Exploring into Africa

Having explored the coastline of Africa they then began to explore the interior.
Mungo Park (1771-1806) was a Scottish explorer who in 1796 explored the upper Niger River. In his popular book he theorized that the Niger and Congo merged into one( (In 1830 it was proved they were 2 separate rivers.) . He was killed during his second exploration.

Bain Hugh Clapperton (1788-1827)and his servant Richard Lander set out with Walter Oudney from Tripoli in 1822 to see if the Niger passed through the Muslim Kingdom of Kanem-Bornu around Lake Chad. In Murzuk Major Dixon Denham found them in a wretched condition. Clapperton and Denham quickly disliked each other. The 3 eventually arrived at Kuka (now Kuawa in Nigeria)… They separated - Clapperton and Oudney to explore the course of the Niger, Denham to the rivers Waube, Logone and Shari. Oudney died in Murmur. Clapperton and Denham returned together to the UK.
In 1825 Clapperton returned with Lander but died. Lander then returned to UK, collected his brother John and returned. They were captured and held for ransom. Richard, as a slave, completed the journey to the mouth of the Niger!

James Bruce of Kinnard (1730-1794) was a Scottish traveller and travel writer who confirmed the source of the Blue Nile. In 1770 he was the first European to trace the origins of the blue Nile from Egypt and Sudan. He spent 12 years in North Africa and Ethiopia.

Auguste Rene Caillie (1799-1838) was a French explorer and the first European to return alive from the town of Timbuktu. May 1828 he crossed the Sahara with 1,400 camel caravan.

Johanna Heinrich Barth (1821-1865), a German scholar, is thought to be one of the greatest European explorers of Africa. He published a 5 volume account of travels in English and German which has been invaluable of his time and since.

Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821-1890) and John Hanning Speke (1827-1864) were set the task of finding the source of the River Nile.
Burton was famed for his travels and explorations and spoke 29 languages,
In 1858 they discovered Lake Tanganyika - the second largest lake in Africa. Speke headed north and in July 1858 discovered Lake Victoria. Speke was convinced others were not.
Speke with James Grant (1827-1892) set off in 1860. Speke in July 1862 found a waterfall on the northern end of the Lake Victoria -it led down to a river- this was the start of the Nile
Burton was not convinced so they agree to a debate. On the day of the debate, Speke accidentally killed himself with his gun.

David Livingstone (1813-1873) was first and foremost a doctor and missionary but also an explorer. ( See map journeys and separate try).

Henry Morton Stanley (1841-1904) was Welsh-American explorer, journalist, soldier.
Remembered for his search for David. Also for his search for the source of the Nile.

Mary Henrietta Kingsley (1862-1900) wrote 2 books which gained her respect and prestige with her peers.

Encyclopedia of Great Explorers