In AD 1487 Bartholomew Diaz, the Portuguese explorer, sailed around the Cape of Storms and opened the way for Europe to start trading with India and the Far East. But the trip around the southern tip of Africa had been made in the opposite direction in about 600 BC by Phoenician sailors. The Phoenicians claimed to have sailed from the Red Sea around Africa and back to the Mediterranean through the Straits of Gibraltar. The historian Herodotus recorded their story 150 years later. He did not really believe it, despite the proof put forward by the Phoenicians that they had seen the sun to the north of them at midday. This would only be possible if they had passed the equator into the Southern Hemisphere.

Dias rounded the cape and landed. Since it was the day of the Feast of St. Blaise, Dias named the spot Angra São Bras – Portuguese for Bay of St. Blaise. Here, he encountered a group of African natives. At first the natives fled from Dias and his men. But they returned and attacked the Portuguese crew. Dias continued sailing on. He reached the farther point of his journey on March 12 when they reached Algoa Bay. They erected a large stone cross and claimed the land for Portugal. Dias was determined to make his way to India. He wanted to press on, but his crew was tired and running low on supplies, so they refused to go farther. Dias had no choice but to head back to Portugal.