spray from the Falls”.

Sadly, he never even got to visit the Falls and died before construction of the bridge began.

Set in a remote section of the African rainforest, the Victoria Falls span nearly a mile (1,708m) across the Zambezi River, which forms the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, before dropping over 100 metres into a deep gorge.

The bridge, built just downstream from the falls and supported by a parabolic arch spanning 156.5m, was fashioned from materials shipped on the rail line and transported across the gorge by cableway.

The design of what was originally referred to as the Zambezi Bridge is credited to British engineer George Hobson, and parts were built in Darlington by the Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Company and shipped to the Mozambique port of Beira for transport to the Falls.

Work started on the bridge in May 1904, and the concrete foundations were finally ready in October.

Meanwhile, the anchorages for sustaining the main span during its cantilever stage were prepared, and the building of the main bridge structure began on October 21.

The two side spans of the bridge, supported on the abutments and anchored to the rock behind by steel cables, were completed in late December 1904.

Engineers erected the main arch simultaneously from either side as two cantilevers, with the two arms anchored on either side by 12 high-tension steel wire hawsers running through galleries cut into the rock.

As the work was proceeding from the two sides of the gorge, the engineers took observations each day to see that the centre line of the bridge was maintained.

In April 1905, the engineers linked the bridge’s main arch together.

They said the calculations were so precise that chief construction engineer Georges C Imbault allowed for spray on the girders which would have slowed heat absorption and thus expansion of the metal.

The bridge took 14 months to complete and was officially opened by Professor Sir George Darwin, son of Charles Darwin and president of the British Association (now the British Science Association), on 12 September 1905.

Constructed from steel, the bridge is 198m long, with the main arch at a height of 128m above the lower water mark of the river in the gorge below. It carries a road, railway, and footway.

The bridge is the only rail link between Zambia and Zimbabwe and one of only three road links between the two countries.

The bridge did not bring the first train or the first railway to Zambia.

To push on with construction of the railway into Northern Rhodesia as fast as possible, Rhodes insisted the Livingstone to Kalomo line be laid before the bridge was finished.

Then a locomotive was conveyed in pieces across the gorge by the temporary electric cableway used to transport the bridge materials and nicknamed the ‘Blondin’ by the construction engineers.

The locomotive was re-assembled and entered service months before the bridge was complete.

For over 50 years, passenger trains crossed the bridge regularly as part of the principal route between the then Northern Rhodesia, southern Africa and Europe.

Freight trains carried mainly copper ore (later, copper ingots) and timber out of Northern Rhodesia, and coal into the country.

Today, one of the bridge’s main attractions is guided tours focusing on its construction, which include a walking tour under the main deck.

There is also an attraction called Shearwater that has a 111m bungee jump, including a bungee swing and zip-line.

Over the years, engineers and architects have praised Victoria Falls Bridge for its elegance of design and responsiveness to a natural setting and its practical application.

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, the bridge “embodies the best abilities of the engineer to enhance the beauty of nature, rather than detract from it”.

Timeline: Victoria Falls Bridge

November 1855: British explorer David Livingstone visits the Falls.

1899-1902: The survey of the bridge site is made during the Boer War.

May 1903: Contract is awarded to The Cleveland Bridge Company to construct and erect the Victoria Falls Bridge for £72,000.

Late 1903: Georges C Imbault, a young French engineer working with The Cleveland Bridge Company, is appointed as chief construction engineer on site.

2 September 1903: Bridge designers decide on the final location of the bridge, over the second gorge close to the Boiling Pot pool.May 1904 Construction on the site begins.

October 1904: Concrete foundations for the bridge completed.

21 October 1904: Building of the main bridge structure begins. The anchorages for sustaining the main span during its cantilever stage are prepared.

Late December 1904: Engineers complete two side spans of the bridge, supported on the abutments and anchored to the rock behind by steel cable.

1 April 1905: Main arch of bridge is linked.

1905: Bridge is completed.

1929: Bridge reconfigured. Its deck is widened by 13ft (4m) and raised by nearly 5ft (1.5m), to accommodate a single rail line, two vehicle lanes and two pedestrian walkways. – E&T

National

Tsholotsho to host national commemoration of International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction

Published

2 days ago

October 20, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Zimbabwe will on Thursday, this week, join the rest of the world in commemorating the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDR), with national events set to take place at Tshino Primary School in Ward 5, Tsholotsho District, along the Tsholotsho–Sipepa road.

The global day, observed annually, aims to promote a culture of disaster risk awareness and highlight efforts to reduce vulnerability and build resilience in communities.

Speaking to VicFallsLive, Civil Protection Unit Director Nathan Nkomo said this year’s commemoration holds special significance for Tsholotsho, a district that has long struggled with recurrent flooding.

