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Legendary Dutch Tall Ship Oosterschelde en route to Cape Town, Marking a Historic Milestone in the Global DARWIN200 Conservation Mission.

Having successfully rounded the treacherous waters of Cape Horn, the historic Dutch tall ship Oosterschelde is currently exploring on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia en route to South Africa where the ship will round the Cape of Good Hope and visit Cape Town and Simonstown to continue the DARWIN200 conservation mission.

As the Oosterschelde dropped anchor in King Edward Cove during the DARWIN200 voyage, the crew went ashore to explore the old whaling station of Grytviken. They met with scientists, government officials and, of course, the king penguins that South Georgia is so famous for. South Georgia Island is a sub-Antarctic island administered by the United Kingdom as part of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. It lies 1390 km southeast of the Falkland Islands and 2150 km from South America, and is 170 km long by 35 km wide with a mountainous interior.

Photograph by Josh Clarke

From April 5th to April 29th, DARWIN200 and the historic tall ship Oosterschelde will be host a inspirational cohort of Darwin Leaders, emerging young conservationists from Madagascar, Uganda, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Nigeria/Israel, and Tanzania, who will engage in critical conservation efforts alongside local NGOs in South Africa. 

The young Darwin Leaders will contribute to various projects, including sea turtle rehabilitation with the Two Oceans Aquarium, Cape Vulture monitoring at CapeNature’s Potberg colony, and Bontebok antelope conservation at De Hoop. 

They will also support Marine Dynamics and the Dyer Island Conservation Trust in studying great white sharks, rehabilitating African penguins, and researching whale and dolphin populations. 

Additional initiatives include investigating human-wildlife conflict with Cape baboons and documenting South Africa’s unique carnivorous plants. 

The DARWIN200 collaborative mission underscores the global commitment to safeguarding biodiversity while providing hands-on experience for the next generation of conservationists.

Event schedule: Charles Darwin Legacy in Cape Town

Cape Town is set to celebrate the enduring legacy of Charles Darwin with a grand tribute coinciding with the arrival of a historic ship in its waters. In a fitting homage to the legendary naturalist, the city will host a captivating theatrical performance, an insightful exhibition, and the much-anticipated unveiling of a striking new iron bust in his honour. This multifaceted celebration will offer a rare opportunity to reflect on Darwin’s profound impact on science and discovery, while immersing visitors in the spirit of exploration that defined his journey. From dramatic storytelling to artistic interpretation, the event promises to be a landmark moment for Darwin enthusiasts, historians, and curious minds alike.

A celebration programme of Darwin-inspired public events is planned in Cape Town including:

• Open Day Oosterschelde, a chance to visit the ship (24 April 14:00-17:00), 
• Darwin Leader conservation presentation at Two Oceans aquarium (26 April 18h30) and 
• Exhibition of original Darwin and evolution-themed artworks that will be displayed at the Art@Africa gallery on the V&A Waterfront throughout April 2025. The official opening of the art exhibition is at 18h00 on Thursday, 24th April.

On 19th April, the ship will round the Cape of Good Hope to Simonstown where Darwin-inspired events include:

• Darwin Leader Presentations, Simons Town Museum (20 April time 16h00)
• A play, ‘Darwin. A Curious Mind’ at the Galloway Theatre from 7 to 13 April 2025 at 20h00. With a special DARWIN200 performance at Simon’s Town Hall on 20th April.

• Unveiling of a bronze bust of Charles Darwin on Simon’s Town Jetty at 14h00 on Sunday, 20th April 2025.

Retracing Darwin’s Path: A Mission for Conservation

Setting sail from Plymouth, UK, in August 2023, Oosterschelde, as part of the DARWIN200 mission, embarked on an extraordinary two-year planetary conservation mission, retracing Charles Darwin’s 19th-century route on the HMS Beagle. 

Oosterschelde has covered over 31,500 nautical miles on a journey that has so far taken 545 days. The voyage aims to host and train a total of 200 exceptional young environmentalists from all over the world, engaging them in hands-on conservation efforts in the same locations where Darwin and his colleagues explored the natural world almost two centuries ago.

Oosterschelde’s Epic Voyage: From Cargo Vessel to Cultural Icon

The Oosterschelde is one of the world’s finest, fully restored historic tall ships and the largest sailing vessel ever to be restored in the Netherlands. She is registered by the Dutch Government as a monument of great cultural and historical value. The ship is one of the oldest and most authentic ships in the international fleet of Tall Ships. Oosterschelde relaunched after a major refurbishment in 1996 and was recommissioned by Her Royal Highness Princess Margrite of The Netherlands. She is a bastion of Dutch ship building and is described by the ship’s Director and Captain Gerben Nab as having had at least five lives, starting in 1917 as a cargo vessel. Over the past 30 years Oosterschelde has welcomed thousands of sailors and adventure seekers on board including royalty, politicians, presidents and pop stars, even once hosting a birthday party for Sir Tom Jones! 

Oosterschelde was the first Dutch commercial tall ship to sail to both the north and south poles and successfully tackle the infamous Cape Horn. 

What’s Next for DARWIN200

The DARWIN200 voyage completes in Falmouth, UK in July 2025 with major port stops Cape Town (April), St Helena (May), Ascension Island (May), Across the Equator to Azores (June) and Falmouth UK (arriving 19th July 2025).

A ‘Victory lap’ to London and a homecoming voyage to the ship’s port of Rotterdam follow. 

What’s Next for Oosterschelde?

From September 2025 an exciting programme of voyages available for guest crew to book is now available in the UK, Portugal, Cape Verde Islands, Canary Islands, Suriname, Martinique, St Martin and the Bahamas for adventure seekers to join in. 

Full sailing details: https://www.dutchtallship.com/sailing-trips/

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