Join Mungo Park, a Scottish surgeon and daring explorer, as he embarks on a remarkable journey into the heart of Africa, commissioned by the Association for Promoting the Discovery of the Interior of Africa after the mysterious disappearance of Major Houghton. Tasked with uncovering whether the River Niger was linked to the Senegal or Gambia rivers, Parks expedition is fraught with peril—from language barriers and cultural challenges to imprisonment and robbery. Armed with little more than his tattered clothes, a horse, a pocket compass, and a hat filled with notes, he bravely navigates the unknown. After initially tracing the Gambia River, he becomes the first European to reach the Niger River at Ségou, continuing another 80 miles to Silla before the harsh realities of supply shortages force him to turn back. His incredible adventure culminates in a return journey to England by boat, via America. (Summary by Lynda Marie Neilson)