Though it is well known that the Nile's destination is the Mediterranean Sea, the source of the NIle has been a mystery for ages. John Speke thought he found the source of the river in 1858, and undertook a journey with Richard Burton through the countries it winds through to prove it. The two of them ended up having a major dispute when Speke rushed to publish his discovery and Burton insisted that the expedition was about penetrating Africa and not just a search for the Nile's source (Moorehead, 1960). In his book, "The Discovery of the Source of the Nile" Speke (2009) describes his struggles, frustrations, adventures and his belief that he confirmed Lake Victoria as the river's source.
Others made unsuccessful attempts in the late 1800's to penetrate the countries of the Nile and find its source; including Dr. Stanley Livingston, and Henry Morton. Though neither Livingston nor Morton felt they had found the Nile's source, both managed to publish successful, Passionate accounts of their ventures into the wilds of Africa (Moorehead, 1960). Most people seem to accept Speke's idea that the source was Lake Victoria. In 1996, Christopher Ondaatje, set out to trace Speke's footsteps and "Settle the Nile" for himself (Ondaatje,1998). He concluded at the end of his long, exhausting journey that the idea of the source of the river had been too narrowly defined, and wasn't sure he agreed with Speke (Ondaatje, 1998). And indeed, the search was not over. A recent expedition in 2006, using mapping technology has determined that Speke was mistaken. The expedition concluded that although Lake Victoria remains its principal source, the evidence points to the true source of its origin to be somewhere in Rwanda's Nyungwe Forest (Hoyt, 2008). It is likely that the debate of where the Nile originates will continue.
Others made unsuccessful attempts in the late 1800's to penetrate the countries of the Nile and find its source; including Dr. Stanley Livingston, and Henry Morton. Though neither Livingston nor Morton felt they had found the Nile's source, both managed to publish successful, Passionate accounts of their ventures into the wilds of Africa (Moorehead, 1960). Most people seem to accept Speke's idea that the source was Lake Victoria. In 1996, Christopher Ondaatje, set out to trace Speke's footsteps and "Settle the Nile" for himself (Ondaatje,1998). He concluded at the end of his long, exhausting journey that the idea of the source of the river had been too narrowly defined, and wasn't sure he agreed with Speke (Ondaatje, 1998). And indeed, the search was not over. A recent expedition in 2006, using mapping technology has determined that Speke was mistaken. The expedition concluded that although Lake Victoria remains its principal source, the evidence points to the true source of its origin to be somewhere in Rwanda's Nyungwe Forest (Hoyt, 2008). It is likely that the debate of where the Nile originates will continue.