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Nineteenth-century European explorers loved to say that they "discovered" stuff in Africa. [Explorer discovering in Africa]

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We can’t really blame them.

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It sounds way cooler to say you found a huge canyon previously unknown to mankind…

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Than to say you visited a canyon where Tuareg traders regularly let their camels take a [Explorer discovering a canyon and Tuareg trader appears]

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dump.

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So it’s no big surprise that when the most famous African explorer, Dr. David Livingstone,

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gave Victoria Falls its name… [Dr Livingstone by Victoria Falls]

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He didn’t mention that the natives already had one for it: Mosi-oa-Tunya

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or "The Smoke that Thunders.”

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Sorry, Dr. L, the natives obviously have one up on you when it comes to naming things.

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"The Smoke that Thunders" is a spot-on description of the world's longest curtain of falling [Dr Livingstone using a measuring tape]

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water.

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Eat your heart out, Niagara!

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The gorge that causes the falls was formed by the Zambezi River on the border of Zimbabwe

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and Zambia.

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Geez.

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Talk about a bunch of “Z” hogs. [Man dressed in black clothing with a cape]

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The falls are so gigantic that they create their own unique ecosystem… [Animals surrounding the Falls]

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…and four endangered bird species call them home sweet home.

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Today, the falls are thought of as a Natural Wonder of the World and have been designated

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a UNESCO World Heritage site. [Victoria Falls stamped with UNESCO stamp]

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Not too shabby.

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One of Africa’s most visited sites, the falls are also a must-visit destination for

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thrill-seekers, who like to bungee jump from the bridge.

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Kinda hardcore.

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Even Livingstone wasn’t that brave. [Man falling from Victoria Falls]

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And this was a guy who didn’t stop exploring Africa, even after a lion mangled his arm.

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Actually that’s…probably more impressive than bungee jumping. [Lion eating Dr Livingstone's arm]

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Okay, so maybe we were being too hard on Livingstone.

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After all, he was one of the first Europeans to expose the horrible toll that slavery had

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taken on Africa.

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And even though he took it upon himself to name falls that already had a perfectly good [Livingstone declaring his love for Victoria Falls]

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name, his narrative describing them is still pretty awe-inspiring.

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When he describes the scene as "gazed upon by angels in their flight," we can’t help

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but get the goose-pimply feeling of someone seeing an African marvel for the first time. [Dr Livingstone looking at the Victoria Falls and angel appears]

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So remember…next time you’re on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia, don’t forget to

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ask directions to “The Smoke that Thunders.”

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And if you’re asking a non-African, make sure they don’t think you’re asking them [Livingstone stood in a kitchen and microwave explodes]

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to show you what happens when you put a fork in the microwave…

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