Patrick Bergin as Richard Burton

Iain Glen as John Hanning Speke

Richard E. Grant as Oliphant

Fiona Shaw as Isabel

John Savident as Lord Murchison

James Villiers as Lord Oliphant

Adrian Rawlins as Edward

Peter Vaughan as Lord Houghton

Delroy Lindo as Mabruki

Bernard Hill as Dr. Livingstone

Matthew Marsh as William

Richard Caldicot as Lord Russell

Christopher Fulford as Herne

Garry Cooper as Stroyan

Roshan Seth as Ben Amir

Paul Onsongo as Sidi Bombay

Jimmy Gardner as Jarvis

Doreen Mantle as Mrs. Speke

Anna Massey as Mrs. Arundell

Peter Eyre as Norton Shaw

Leslie Phillips as Mr. Arundell

Frances Cuka as Lady Houghton

Roger Ashton-Griffiths as Lord Cowley

Craig Crosbie as Swinburne

Lenny Juma as Jemadar

Bheki Tonto Ngema as Ngola

Martin Okello as Veldu

Philip Voss as Colonel Rigby

Roger Rees as Papworth

Pip Torrens as Lt. Hesketh

Ian Vincent as Lt. Allen

Esther Njiru as Lema

Alison Limerick as Sorceress

Asiba Asiba as Nubian Servant

Omar Sharif as Arab Chief in Cairo (uncredited)

Ralph Nossek as Doctor

Stewart Harwood as Attendant

George Malpas as Lead Actor

Robert Whelan as 1st Reporter

Bill Croasdale as 2nd Reporter

Renny Krupinski as 3rd Reporter