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Making the pilgrimage to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for the majority of his 27 years in prison features close to the top of most tourist's South African To Do list, and with good reason.
The island can only be reached by ferry which departs from the V&A Waterfront: the trip takes about an hour each way depending on weather conditions. You should bear in mind that this is a guided tour, and so you are obliged to stick with the group that you travel with rather than wandering around. The trip comprises a walk around the prison complex (including Mandela's former cell) and then a bus ride to the limestone quarry where the prisoners did hard labour.
Obviously the subject material is depressing - little details such as the differences in clothes and food rations that were afforded to the different race groups serve to underline the arbitrary and unhumane aspects of apartheid - but much of the narrative is ultimately inspirational - not only with respect to Mandela himself, but to the sense of comradeship and development of ideas that developed between the internees. Just be warned that there is relatively little information on Mandela's life, so in order to appreciate the context, I'd strongly suggest that you either visit the stunning Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg en route for Cape Town or the Mandela exhibit at the Slave House in Cape Town before you visit Robben Island.
This bus ride also takes you past the house where the unfortunate Robert Sobukwe (founder of the Pan Africanist Congress) was kept in solitary confinement for six years - at the time, he was considered more dangerous than Mandela, and the harshness with which he was treated (even by comparison with the terrible conditions that other Robben Island inmates experienced) is what lives with me most vividly from my time on Robben Island.
Most of the guides are ex-prisoners, and I must confess that ours was distinctly strange and offputtingly aggressive (having started by saying, "ask me anything", he then barked at people when they dared to ask even basic questions), but in fairness, I suppose that a spell in Robben Island prison wouldn't do much to develop your social skills or mental equilibrium. However, I do applaud the fact that people who have been interned on the island - many of whom would otherwise have no job prospects due to poor education and a lack of former work experience - have at least been afforded employment opportunities.
I thought that the best bit about the tour was the beautiful boat ride (especially the return, when you're looking towards Cape Town) and the bus ride around the island which takes you to the quarry. It may come as some surprise that the island is a pretty place, and because it is a nature reserve, you may well see some wildlife (particularly seals) - at the time of writing (September 2010) the authorities have just relocated a lot of deer that were introduced to the island by settlers with the intention of safeguarding indigenous species.
Bear in mind that there is very little shade, so bring a hat, sunscreen and lots of water (unfortunately not luxuries afforded to the prisoners).
One last word of warning: the Robben Island ferry has been bedevilled with mismanagement, and in recent years, has not been operational for weeks at a time. So, in order to avoid disappointment be sure to check in advance that the service is running, and preferably book your tickets in advance, as this is a very popular tour and the queue for tickets at the ferry terminal tends to get extremely long, particularly during peak season.
Updated Feb 1, 2012
Website: http://www.robben-island.org.za
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If you go in February you only have to book like a week before you would like to go on the tour. Otherwise call late the night before and ask if anyone cancelled normally someone cancels the early morning tour. Or you can just show up at 8am in the morning at Robben Island terminal and ask if anyone cancels. Rain is a good sign cause most people do not want to go then. Normally someone cancels and you can go. It is cheaper to go to the terminal at the waterfront and buy the ticket than to buy the ticket from a tour agency. The tour agency will charge you an arm and a leg just for picking you up waiting for you to come back and then taking you back to the hotel. You can book over the phone.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Phone: 021) 413 4200
Robben Island, some 12 kilometers off the coast of Cape Town, has huge historical significance in South Africa, most notably for the fact that it housed Nelson Madela for so many years, during the apartheid era.
It is a really fascinating look into what the political prisoners of the time had to endure, and the unique thing about it, is that your guides on the tours are usually ex-prisoners on the island themselves.
If you are a big group, I reckimmend that you contct the Robben Island Museum and arrange a cocktail lunch at the Guest House. This is a great addition to your tour of the island.
Great photo opportunity of Table Mountain, from a different perspective.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Address: Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V& A Waterfront
Phone: +27-21- 413 4200
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Groote Schuur Hospital was where Professor Christiaan Barnard (1922-2001)performed the first human heart transplant on the third of December 1967.
Whilst Louis Washkansky only lived for 18 days, succumbing in the end to pneumonia. His new heart beat strongly to the end. >>> this being the first Heart transplant, we in Ottawa also have a company New Heart that is already testing an Atificail heart. soon to become an everyday occurence.
>>>MUSEUM : The Charles Saint Theatre suite, has been restored to its original state and contains many items of historical interest and memorabilia relating to the first heart transplant and the history of the hospital in general.
The museum is open to the public from Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 14:00.
