Besides those already mentioned, there were Dr.Hermann Beckler, medical officer and botanist, and Dr.Ludwig Becker, artist, naturalist, and geologist, ten white assistants, and three camel-drivers.
The expedition in full reached Menindie on the Darling, where Wright joined them.

On the 19th of October, 1860, Burke, Wills, six men, five horses and sixteen camels, left Menindie for Cooper's Creek.

Wright went with them two hundred miles to indicate the best route, and then returned to take charge of the main body waiting at Menindie.

On the 11th of November, Burke with the advance party reached Cooper's Creek, where they camped and awaited the arrival of Wright with the rest.

Grass and water were both plentiful, and the journey had hitherto proved no more arduous than an ordinary over-landing trip.
The long delay and inaction worked sadly upon Burke's active and impatient temperament, and he suddenly announced his intention to subdivide his party and, with three men, to start across the belt of unknown country -- a distance of five hundred miles at the furthest -- that separated him from Gregory's track round the Gulf.