Upon delivery "Anglo-African" sailed first to London, and then departed for Cape Town on 25 November 1900 for her maiden voyage. She reached her destination on December 20 and continued to Durban. The steamer left Natal on 18 January 1901 and arrived at Iquique on February 10, where the ship loaded a cargo of nitrates. She arrived at Cuxhaven on April 9 successfully concluding her nearly six month long maiden voyage. Following her maiden trip, the ship was chartered by the British Admiralty to transport remounts to South Africa during the Anglo-Boer War.