Old Drift Cemetery

Is this where they once rested? Those early souls drawn to the majesty of Victoria Falls? It’s quiet now at the Old Drift Cemetery. Peaceful. But imagine the stories these weathered stones could tell. The Old Drift Cemetery, tucked away near the Zambezi River, whispers tales of Zambia’s colonial past. It’s a solemn reminder of the hardships faced by those early European settlers drawn to the allure of Africa. Malaria, a silent killer in those days, claimed many lives. Their final resting place became this very ground. Pioneers, missionaries, adventurers – their dreams cut short, their stories etched in stone. Look closely and you’ll see names like Georges Mercier, a missionary from Paris who succumbed in 1908. Or Samuel Thomas Alexander, who lived to the ripe old age of 68 – a triumph in those challenging times. He drew his last breath in 1904. It wasn’t all heartbreak and loss though. The Old Drift Cemetery also whispers of resilience, the enduring human spirit. It tells the story of a community finding its footing in a new land, a testament to their courage in the face of the unknown. The Old Drift Cemetery stands as a poignant reminder of those early days, their struggles and triumphs woven into the fabric of Livingstone’s history.