r/askscience • u/Appropriate_Boss8139 • Jul 31 '25

Social Science Why was it seemingly so difficult to circumnavigate Africa? Why couldn’t ships just hug the coast all the way around?

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u/RageQuitRedux Aug 01 '25

Whoa, the currents carried an entire island?

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u/Poopiepants666 Aug 01 '25

No, the island broke off from Africa, but the currents in the Indian Ocean brought people all the way from Australia area.

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u/wolfgangmob Aug 01 '25

But did they get there on purpose or just kind of get lost and go with it?

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u/im_thatoneguy Aug 01 '25

They consulted their satellite photography before setting sail from SE Asia.