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Which places in southern Africa did Vasco da Gama visit during his first voyage?
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Vasco da Gama
Knight of the Order of Christ, detail identified as Vasco da Gama, Portuguese school, first half of the 16th century; in the National Museum of Ancient Art, Lisbon.
During his first voyage (1497–1499), Vasco da Gama visited several locations along the coast of southern Africa as he navigated toward India:
- Santa Helena Bay: The fleet reached this location in modern South Africa on November 7, 1497.1
- Mossel Bay: Da Gama anchored here on November 25, 1497, where he erected a padrão (stone pillar) and broke up his storeship. He named the bay Aguada de São Bras.12
- Natal: The fleet reached the coast of Natal on Christmas Day, 1497.1
- Rio do Cobre: On January 11, 1498, the expedition anchored for five days near the mouth of this small river, located between Natal and Mozambique.1
- Quelimane River: Reached on January 25, 1498, this site was named the Rio dos Bons Sinais (River of Good Omens), where the crew rested for a month to repair ships and recover from scurvy.1
- Island of Mozambique: The fleet arrived here on March 2, 1498, and encountered Arab merchants.1