What if someone told you to sail into totally unknown waters where sea monsters might live?

The Day a Brave Explorer Set Sail to Find India!

Vasco da Gama's Amazing Journey Around Africa

Vasco da Gama got orders to sail around Africa to India — a trip nobody thought possible!

Imagine standing on a wooden ship, staring at the endless ocean, not knowing what's ahead. That's exactly what Vasco da Gama did on April 24, 1497, when he received his royal orders to lead an expedition that would change the world!

The King of Portugal gave da Gama an incredible mission: find a sea route from Europe all the way to India by sailing AROUND Africa. Nobody had ever done this before! People thought it was impossible. Some even believed sea monsters lurked in unknown waters!

But da Gama was brave and curious. He gathered four ships and about 170 sailors for this epic adventure. They would face massive storms, scorching heat, and months without seeing land. The journey would take them over 24,000 miles — that's like driving across America EIGHT times!

Did you know that da Gama's crew had to bring enough food for TWO YEARS? They packed dried fish, beans, and honey. Yum... or maybe not so yum after month fifteen!

💡 Da Gama's ships carried special stone pillars called 'padrões' to plant in new lands, like leaving a giant 'I was here!' sign!