Travels in West Africa

Mary Kingsley · 1893 CE – 1895 CE · Earth

Study the peoples and nature of West Africa.

Historical context

West Africa was being carved up by European powers that knew little of its peoples. Kingsley travelled alone into its forests and mountains, studying rather than judging what she found.

The voyage, step by step

1. To West Africa

   1893 CE

   Kingsley travels alone to the coast, bound for the forests of the interior.

2. The Gabon estuary

   1894 CE

   She reaches the French Congo and pays her way by trading cloth and fish-hooks up the rivers.

3. Lambaréné

   1894 CE

   From the trading post on the Ogowe she goes on by canoe into Fang country.

4. Up the Ogowe

   1894 CE

   She travels by canoe and on foot, often the only European for hundreds of miles.

5. Across to the Rembwe

   1895 CE

   She crosses the forest watershed on foot with four Fang companions and comes down another river to the sea.

6. Mount Cameroon

   1895 CE

   She climbs the volcano and collects specimens for museums.

Outcome

Explored the Ogowe and climbed Mount Cameroon.

Mary Kingsley

English traveller and writer who explored West Africa alone and studied its peoples and religions.

Read on Wikipedia

Sources

• Mary Kingsley — Wikipedia

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