The nineteenth century was the age of great explorations of Africa when, one by one, the secrets of the Dark Continent were revealed. One of the mysteries that drove so many explorers to Africa was that which surrounded the source of the river Nile, probably the longest the river Nile, probably the longest river in the world, that flows for 6,690 kilometres through forests and deserts.
It was John Speke, a British explorer, who discovered the sources of the Nine. Speke was born in 1827 and served in the Indian army. He was thirsty when he made his great discovery.
Speke set out from Zanzibar accompanied by Richard Burton. The two men headed for central Africa by way of Lake Tanganyika. A few months later, in 1859, Speke arrived alone at a great lake which he named Victoria in honour of the British monarch. Speke had the feeling that the Nile began somewhere in the region. In 1862 he travelled along the west bank of Lake Victoria together with his fellow-countryman James Grant and discovered a river, the turbulent lake. For Speke there were no more doubts: from that river, named the Kageera, came the waters which first formed the lake and then the Nile. Speke telegraphed London that the source of the Nile had been found. He was right and the great mystery had been solved.
Picture Credit : Google
