9. Robben Island

Home to imprisoned ex-president Nelson Mandela for 18 years, the destruction of apartheid is probably the most tangible here. The empty cell is a symbol of South Africans been set free, and beautiful Table Mountain seen from the island an indication  of what all South Africans want their future to look like. 

The island is one of the most famous in the world – this is where ex-president Nelson Mandela spent 18 years of his imprisonment during his struggle against apartheid.

It was also home to a great number of other black South African political prisoners - a place where they shared their views and believes during their time of imprisonment. The island was for many a political university, and many opinions that were shared here became the foundation of the country’s new constitution.  It has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Robben Island Tour embarks from the Nelson Mandela Gateway in the V&A Waterfront to Robben Island every day (if weather permits). The 30 minute ferry ride to the island is an attraction in its own right. You will visit the maximum prison museum, get the chance to interact with an ex-political prisoner and be taken around the island by bus. The island provides stunning views of Cape Town across the ocean.

The island itself is definitely not one of the most beautiful or happening places to visit in Cape Town – if it wasn’t for its history there wouldn’t be much reason to visit it. A visit to it is therefore a true cultural experience that provides a new insight into South Africa’s rich past.

Robben Island is a small island situated about eleven kilometres off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa. It is best known for being the prison where Nelson Mandela, the former South African president, was held for 18 years during the apartheid era. The island has many must-see treasures and sights.

The island is best known as the prison where former South African president and Nobel Laureate Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, along with many other political prisoners of the apartheid era. Mandela spent eighteen years there; the current South African president, Jacob Zuma, was there for ten.

Robben Island is eleven kilometres off the coast of Cape Town. Although it has been a museum since 1997, the island has been used as a prison, a secluded home for lepers, and a military base during various times in the last four centuries. Indeed, it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in 1999 due to the immense history it holds.

The notable wild animals that inhabit the island are the African penguins – the island has one of the largest colonies of African penguins in Africa – and seals. Other wild animals on the island are game springboks, mole snakes, feral cats and ostriches, along with 74 different species of birds.

Guided tours of the island are offered by the Robben Island Museum (RIM). Among the highlights of these tours is a visit to the island’s lighthouse. Built in 1864 on Minto Hill, the lighthouse is about 18 metres tall. It is the only lighthouse in South Africa that uses a flashing light instead of a revolving light, and its light can be seen from twenty-four nautical miles away.

While Robben Island may not have as many sights as other South African tourist attractions, it holds a lot of history. Its coast is full of numerous shipwrecks from ages ago, with some wrecks dating back to the seventeenth century.

Without a doubt, Robben Island is one of South Africa’s most formidable tourist destinations. If you’re planning to visit the country any time soon, make sure a tour of Robben Island is included in your itinerary.

How to get there

Follow the directions to the V&A Waterfront. All boats to the island depart from the Nelson Mandela Gateway. The Gateway is located near the Clock Tower Shopping centre in the V&A Waterfront. Bookings are essential.

Travel checklist

• Took a ferry ride to the island and back 
• Interacted with an ex-political prisoner  
• Visited the maximum prison museum

Useful numbers

Robben Island Nelson Mandela Gateway 021 413 4200

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