The famous explorer credited with sailing around the southern tip of Africa was Bartolomeu Dias. He achieved this monumental feat in 1488, navigating the treacherous waters of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Dias' expedition marked a crucial point in the Age of Exploration, paving the way for future explorers, including Vasco da Gama, who later established a sea route to India. His journey not only expanded the geographical knowledge of the time but also opened new avenues for trade and colonial ambitions for European powers in Africa and Asia.