River of the Gods: Genius, Courage, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile

"The 19th-century race to definitively establish the source of the Nile was full of adventure and motivation for great achievement. Richard Burton and John Hanning Speke are not household names today, but their quest for glory makes for an enjoyable read about characters who, while deeply flawed, persevered through personal grudges, disease and dangerous elements in their journey for the source of the Nile. Ultimately, neither could have survived without Sidi Mubarak Bombay, arguably the real hero in the group."