Trans-Africa Expeditions

Africa is a huge continent with many different lands. There are deserts, jungles, mountains, and rivers. For hundreds of years, explorers have tried to travel across Africa from one side to the other. These long trips are called trans-Africa expeditions.

Early Explorers

A Scottish explorer named David Livingstone traveled across parts of Africa in the 1800s. He wanted to find the source of the Nile River. Another man, Henry Stanley, went to look for Livingstone when he was missing. When they met, Stanley said the famous words, 'Dr. Livingstone, I presume?' They mapped rivers and lakes no European had ever seen before.

Modern Expeditions

People today still go on trans-Africa trips. Some drive jeeps across the Sahara Desert. Others hike through jungles or raft down rivers. A man named Ewart Grogan walked from Cape Town in the south to Cairo in the north in 1898. These trips take many months and cross many countries. Travelers meet lots of different people and animals along the way.

Fun Facts

• Africa is the second largest continent after Asia.
• The Nile River is the longest river in Africa and the world.
• Africa has over 50 countries.

Did You Know?

Africa is home to all of the biggest land animals, including elephants, giraffes, rhinos, and hippos.