Famous Explorers of Africa
Mungo Park was a Scottish explorer who led one of the first expeditions to investigate
the course of the Niger river in Western Africa. Mungo Park was a 23 year-old scottish
surgeon surgeon who had just returned from a journey to Sumatra on a ship of the East
India Company. There he had discovered 6 species of fish, he had published descriptions in
a Scientific Journal. In 1795, Park had gone to Piscina, on an offer to research further
into Africa. Park had accepted and a severe fever overcame him during his journey. Park
also had been captured by certain muslim leaders. After he had got out of the Prison he
had wandered around and had finally found the Niger River. Park was amazed at how
beautiful the River was. Park had stated "I saw with infinite pleasure, the object of
my, mission". Park had returned home to London where became famous on his
publications of his voyage across Africa.
Later in 1806 he sailed downstream to the Bussa rapids, where he drowned, trying to
escape an attack by the Africans.
Rene Callie was a 27 year old man who was fascinated by the stories told about peoples
travels to Africa. His readings of Mungo park also stimulated his fascination. Callie had
entered a contest for the first person to reach Timbuktu and reach back. He had reached
Timbuktu. During Callie's trip he did not find it easy to prove to the French Authorities
that a young man with no experience could discover Timbuktu. On his way back Callie had
joined a Arab Caravan preparing to cross from Western Sahara to Morocco. Callie had stated
"I am the first European to cross from the sandy ocean from the south to the
north". On his return to Paris, Callie was known as a hero. Later, questions were
asked if he was telling the truth or not.
Johann Rebmann
Johann Rebmann was a German missionary, who was not like Mungo Park or Rene Callie. The
purpose of Rebmann's explorations is to find a place where he might serve God. His most
helpful weapon was a umbrella, which he used to fight off lions and would be attackers.
Rebmann was the european explorer who kept a careful record of his journey. Together with
his partner he paved the way for later explorers. Rebmann had found the Mount Kilimanjaro
which was located in Tanzania. His missionary work was more difficult than his exploration
efforts.
David Livingstone
David Livingstone was a scotsman who also was intrigued by the mysteries of vast
unexplored areas of South Africa. He as Johann Rebmann was also a missionary. ivingstone
started working at a mission in sotho and had also left because of dissagreements with the
boers. In 1849 Livingstone had gone with 2 game hunters to be an interpreter for an
expedition northward. They had gone north to Lake Ngami in Botswana but they could not go
further because of Livingstone's families' sickness at the time. After about a year
Livingstone resumed his explorations.
Livingstone had heard tales of the rushing waters of the Zambezi River. He wanted to
know the source of this River. Livingstone had to return to England for his families
safety and when he returned his mission was destroyed by boers. Livingstone was ill and
tired but he kept on his journey. In 1855 Livingstone had gone about two thousand miles
when he reached the Victoria Falls. Livingstone had returned to Engaland in 1856. In 1862
Livingstone had returned to Central Africa with a backing of the British Government. He
was on his journey and he become sick and was in a African hut for 6 months. Livingstone
had been in Central Africa for 8 years and the outside world had little information of his
health and his whereabouts.
In 1871 Henry Stanley a 28 year-old foreign correspondent had heard rumors that a white
man was living at the Village of Ujiji near lake Tanganika. On November 10,1871 Stanley
entered the village and there he found the sick Livingstone. Stanley had brought the
correct medical supplies to let Livingstone recover. In 1872 both Stanley and Livingstone
had gone to explore lakes and rivers of Central Africa. Livingstone had died and was
remembered as a hero for his explorations in Central Africa.
Stanley had then left Livingstone to research further. Speke finds Lake Victoria and
names it after the Queen of England.
Richard Burton
Richard Burton was one of the most famous explorers in Africa . Burton's Life story is
filled with adventure. In 1853 Burton was disguised as a Moslem he made dangerous
pilgrimages to Mecca. In 1854 he went to Harar in Ethiopia where capture meant death.
Burton and his companion John Speke were the first Europeans to visit Somalialand. In
1856, again with John Speke, Burton returned to East Africa to look for the source of the
Nile River. The trip was dangerous from Zanzibar. In 1858 they came upon Lake Tanganika
but it wasn't the source of the NIle either. Burton returned home. But Speake had gone
with James Grant to find the source of the Nile. Six months later they saw a lake as large
as a sea. Then they were convinced that Victoria Lake was the source of the Nile River.
John Speke had received most of the glory for his works on the exploration the source
of the Nile. In 1860 James Speke and James Grant had gone for further research of the
Nile. On this Expedition Speke reported of how the kingdoms along the Nile. Speke had said
"I saw that old father Nile without any doubt rises in the Victoria Lake , and as I
foretold, that the Nile is the great source of the holy river which cradled the first
exfounder [moses] of our religious belief".
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