Robben Island / Museums, Cape Town

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Robben Island is really impressive. We were guided by a former prisoner and it's really hard to imagine what life was like on this island. On the other hand I was also surpised by the beauty of this island, we saw a lot of animals like penguins, birds and vaulting-bucks. And the view on Cape Town is beautiful.

Prison where Mandela was. Approx price....
Tickets are sold at R150 for adults and R75.00 for children aged 4-17 years. Children under 4 come free, but must be included in the booking.as at (2006)
The three and a half hour tour includes a return trip across Table Bay, a visit to the Maximum Security Prison, interaction with an ex-political prisoner and a 45 minute bus tour with a guide providing commentary.For tours to Robben Island at the Tourism Visitor’s Centre at Canal Walk, Entrance 3 and at Cape Town Tourism Offices at the Clock Tower, V&A Waterfront
Cape Town Tourism Information Office: Tel: (021) 405 4500 Fax: (021) 405 4524
email:info@tourcapetown.com
Nelson Mandela Gateway: Tel: (021) 413 4200 Fax: (021) 419 1057
e-mail: ebookings@robben-island.org.za

It is possible to visit the Island by Helicopter Contact:
Civair, at POBOX. 120 Newlands, 7725, Cape Town. or (021) 419-5182

Robben Island, one of the most famous prisons on earth, and witness of sad history!
First of all, book your trip to Robben Island a few days in advance! It's difficult to get on a trip at short notice!
If you get seasick easily, I recommend you take some pills! I got terribly seasick when I went because the sea was very rough!
It's impressive to see the cells and hear the stories your guide tells you! All the guids were political prisoners themselves at one stage and that makes the tour much more interesting!
You also get a tour around the island to hear other amazing stories about the history of the island and to see the quarry where the prisoners had to work!

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10 kilometres out in Table Bay Robben Island was a prison for over 300 years, right from the earliest settler days. It has been notorious for its inhumanity and brutality not only for political and criminal prisoners but for those suffering from leprosy, the chronically sick and people with serious mental health problems too
Now even though a visit can be disturbing and shocking it is a symbol of the great change in South Africas thinking and a constant reminder of the unified way forward

A trip to Robben Island starts at the Gateway on the V&A Waterfront, it is usually necessary to book tours in advance, you must go through the Gateway building to board the ferry and you will have to pass through security screening. There is wheelchair access, if you use a wheelchair do advise them at the time of booking. While you wait for the ferry there are several interesting displays in the waiting room
The whole tour including boat trip takes about 3 1/2 hours, when you arrive at the island you board busses for an interesting 45 minute guided tour of the island, our guide gave us lots of good information on the history, flora and fauna of the island, then we entered the the maximum security prison where we were guided by an ex-political prisoner who gave us real insight into the life here. It could [and perhaps should] have been a very depressing tour but it wasnt, rather we emerged after it with more understanding and empathy with the struggles of the people here, and gratitude that the dark days are gone
wheelchair access in the prision is possible but difficult

Robben Island is now a National Monument and a World Heritage site, tours cost R150 for adults, and R75 children over 4 to 17, under 4 years old are free

I think is a must for ANY person from ANY race, background and conviction. Nelson Mandela (or Madiba as he is called) is an international icon of peace and reconciliation. Robben Island is where Nelson Mandela spent 25 years in captivity during the Apartheid era. The prison is on Robben Island (approx 5km offshore) and can be reached via charter boat tour. Now a museum where you can go on tour and get all the info and history

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Robben Island is and always will be an important part of the History of South Africa. It was added to the World Heritage list in 1999.

Here hundreds of political dissidents, including Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela and Walter Sisulu, were persecuted by the apartheid government.

The trips are all organized and last about two hours and half, excluding the half an hour cruise to the island; during the trip you will take part on a 45 minutes drive around the island, where you can see the leper hospital and its church, the house of PAC leader Robert Sobuke and the cave with a small cavern, where the inmates worked. This cavern is very interesting because there the well educated inmates such as Mandela taught the other illiterate inmates how to read and write: that's why the guide called the cave "The first university of South Africa". In the cavern Mandela and Sisulu wrote the first parts of the Constitution of the new South Africa. Moreover, the colors of the new flag of South Africa was taken from the different colors of the rocks of the cave, which ideally formed a rainbow.

After the drive you will enter the real prison and a former inmates will explain you how was the life there. They also speak, sometimes with understandable bitterness, about the tortures they and their families suffered. It is a touching moment without a doubt.
You can see also the former cells of Mandela and Sisulu and the courtyeard where the inmates had some "free time".

While returning to the ferry, take time to snap a picture to one of the many penguins of the island, they are not shy to be approached.

The prisoners on Robben Island were put to work in eye-blinding quarries. The island has a rich and diverse array of geology, as well as vegetation, birdlife, marine and wildlife.

Robben Island hosts about 132 bird species.

These include seabirds, waterbirds and terrestrial birds. A few species have been introduced to the Island by humans such as the Chukar Partridge and Guinea Fowl. Many of the birds here are endangered.

The African penguin (formerly the jackass) is a species that was extinct by the 1800s due to human activities.

By 1983 the penguins were re-introduced and have now established themselves as a successful breeding population. They are a favourite attraction for visitors to the island.

The island is actually an ancient, submerged mountain! It is low-lying with the highest point being 24 metres, known as Minto's Hill.

This is an enjoyable boat trip. I have done this one, plus one form Simon's Town, and another from Hout Bay. All are lovely.

This is a more cultural one.

If you are in luck you might see whales, dolphins and a glorious mixture of seabirds and mammals' seals are a must of course! You will definitely see these here!

This specific cruise is about 2 hours long and various boating companies offer it at Cape Town Harbour.

Best to price around and see who gives you the best deal.