Burton and Speke reach Lake Tanganyika (1858)

Richard Francis Burton and John Hanning Speke became the first Westerners to find Lake Tanganyika in 1858. Funded by the Royal Geographical Society, they traveled from Zanzibar to Ujiji along an established caravan route. The expedition arrived at the lake on 13 February 1858, marking a significant milestone in the exploration of Central Africa's lake regions.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. Burton and Speke were engaged by the Royal Geographical Society to explore the East African coast and discover the source of the Nile. In 1856, the Society funded another expedition for them to explore the unknown Lake regions of Central Africa. They planned to travel from Zanzibar to Ujiji along a caravan route established in 1825 by an Arab merchant.

Expedition. The Great Journey commenced on 5 June 1857 with their departure from Zanzibar. The caravan consisted of Baluchi mercenaries, porters, and a leader named Said bin Salim. They reached Kazeh on 7 November 1857 and departed for Ujiji on 14 December. Burton insisted on heading west, while Speke wanted to head north.

Arrival at Lake Tanganyika. The expedition arrived at Lake Tanganyika on 13 February 1858. Burton and Speke are recognized as the first known Westerners to find the lake. This discovery was part of their broader mission to explore the lake regions of Central Africa, though their subsequent paths diverged regarding the source of the Nile.

People involved

Sources

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