Safelydoesit: theScotwho explored the heart of Africa

I WAS delighted to read that a Maasai village elder had visited Scotland to launch the Joseph Thomson Maasai Trust.

He expressed his surprise that Thompson, an explorer, were barely known in his birthplace.

I have to agree, so please fill me in, Queries Man. – P.

Joseph Thomson was born in Penpont, Dumfriesshire, in 1858.

He developed a love for botany and geology and studied at the University of Edinburgh.

But he also had the explorer’s bug, leading several expeditions to Africa in the 1870s and 1880s, including one for the Royal Geographical Society to identify a trade route through the territory of the feared Maasai warriors.

Thomson had a motto: “He who goes gently goes safely; he who goes safely goes far.”

This attitude helped Thomson earn the trust of the Maasai, who escorted him along the way, keeping him safe from the dangers of wild animals and other hostile tribes.

Thomson led six expeditions into uncharted areas of Africa.

He opened up new routes to Lake Nyasa and Victoria Nyanza, and was the first European to enter the Rift Valley. He mapped huge expanses of what are now Kenya, Morocco and Nigeria, made important scientific discoveries about Lake Tanganyika, Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya, and discovered Thomson’s Falls.

The Thomson’s gazelle is named after him.

If you have a question, write to The Queries Man, The Sunday Post, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee, DD4 8SL.

Please do not send stamped addressed envelopes as I cannot give personal replies.