“The whole issue is to reduce, not to increase the occurrence of disasters. And by commemorating, that’s where we share ideas with other people,” Nkomo said.

He noted that Tsholotsho’s selection as the national host was deliberate, following the successful relocation of families who were affected by flooding at the confluence of the Gwai and Shashani rivers.

“It’s not by accident that we are commemorating in Tsholotsho. We have built 305 houses for people who were affected in the Spepa area, and we will be celebrating in style because we have managed to relocate them,” he said.

“Now we no longer hear of people being flooded in Tsholotsho because of that relocation. So, we will be celebrating in style for Tshini and Sawudweni.”

The relocations, carried out under government’s disaster recovery and housing programs, have been hailed as a success story in proactive disaster risk management.

Looking ahead to the cyclone season, Nkomo said funding remains the major challenge in preparedness and response.

“We cannot preempt to say there are challenges yet, but historically, since we’ve dealt with COVID-19 and Cyclone Idai, the issue of funds has always been critical,” he said.

“This year, we are dealing with cyclones at a time when even our development partners have dwindling resources. So, funding will take centre stage in our deliberations, to see how best we can respond with the little we have. The whole idea, when you go to war, is not the question of numbers, but of strategy and how to win.”

The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is observed globally every October 13, but Zimbabwe’s national commemorations are being held later this year to align with local preparedness programs and community-based activities.

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ZimParks to host first-ever International Wildlife Conservation symposium

Published

5 days ago

October 17, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) will hold its inaugural International Wildlife Conservation Symposium under the theme “Wildlife Conservation and Sustainable Development.”

The two-day event, scheduled for October 22 to 23, next week, will take place at the Management Training Bureau in Msasa, Harare. It will bring together conservationists, researchers, policymakers, and students to discuss key issues around wildlife protection and sustainable development.

The symposium will focus on eight sub-themes, namely Wildlife Conservation and Transboundary Management, Freshwater, Fisheries and Aquatic Management, Sustainable Tourism and Socio-Economic Development, Human-Wildlife Interactions, Environmental Health and Safety, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, Community-Based Natural Resource Management, and Natural Resource Policy and Governance.

ZimParks says the symposium will provide a platform to exchange ideas and deepen understanding of the link between wildlife conservation and sustainable development. Members of the public, students, and professionals are encouraged to attend.

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591 rangers killed in Africa — New report warns of urgent need for Better Protection

Published

3 weeks ago

October 1, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

At least 591 rangers were killed in Africa between 2006 and 2021, making the continent the deadliest place in the world for those on the frontline of protecting wildlife. This stark statistic was revealed by conservation charity Tusk in a press statement issued to mark World Ranger Day, warning that without urgent reforms, more lives will be lost — and Africa’s biodiversity will pay the price.

“Being a ranger extends far beyond conservation. You are educators, community leaders, researchers, mentors and protectors of cultural and historical heritage, yet this remains one of the most dangerous jobs on Earth,” said Prince William, Tusk’s Royal Patron, in a video message to rangers.

Despite their sacrifices, fewer than 40% of rangers worldwide have access to life insurance, and only 63% receive basic medical services. Many are still underpaid, under-equipped, and exposed to deadly risks from armed poachers, human-wildlife conflict, and hazardous terrain.

Nick Bubb, CEO of Tusk, said: “Too many rangers risk their lives without even the most basic protection. If we are serious about delivering the global biodiversity targets, we must further professionalise the ranger role – with insurance, fair pay, and recognition – so that it becomes a career young Africans aspire to join.”

The White Paper, Protecting Rangers to Protect Nature, stresses that Africa currently has just 65,000 active rangers — far short of the 345,000 needed to meet international biodiversity targets, including the 30×30 goal to protect 30% of land and seas by 2030.

Louise de Bruin, CEO of the Game Rangers Association of Africa, added: “Our priority is to stand with rangers on the ground and support the organisations that employ them. The RWSI gives us a practical way to listen to rangers, assess their needs, and work alongside partners to improve welfare standards.”

The statement calls for governments, donors, and conservation organisations to embed reforms through the Ranger Welfare and Standards Initiative, launched last year. Measures include affordable insurance, professional training, fair pay, and continent-wide emergency systems to ensure no ranger is left vulnerable.

Senior ranger Benson Kanyembo from Zambia captured the human cost: “Ranger recruitment is low because the job, as it stands, is not attractive enough. Rangers face extreme personal risk while their families live one accident or illness away from destitution. This is not acceptable.”

The report concludes that protecting rangers is inseparable from protecting nature. Without them, Africa risks losing not only its iconic elephants, rhinos, and lions — but also the ecosystems that provide food, water, and livelihoods for millions.