Travels in the Interior of Southern Africa

Published 1822–4, this highly influential two-volume account of the interior of southern Africa derives from the journal kept by William John Burchell (1781–1863) during the first year of a 4,500-mile expedition from 1811 to 1815. It describes landscapes, flora and fauna, and the lives of indigenous peoples encountered.

William John Burchell (1781–1863) is remembered for this outstanding geography of South Africa, published in two volumes in 1822–4 and later taken on Darwin's Beagle voyage. It covers the first year of Burchell's 4,500-mile expedition into southern Africa from 1811 to 1815, while 'botanist to the Cape Colony'. The author returned to England with 500 scientific and ethnographical drawings, many of them used as illustrations in the book, and about 63,000 natural history specimens including 120 animal skins and 265 species of bird. His preface emphasises that his journal is accurate, independent and free from prejudice; he also claims that unlike many travelogues, his contains no 'indelicacies … offensive to decency'. Volume 1 focuses mainly on landscapes, and flora and fauna, often giving their indigenous names. It covers Burchell's trek to Klaarwater, which became his base for over a year, and a major side trip to the south-east.