American Tourist Identified After Body Recovered from Victoria Falls Gorge

Zambian police have identified an American tourist whose body was recovered from the Victoria Falls gorge (image source)

LIVINGSTONE — Zambian police have identified the body recovered from the Victoria Falls gorge as that of Christopher Gibbs, a 49-year-old American tourist who entered Zambia earlier this month.

Southern Province Police Commanding Officer Moono Namalongo said Gibbs entered the country through the Victoria Falls Border Post on 5 January 2026 and was later reported missing after failing to return to his accommodation. A coordinated search and recovery operation involving the Zambia Police Service, Zimbabwe Republic Police, the Zambia Army Marine Unit, the Zambia Air Force and the Livingstone City Council Fire Brigade was launched following the report.

The body was retrieved from a known danger point within the gorge after police divers undertook a hazardous descent using ropes. Once secured, the body was placed on a stretcher and hauled to the surface. Initial observations indicate injuries consistent with a fall from height. The remains have been taken to Batoka Mortuary at Livingstone University Teaching Hospital pending further forensic examinations.

Namalongo said investigations into the circumstances surrounding Gibbs’s death are ongoing. He conveyed condolences to the family and said further details would be released as they become available.

Gibbs entered Zambia through the Victoria Falls Border Post on January 5, 2026, and was reported missing by his Victoria Falls accommodation lodge after failing to return (image source)

Authorities have again urged tourists to exercise caution when visiting Victoria Falls, stressing the importance of remaining within designated viewing areas and observing safety guidelines. The terrain around the gorge is considered highly hazardous, particularly in areas not intended for public access.

The incident follows other isolated but serious tourist accidents in the Victoria Falls area in recent years. In November 2025, an American tourist drowned during a white-water rafting excursion on the Zambezi River below the falls, while in 2021 an Australian tourist went missing near Victoria Falls National Park, prompting an extensive search operation.

Tourism operators in the region said they would cooperate fully with investigators and reiterated the need for strict adherence to safety briefings by visitors. Community leaders and stakeholders also highlighted the risks faced by rescue teams operating in difficult terrain and called for continued investment in safety infrastructure, signage and visitor education.