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.



Clark’s Guide to the Falls

Percy Clark soon published his own (sadly undated) guidebook to the Victoria Falls, the earliest (second) edition available to the author dating from soon after the 1910 visit of the Duke and Duchess of Connaught. Clark’s guide, priced one shilling, offered local information, a selection of his own photographs and a guide to various walks available to the visitor over a suggested three day itinerary.

“The Native name of ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ (which means ‘The Smoke which Sounds’) is most appropriate, for the huge column of spray has been distinctly seen at a distance of 28 miles [45 km] from the Falls; and the roar heard 16 miles [35 km] away.” (Clark, c1911)

Percy Clark's Guide to the Victoria Falls
Percy Clark's Guide to the Victoria Falls

Among the features of the Falls, Danger Point and the Boiling Pot are now both named. Clark himself named a local kopje after the Native Commissioner, Andrew Dale.

“Andrew Dale’s district was a large one, but very sparsely populated. The natives trusted him and came to him with their troubles. It was his custom to visit the Zambesi every second or third month; he did the journey on horseback, and habitually made his camp on a kopje only two miles [3 km] from the Victoria Falls. I have immortalized him by naming the kopje on which he used to camp ‘Dale’s Kopje’... Anyone who comes to see the Falls will find a visit to Dale’s Kopje well worth while. It gives a really magnificent view of the Zambesi, with its beautiful stretches of lake-like water and its islands studded with palms.” (Clark, 1936)

Clark also uses the guide to promote his own specialist services and those of the Falls Hotel, knowing that he would also see the benefits to his businesses:

“Amateur photographers can have their plates and films developed at the Falls. Every care is used in handling same. View albums, photographs, pictorial postcards, and enlargements of all kinds are kept in stock at the picturesque Huts opposite the Station. Visitors desiring to take longer time over the different trips than has been shown herein can easily do so by obtaining from the hotel, luncheon hampers for the day. Any enquiry at the hotel office will be answered if possible, and every assistance will be afforded to make the stay here as pleasant as possible.”

Clark refers to the near eradication of malaria and blackwater fever, and a rather ambitious scheme to introduce trout into the Zambezi above the Falls.

“Large and ever-increasing numbers of visitors journey to the Falls during the wet season, the bogey of fever having almost effectually been dispelled, in fact it is a most rare occurrence for an visitor to suffer from fever, and with proper safeguards, such as one would take in any portion of the world, there is no danger of illness to be feared.

“In addition to the fishing in the Gorge, there is a good sport to be had in the upper reaches of the River, and it will not be long ere followers of Isaak Walton will have their fill of enjoyment, as trout spawn is being put into the river, and should provide in course of a short time most excellent sport.” (Clark, c1911)

The scheme did not account for the highly predatory Zambezi tigerfish, native to the river, and which would have made this a rather short-lived introduction attempt.

Prior the 1910s there was still very little development on the southern bank, the main focus of the small settlement being the Hotel, Railway Station and Percy Clark’s Huts, all situated on a plot of land identified as the Railway Reserve. The Police Camp was located outside the Railway Reserve a short distance up the hill.

The limited water and electricity supply on the south bank may well have been significant in limiting its early expansion.

“A factor which may have restricted development in the township... [however] was the lack of piped water and electricity. Buildings outside the Railway Reserve had been dependent upon water obtained from a pump near the railway station and transported in drums by donkey cart.” (Heath, 1977)

Boats and Business

By 1910 the enterprising Percy Clark had been running a fleet of nine Canadian canoes on the river for some years. Guests could be paddled across to Cataract Island from the southern bank, and to Livingstone Island from the northern shore. In March 1911 Clark announced the arrival of his new motorised launch, called Inyandiza, which operated Sunday afternoon cruises from the old boathouse. All reservations were to be made by the Victoria Falls Hotel, to which Clark paid a percentage.

