author
Oskar Lenz
1848–1925
An adventurous geologist and explorer, he became known for major journeys across Africa in the late 19th century, including expeditions to Timbuktu and a crossing from the Congo to the Zambezi. His work blended science, travel, and close observation of the regions he visited.
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About the author
Born in Leipzig on April 13, 1848, he studied mineralogy and geology at the University of Leipzig and earned his doctorate in 1870. Soon afterward he moved into scientific work in Vienna, where he became associated with the Imperial Geological Institute and later took Austrian citizenship.
He is best remembered for his expeditions in Africa. He traveled in Morocco and the Sahara, reached Timbuktu in 1880, and later helped lead a journey across central Africa from the mouth of the Congo to the Zambezi. Alongside exploration, he wrote about geology, geography, and the people and places he encountered.
Later in life he also taught at the German University in Prague. He died in Sooß on March 1, 1925, leaving behind a reputation as a geologist, geographer, and one of the notable German-speaking explorers of his era.