NH0003

Did You Know?

Mosselbaai Hawe (Mossel Bay Harbour) is historically significant as the site where the Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias first landed in 1488, not 1497. The harbour was later used by European ships as a refreshment station. In 1497, Vasco da Gama also anchored here during his voyage to India. The harbour's natural shelter made it a key stop for sailors replenishing fresh water and supplies. The Post Office Tree, a milkwood tree near the harbour, served as a postal point where sailors left letters in a shoe or boot, later collected by passing ships. This site is now part of the Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex.

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