Without him, the cradle of humanity might still be a mystery to us today: the German explorer Heinrich Barth ventured deep into the heart of the African continent at a time when Africa was considered an unpredictable and dangerous land. On March 25, 1850, he embarked on an expedition through Central Africa on behalf of the British government, aiming to establish trade opportunities for London. After a total of 2,100 days in the Sahara and Sudan, Barth returned to Europe five and a half years later as the sole survivor of the expedition, carrying information about the land and its people that would open up a new continent to European science. In his extensive written legacy, the researcher allows the reader to partake in his explorations through richly detailed descriptions. The vividly written diary and the captivating report go hand in hand.