What were the major discoveries and achievements of African explorers during this period?

During the Age of Exploration, African explorers made several major discoveries and achievements. Some of these include:

1. Mansa Musa's pilgrimage: Mansa Musa, the ruler of the Mali Empire, embarked on a famous pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324. This journey not only showcased the wealth and power of the Mali Empire but also introduced African culture and resources to the wider world.

2. The exploration of the African coastline: African explorers, such as the Portuguese sailor Bartolomeu Dias and the Spanish navigator Estevão da Gama, successfully navigated and mapped significant portions of the African coastline. This opened up new trade routes and increased knowledge about the continent.

3. The discovery of the Cape of Good Hope: Bartolomeu Dias became the first European explorer to reach the southern tip of Africa, known as the Cape of Good Hope, in 1488. This discovery paved the way for future European expeditions to India and the East.

4. The exploration of the Niger River: African explorers, like the Malian emperor Abu Bakr II and the Moroccan scholar Leo Africanus, contributed to the knowledge of the Niger River and its surrounding regions. Their accounts provided valuable information about the geography, cultures, and resources of West Africa.

5. The trans-Saharan trade: African explorers played a crucial role in establishing and expanding the trans-Saharan trade routes. This trade network facilitated the exchange of goods, ideas, and technologies between North Africa, West Africa, and the Mediterranean region.

Overall, African explorers made significant contributions to the exploration and understanding of their own continent during the Age of Exploration.