1487 The Portuguese explorer Batholemeu Dias sails down the coast to reach southern Angola. He later lands at present-day Walvis Bay and soon after at Lüderitz Bay.
1488 Dias succeeds in circumnavigating the Cape, naming it “Cabo de Bõa Esperança” or the Cape of Good Hope. This is a major breakthrough in the search for discovering a sea-route to India.
1495 With the ascension of Manuel I to the Portuguese throne, the Royal House of Portugal strengthens its support of the scientific maritime investigation into finding a sea trade route to India.
1497 Vasco da Gama is mandated to expand on Dias’ discoveries. Da Gama departs from Targus on 8 July 1497, heading an expedition consisting of two ships, São Rafael and São Gabriel . They sail along the southern African coast on the way to India.
They put foot on South African soil for the first time on 8 November at present-day St. Helena Bay on the west coast and encounter the first Khoi-Khoi. Da Gama gives the following description of them in his diary: ‘ The inhabitants of this country are tawny-coloured. Their food is confined to the flesh of seals, whales and gazelles, and the roots of herbs. They are dressed in skins, and wear sheaths over their virile members. They are armed with poles of olive wood to which a horn, browned in the fire, is attached … ‘
Further east Da Gama and his crew sight the Natal coast on Christmas Day and name it “Terra do Natal”, which is Portuguese for “Land of Birth” (Christmas). (Bron: Bron: SA history online -www.sahistory.org.za)