The entrance fee is R5 for adults and R2 for scholars.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Address: Mowbray
Phone: 27-21-404-5232
The only way to get here is to buy a ticket at the Nelson Mandela Gateway. You then get on the ferry and on the island you are loaded on the bus. First they take you around the island, telling about its long history as a leper colony and prison. After that you visit the high security prison, the guides are all ex-prisoners, which is very impressive. Of course they take you by Nelson Mandela's cell, but they also show you where he hid his first book and what life was like in this prison.
Written Dec 29, 2010
Address: Waterfront, Victoria Warf
Website: www.webtickets.co.za
Robben Island is a famous-infamous spot some 12km out of Cape Town. It has been turned into some kind of a jail for many years before the term apartheid came into use. Never mind this fact what interests the contemporary is the recent history or “current events” so this is what sells and this is what is on offer. It is a well oiled machine involving ex prisoners for more authenticity. The whole tour provides more questions than answers and this is what makes it a must of any visit to Cape Town. From the very gate one can notice the mesh and barbed wire of the camp. Well, if you come from a place this material is not as abundant as in modern South Africa you might be impressed and even stupefied when looking at the picture of black inmates leaving to victory. The sad part is that it won’t be as impressive if one has spent some time in the "Rainbow Nation" and has seen that the barbed wire is omnipresent. So not knowing what South Africa was looking like before apartheid the tendency is to assume that Robben island prison has been multiplied by the millions and has lined the streets of the towns and cities. In this context it seems as if such a milestone of a place has been immortalised and sanitised for the posterity to admire without making parallels to real life.
Updated Nov 14, 2009
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The ferry going to Robben Island was great because you get to catch the most beautiful pictures of Table Mountain. On the boat, you will be able to get the most complete panoramic picture of Table Mountain as sailors of long ago saw it for the first time...But, on the ferry, they have a limited amount of people who sit at the upper deck. So, if you are intent on getting those good pics, be sure to go up the ferry early to secure a seat.
Robben Island was where Nelson Mandela was locked up for years and years. The prisoners are still alive and there are volunteers who give the tour and were prisoners themselves. This adds a personal touch to the tour as well as making aware that all of this apartheid happened just recently. The amazing thing is that the ex-prisoners have embraced the concept of peaceful reconciliation for the sake of unity within the country.
Updated Feb 1, 2009
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If you have great interest in the history of South Africa, then you must visit Robben Island.
I was born and raised in SA, only went on the tour for the first time in 2008. Although it was sad for me and the experience brought tears to my eyes, I am really happy I did.
The standard tour includes:-
- a tour of the prison
- interaction with an ex-political prisoner
- a bus tour of the island
- maybe seeing some of the island's wildlife
It takes about 3,5 hours, including a 30 minutes ferry ride (each way).
Updated Dec 22, 2008
Address: V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
Phone: +27 21 413 4220/1
Website: http://www.robben-island.org.za
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Robben Island (directly translated as Seal island) is situated 12km from the Cape Town harbour. It became a maximum security prison in 1959. Over three thousand men were held here as political prisoners between 1961 and 1991, including Nelson Mandela.
Some of the ex-prisoners here act as the tour guides as you are transported around the island by bus. A visit on the inside of the prison and Nelson Mandela's room is also on the itinerary, as well as the lime quarry and the yard.
Tickets for the guided three and a half hour tour (including the return trip across Table Bay, lots of fun!) should be booked in advance from 'Nelson Mandela gateway'. (Telephone details at the bottom of the tip.) Tickets are sold at US$ 25 for adults and half price for children aged 4 - 17 years. Children under 4 is allowed on the tour for free, but must be included in the booking!
Written Nov 23, 2007
Phone: +27214134200
Website: http://www.robben-island.org.za
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I must say I was very humbled by the tour of the prison......you first take a great boat ride into the ocean west of Cape Town I believe it's 10 km of the coast ....you get off and board a bus tour of the island......it last about 45 minutes afterward you are dropped off in front of the prison and met be a former political prisoner who shows you around the prison sites.....questions are encouraged..and I must say the guide we had was very very humble in his explaining of torture, censorship, and all the sufffering experienced at this place......One very IMPORTANT note......the prison is being renovated for future generations and the Nelson Mandela cell and hall are not open to the public right now....cost of the tour is R120 for the entire experience... I must say this is a must do when in Cape Town !!!! A World Heritage Site with all due !!!!!
Written Jul 2, 2007
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Write a ReviewI must say I was very humbled by the tour of the prison......you first take a great boat ride into the ocean west of Cape Town I believe it's 10 km of the coast...
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