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The Afric's regular passenger route was from Liverpool to Sydney, via Cape Town, returning the same route. One of its early voyages as a troopship saw it depart Liverpool on Sunday 11th February 1900, carrying the 23rd and 24th Companies of the Imperial Yeomanry.

……"The embarkation was completed at an early hour in the afternoon [Saturday], all arrangements working without the slightest hitch, thanks to the energetic superintendence of Captain Strachan, staff embarkation officer.
…...The troops aboard the Afric are: - The 23rd Company Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry Cavalry (Blackpool): Six officers, 132 rank and file, 120 horses, and two guns; 24th Company Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry (Penrith): Five officers, 116 rank and file, and 31 horses. Hospital staff: One officer, three rank and file, and two horses. Veterinary Staff: One officer and two horses. Servants: Four rank and file, and 122 horses (remounts). Thus in all she will convey thirteen officers, 255 rank and file, 277 horses, and two guns.
……The Afric, which, it may be stated, is not "chartered" according to the common significance of the term when applied to transports pure and simple, carries the troops and horses on the ordinary conditions attaching to the hiring of a freightship. There is another material - very material from the point of view of the troopers - circumstance connected with the hiring of the Afric which distinguishes the vessel from the regulation transport - namely that the troopers are not required to live on a mess-deck of the regulation transport type, with slung hammocks for sleeping berths, but will occupy the third-class cabins of the vessel, which are such a splendid feature in the White Star Australian Line. This has obviated the necessity for gutting the permanent internal arrangements of the vessel in order to make room for the customary long mess-decks. The Afric is one of the first vessels carrying troops which has been allowed to retain her permanent berthing accommodation intact. No doubt the troopers will duly appreciate the special comfort, not to say luxury, with which the arrangement here foreshadowed is fraught. The food to be supplied by the White Star Line to the Yeomen is of the usual high-class character provided for the ordinary cabin passengers. So that both on the score of sleeping arrangements, as well as in the perhaps more important regard of diet, the Imperial Yeomanry going out by the Afric have much to be grateful for. It is worthy of note that the Afric is not carrying ordinary passengers at the same time she is taking out the Yeomanry. The White Star Line Company made other adequate arrangements for the convenience of passengers to South Africa and Australia for this voyage. After disembarking her troops and horses at the Cape, the Afric will proceed to Australia in the usual way associated with her regular trade service.
…...The vessel is commanded by Lieut. Alford, R.N.R., and the ship's medical officer is Dr. Crozier, late of the 1st V.B. Liverpool regiment."

Mid-Cumberland and North Westmorland Herald, Saturday 17th February 1900

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Afric

www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?5098