Johann Ludwig Krapf came to Rabai in 1844 with his pregnant wife Rosine, whom he had married in Egypt.

At the time of her death, Krapf was also taken ill and their newborn infant died 3 days later.

On 10 June 1849 Jakob Erhardt and John Wagner arrived at the Rabai Mpya mission station, where they joined Krapf and Rebmann.

[2] In the spring of 1850 Erhardt and Krapf travelled by dhow down the East African coast from Mombasa.

The boat was small and food was scarce, poor quality and difficult to prepare due to the rain.