A Life of Exploration
David Livingstone, a Scottish explorer and missionary, spent years mapping Africa and searching for the source of the Nile. He battled disease, extreme conditions, and long periods of isolation while documenting the continent’s geography and cultures.
His Final Days in Zambia
By 1873, Livingstone was severely ill, suffering from malaria and dysentery. He was staying in Chief Chitambo’s village, in present-day Zambia. On May 1, his attendants, Susi and Chuma, found him kneeling by his bed, dead.
Burial in Two Places
His loyal African attendants decided his body should be sent back to Britain. They removed his heart and buried it under a tree, believing that his heart belonged in Africa. The tree’s bark was used to make a makeshift coffin for his body, which they carried over 1,000 miles (1,600 km) to the coast.
A Final Resting Place in Westminster Abbey
After months of travel, Livingstone’s remains arrived in Britain. He was buried with honors in Westminster Abbey on April 18, 1874. His heart, however, remained in Zambia, under a tree where a memorial stands today.
David Livingstone, the legendary Scottish explorer, gave his life to Africa. From mapping uncharted lands to battling disease, his journey was one of relentless determination. But his story didn’t end with his death—his heart stayed in Africa, literally…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/e7RJjxXSV7
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) March 18, 2025