What three groups first penetrated Africa interior?

The three groups that first penetrated Africa's interior were the Bantu-speaking peoples, Arab traders, and European explorers. The Bantu migrations, beginning around 1000 BCE, spread agriculture and ironworking across central and southern Africa. Arab traders established trade routes along the East African coast and ventured into the interior for trade and cultural exchange beginning in the 7th century. Later, European explorers, such as those in the Age of Exploration during the 15th century, sought new trade routes and resources, pushing deeper into the continent.