Bartolomeu Dias reaches present Mossel Bay

Date: 3 Feb 1488
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Bartolomeu Dias reaches present Mossel Bay

Bartolomeu Dias discovered that he had sailed past the southern-most point of Africa. A strong wind had driven him so far south of Cape Point that he did not see it and had to sail northwards to reach the coast. His first landing place was the bay of St. Blaize (SÁƒÂƒ£o Bras), now Mossel Bay. Here he took in fresh water and bartered live-stock from the Khoikhoi. Due probably to a lack of understanding, a crossbow was fired killing one of the Khoi. The Post Office Tree, where seafarers from centuries ago posted letters home using a cleft in an ancient tree as a postbox signifies that ships called regularly at the bay for watering and other purposes.

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How we know this

01Potgieter, D.J. et al. (eds) (1970). Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa, Cape Town: NASOU, v.4, p. Wallis, F. (2000).
02Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar, Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau.

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Bartolomeu Dias reaches present Mossel Bay. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0010798

South African History Online (2011) 'Bartolomeu Dias reaches present Mossel Bay', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0010798 (Accessed: 28 July 2026).

South African History Online, Bartolomeu Dias reaches present Mossel Bay [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0010798, (accessed 28 July 2026).

"Bartolomeu Dias reaches present Mossel Bay." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0010798. Accessed 28 July 2026.

South African History Online. "Bartolomeu Dias reaches present Mossel Bay." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0010798.