(Curatorial caption, accessed 23 November 2014)
Kirk was appointed to accompany Dr. David Livingstone on his 1858 Zambezi expedition. As well as an interest in botany, Kirk was also a keen photographer and took many photographs during the trip. Although Livingstone's brother, Charles, was the official photographer, according to Kirk, he made a mess of it. This photograph shows two thatched roof huts with a baobab tree in the background. Baobab trees can be important sources of shelter, clothing, food and water.