The American aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush and its naval group are reportedly sailing around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope, avoiding the Suez Canal, in a move related to Middle East operations.

How the US-Israeli attacks on Iran affect SA travellers to and from Middle East  Daily Maverick

Cape Town is highlighted as a unique and essential travel destination, located near the Cape of Good Hope, offering an experience worth visiting at least once in a lifetime.

Though the conflict is centered on the Persian Gulf, shipping companies fear that the Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen could resume attacks on vessels in the Red Sea hundreds of miles to the west.

Commercial shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has plummeted by 90% due to escalating Middle East conflicts, with carriers rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope.