Matabele land and the Victoria Falls

A remarkably honest travelogue unfolds as a recently unearthed journal of a mid‑century explorer who trekked the Zambezi’s wild banks before falling ill on his return. Because the notes were never meant for publication, the narrative bursts with immediacy—raw descriptions of thundering waters, the surrounding savanna, and encounters with peoples new to European eyes. The editor has kept the writer’s voice intact, letting the reader feel the same curiosity and occasional uncertainty the traveler himself experienced.

From the relentless roar of a great waterfall to the subtle habits of the region’s wildlife, the book blends vivid storytelling with meticulous natural‑history observations. Hand‑drawn sketches, taken beside the river and later reproduced, bring the landscape to life, while brief scientific commentary offers additional depth. For anyone fascinated by early African exploration, the work provides both a personal adventure and a valuable snapshot of a land on the cusp of change.