Page 7 - Bulletin 8 2004

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From about 1000 AD the east coast of central and southern Africa was explored in greater
detail than the west coast due, mainly, to the expanding trade down the east coast by the

Arabs. While the coast became well known to them, and this is reflected in occupation of
the coastal regions of Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, the Comoros and Madagascar, it is

considered unlikely that by 780 AD they had come farther south than Sofala, which is south

of the Zambesi. While the Arabs were good mathematicians, unfortunately, the knowledge
they gained both historically and on these voyages was not translated by them into charts

and sailing directions of any note.

Chinese

Chinese records show evidence of voyages by Chinese explorers to many parts of the Far

East and the Indian Ocean, but these voyages do not appear to have come far enough south

on the African continent to have had a marked effect on the knowledge of southern Africa.
It is interesting to note that some Chinese literature refers to a place known as Azania as

early as 860 AD. Notable among these explorers was Admiral Cheng Ho who is credited
with many worldwide voyages of exploration, and who may have achieved more than is

generally credited to him in the West.

Portuguese

The unsafe overland routes to the east and need to deliver the spices to Western Europe

resulted in alternative routes being considered. The Portuguese, in particular, undertook
th
voyages south down the West Coast of Africa. During the late 15 century the Portuguese
navigator, Cão, pioneered the voyages of the Portuguese explorers that were to follow. On

his second voyage in 1483, when he raised padraos at points along the coast, he managed to
reach Cape Cross just north of Walvis Bay, approximately 22º 47’ south. The Portuguese

were able to translate their information into rudimentary charts, and very informative
sailing directions with profiles of landfalls, as can be seen in the “rutter”, were compiled at