South Africa Ahoy
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Sailing toward Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Distance since Ft. Lauderdale: over 28893 nm
As we approach the notorious, interesting and beautiful country, I recall arriving in South Africa as a college student on a world-wide cruise. It was certainly a different time and place, and I was traveling in a vastly different style than today.😚 Apartheid, a systematic racial separation was in effect and I recall seeing the signs “whites Only” in public places. It’s a little hard to believe that apartheid was abolished only as recently as 30 years ago.
South Africa’s history is a vibrant tapestry woven from ancient fossils, colonial struggles, and the triumph of democracy and equality. UNESCO recognizes it as the Cradle of Humankind. During its history, there were European attempts to colonize the country. Portuguese explorers, including Bartolomeu Dias, rounded the Cape of Good Hope in 1487. Dutch settlers established Cape Town, leading to the Great Trek of Dutch-speaking immigrants. The discovery of diamonds and gold transformed South Africa — at one time South Africa was the largest gold producer in the world. We know the success of the De Beers Diamond enterprise and have probably contributed to both of the industries.💎 The apartheid era, lasting until 1994, left a stain in South Africa’s history. Nelson Mandela’s presidency ushered in democracy and is revered in the country as the “Father of the Country”.
Tomorrow we arrive for a refueling stop at Port Elizabeth and will disembark our ship to fly to Johannesburg and begin a 10-day safari. We’ll rejoin the cruise in Las Palmas, Spain on May 22, after traveling across the continent to meet up with the Onward — a very exciting and memorable adventure awaits!
Thankfully we escaped pirate encounters as we sailed along the coast of Africa, trying to avoid other terrorists and yet we found that we have pirates in our own family! ARRRGH!
Cape of Good Hope is approximately 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of Cape Town, South Africa. Contrary to popular belief, it is not the southernmost point of Africa. That distinction belongs to Cape Agulhas. Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias achieved the first modern rounding of the Cape of Good Hope in 1487. This milestone marked the Portuguese efforts to establish direct trade relations with the Far East. Interestingly, the original name given by Dias was “Cabo das Tormentas” (meaning “Cape of Storms” in Portuguese) due to the treacherous conditions encountered by sailors in the region. We are not disappointed to miss the turbulent sailing this time!
Sailors have long regarded the Cape of Good Hope as one of the great capes of the South Atlantic Ocean. It serves as a crucial waypoint on both the Cape Route and the clipper route followed by ships traveling to the Far East and Australia. Even today, several offshore yacht races continue to follow this historic route.
