South Africa
Cape of Good Hope
Welcome to South Africa! The Cape of Good Hope is a rugged, rocky headland at the edge of Africa, where sailors for centuries have watched two mighty oceans swirl together.
Why is it famous?
For hundreds of years, ships sailing between Europe and Asia had to pass this cape — making it one of the most important points in sea travel history.
It sits near the spot where the cold Atlantic Ocean and warmer Indian Ocean currents meet.
How did it get its name?
A Portuguese explorer named Bartolomeu Dias first sailed around it in 1488 and called it the "Cape of Storms" because of its rough seas.
It was later renamed the "Cape of Good Hope," since finding a sea route around it gave hope of reaching Asia by ship.
Amazing facts
It sits inside a nature reserve that is home to zebras, baboons, ostriches, and even wild antelope.
Nearby beaches are home to a colony of African penguins.
Quick facts
- It sits inside a nature reserve that is home to zebras, baboons, ostriches, and even wild antelope.
- Nearby beaches are home to a colony of African penguins.
- Powerful winds and waves here have wrecked many ships over the centuries.
- It is often mistakenly called the southernmost tip of Africa, but that point is actually a bit further east.