Iyandiza
Iyandiza

Clark advertised his river tours through his guide to the Falls:

A whole day should be devoted to a trip up the magnificent Zambesi River. The trip may be made in Canadian canoes, paddled by expert Native boys, or in a modern, roomy and comfortable motor launch. The river trip is one of some seven miles up the river, and above the Falls. Many picturesque islands are visited on the journey, the regatta course is negotiated, and ultimately Kandahar Island is reached, where a most enjoyable picnic can be held. After luncheon the return journey should be commenced, say at about 2.30 pm, and a break made upon one of the charming islands for tea. The return trip is perhaps the more pleasant, as one catches the gorgeous tints of the setting sun on the tree-topped islands with their wealth of palm trees and semi-tropical growths, and the multi-coloured tints of the spray from the Falls, as seen from behind.

Clark also promoted trips to the islands on the lip of the Falls:

From the middle of June until the end of December is it possible to visit Livingstone Island (originally named by David Livingstone ‘Garden Island’), the trip being made by canoe. The trees on which he carved his initials is still to be seen, and visitors should be careful not to mutilate it in any way. The whole of the Rainbow Fall is usually visible, and the view of the Main Fall is unique.

Recognising the business potential, the Victoria Falls Hotel soon made Clark an offer for his boating business, which he politely declined. They promptly bought their own motor-launch, and as nearly all the tourist visitors to the Falls stayed in the Hotel, captured the majority of his business. This was the beginning of the hotel's involvement in providing tourist activities and transport, and established the competitive nature of business in a developing tourism town.

Rickshaws and rail-trolleys

Clark claims to have brought the first rickshaws to the Falls - led by a young African guide and often followed by another to help push the rickshaw through the soft sands.

“I imported a few of those vehicles, the first to appear about the Falls, and they became very popular indeed. I made a charge of half a crown for two persons to go together by rickshaw to the Bridge or the Boathouse - a charge which I think was eminently reasonable.”

A few months after introducing the rickshaws, the Chief Clark of the Railway Company, Mr Lewis Thomas, summoned Clark to a meeting at the Hotel.

“‘Mr Clark,’ he said, ‘I have sent for you regarding the rickshaws. Your prices are much too high. One shilling would be enough to charge either to the boats or to the Bridge...’

“‘My price is half a crown,’ I said, ‘and what authority have you, in any case, for laying down the law to me?...’

“‘I have advertised the price as one shilling,’ he blustered, ‘and that is the price you are going to charge!’”

Clark refused, replying: “If you want to charge that price you had better buy the damned rickshaws!” A deal was promptly agreed.

“I quoted a price, and he accepted it... I was satisfied, but the manager of the Hotel wasn’t. He met me right afterwards and told me that I wouldn’t have got that price out of him. I told him I knew that, but that the rickshaws were worth the money.” (Clark, 1936)

The rickshaws proved hard work for the guides and uncomfortable for passengers, often becoming dragged down in the thick sand or jolted over rough ground. The Hotel also used several pony carts to convey guests around the Falls.

Rickshaw
Rickshaw at Victoria Falls

Always on the lookout for a new business opportunity, Percy Clark claims to have been the first to see the potential of a local rail transport system, along the lines of that already established in Livingstone, to take tourists from the Hotel to the river:

“I now got another idea of making money, and I took a trip home on the strength of it. My notion was to run a trolley-line down to the bridge and the landing-stage. I was very kindly received by the B.S.A.C. office in London, ...but after exhibiting details of my scheme I was told that the whole thing was in the province of the railway company... Then years went by, however, before the trolley-line came into being. I have always believed that I got the idea first, and believing that I think I ought to have shared the profit.” (Clark, 1936)

The local rail trolley system was finally developed by the Railway Company in 1920.

Next page: Zambezi International Regatta

Recommended Reading

Clark, P. M (1925) Guide to the Victoria Falls (Fifth Edition)

Clark, P. M. (1936) Autobiography of an Old Drifter. Harrap, London.

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.

This website has been developed using information researched from a wide variety of sources, including books, magazines and websites etc too numerous to mention or credit individually, although many key references are identified on our References page. Many of the images contained in this website have been sourced from old photographic postcards and publications and no infringement of copyright is intended. We warmly welcome any donations of photographs or information to this website.

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