Why did David Livingstone refuse to return to England with Henry Morton Stanley?

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David Livingstone refused to return to England with Henry Morton Stanley in 1872 because he remained deeply committed to his unfinished mission in Africa.12

Despite being ill and failing in health, Livingstone was driven by two primary objectives:
* Geographical Discovery: He was still determined to solve the mystery of the Nile sources. Specifically, he remained uncertain about the central African watershed and whether the Lualaba River was a headstream of the Nile or the Congo River.12
* Humanitarian Cause: He was steadfast in his desire to witness the destruction of the slave trade in East Africa.1

Livingstone chose to continue his exploration, eventually moving south toward the region of Lake Bangweulu, where he died in 1873 while still pursuing his goals.12