An obelisk commemorating David Livingstone’s heart, buried in Africa
The renowned British explorer David Livingstone died in Zambia in 1873 while attempting to map the rivers and waterways of the Bangweulu Wetlands.
His loyal attendants and local guides, Susi and Chuma, wished to return his body to Britain. To preserve it for the long journey, they removed his heart, treated the body with salt and left it to dry in the sun for fourteen days before carrying it more than 1,500 kilometres to the coast. From there, Livingstone’s remains were transported to the United Kingdom and laid to rest in Westminster Abbey in London.
His heart, however, remained in Africa. It was buried near the Bangweulu Wetlands beneath a tree marked with an inscription identifying the site. When the tree was cut down in 1899, the carved inscription was taken to the Royal Geographical Society in London. A memorial was later erected on the site, featuring a commemorative obelisk that continues to honour Livingstone’s legacy and his enduring connection to Africa.