Since the end of the nineteenth century, European powers had controlled almost all of Africa. Great Britain dominated Egypt and controlled the Suez Canal from 1882 on, while Italy ruled Libya from 1911 forward.
These European powers supported exploration, and used the information gathered to map terrain and increase territory. The explorers who came to this part of the Sahara Desert formed a motley group of Europeans, Arabs, and Africans. In 1932 and 1933, several expeditions were made by groups including Sir Robert Clayton- East-Clayton and Lady Clayton-East-Clayton (English), Lázló Almásy (Hungarian), H. W. G. J. Penderel (Scottish), Dr. Kádár (University of Budapest), Dr. Bermann (Austrian), and Major Ralph A. Bagnold (English). These explorers wanted to map the Gilf Kebir, a triangular plateau in the southwest corner of Egypt, and explore the Gebel ‘Uweinat (“gebel” or “jebel” is a hill or mountain). Fascinated by the desert and the difficulties it presented, curious about its connection to ancient history, these individuals traversed an area that even today is dangerously isolated.
Lázló Almásy. One of these explorers was Lázló Almásy, born in Hungary in 1895. His biography is contentious, but certain facts are beyond dispute.
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