The CSS Alabama's South African Expeditionary Raid commenced shortly after the CSS Alabama left Brazil and the south Atlantic Ocean and cruised under Africa near the Cape of Good Hope. The raid lasted from about the beginning of August, 1863 to the end of September, 1863. The primary area of operation during this expeditionary raid, was the southern seaboard of Africa ranging east and west hunting for China clippers having to make the voyage around the cape nearer Cape Town.