David Livingstone Tree
The David Livingstone Tree in Botswana is a historically significant landmark tied to the renowned Scottish missionary and explorer Dr. David Livingstone, who journeyed extensively through southern and central Africa in the 19th century.
Located in the village of Manyana, the tree – an ancient and massive Wild Fig, known locally in Setswana as Moumo – is widely referred to as Livingstone’s Tree. According to local accounts, Dr. Livingstone preached and provided medical care beneath its broad canopy. Believed to be the site where he addressed the local people during his travels in the 1840s or 1850s, the tree functioned as a natural gathering place – essentially an open-air church. Livingstone often utilized prominent natural features such as large trees or rocks for preaching, especially in communities without built churches. These sites later took on symbolic significance and are remembered as sacred or historic.
Dr. Livingstone first arrived in Bechuanaland (modern-day Botswana) in the early 1840s, working under the London Missionary Society. He collaborated with Sechele I, the Kgosi (chief) of the Bakwena people. His influence also extended indirectly to leaders like Khama III of Shoshong, a later Christian convert who became a prominent advocate of the faith. Today, the David Livingstone Tree remains a notable cultural and historical site, visited by both locals and tourists. While some reports suggest the tree may no longer be alive, its legacy endures as a powerful symbol of exploration, faith, and cultural exchange in southern Africa.
Physical Address:
Village Center
Manyana, Botswana
Tel: +267 391 3111/ 310 5601