His captors made him march to the slave market in Kilwa, where he was sold in exchange for some cloth, never again to see his family.

[4] In Africa, Bombay met John Hanning Speke, who asked him to join his expedition to find the source of the Nile River.

Bombay was well regarded by the British explorers; in the words of Sir Richard Burton, "The gem of the party, however, is one Sidi Mubarak, who has taken to himself the agnomen of 'Bombay.'"

Between 1856 and 1876, Bombay participated in expeditions by Speke and other English explorers, including Richard Francis Burton, Henry Morton Stanley and Verney Lovett Cameron.

His role in exploration was recognised by the Royal Geographical Society of London, which presented Bombay a silver medal and a pension in 1876 for his assistance to Speke as they strove to find the source of the Nile River.