Congo, the Democratic Republic of the expeditions

John Hanning Speke was a British explorer and officer in the Indian Army who is best known for his discovery of the source of the Nile. In 1856, Speke joined an expedition led by Richard Burton to explore the interior of Africa. After Burton fell ill, Speke continued on alone and in 1858, he discovered the source of the Nile, which he identified as Lake Victoria. This discovery was a major achievement in the exploration of Africa and helped to fill in many of the blank spaces on maps of the continent. However, Speke's claim was later disputed by Burton and other explorers, and the true source of the Nile remains a topic of ongoing debate among historians and geographers.

Diogo Cão, also known as Diego Cão, was a Portuguese explorer who is known for his voyages down the coast of Africa in the late 15th century. He was one of the first Europeans to explore the region and made several important discoveries during his travels. Cão's first voyage took place between 1482 and 1484, during which he sailed down the western coast of Africa as far as present-day Angola. He was accompanied by a small crew and was commissioned by King John II of Portugal to explore the region and establish trade with local African rulers. During this voyage, Cão encountered several indigenous African peoples and made contact with local rulers, including the King of Congo. He also established a Portuguese trading post in present-day Angola, which became an important hub for Portuguese trade in the region. Cão's voyage was significant because it marked the beginning of Portuguese exploration and colonization of Africa, and his discoveries helped to establish Portugal as a major European power in the region. His voyage also laid the groundwork for future Portuguese expeditions, including those of Vasco da Gama and Pedro Álvares Cabral, who would go on to make even more significant discoveries in the region.