Robben Island

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Cape Town’s famous Robben Island is considered a top tourist destination and welcomes many visitors on an almost daily basis. This island has a rich history that goes back many centuries, but is most famous for housing the Maximum Security Prison that was once home to Nelson Mandela, one of South Africa’s former presidents. Today this well loved island stands as a symbol of triumph over apartheid, however in the past the prison treated inmates unfairly, to the point of being considered brutal. Most of the prison inmates of Robben Island were political prisoners, and there were many now famous Politian’s who were sentenced to time on this island.

Some freedom fighters ended up spending more than 15 years in the islands prison, in the name of their beliefs. Prisoners were forced to work on the islands lime quarry, which can be viewed on the tour – other interesting highlights during the tour include a visit to Nelson Mandela’s prison cell as well as the old leper graveyard. There is also refreshment shop and a curio shop to visit on the island. Many of the tour guides were actually prisoners on Robben Island, and share their personal stories on the tour. The family-friendly Robben Island tours start with a ferry ride to the island that departs from the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town’s vibrant city centre – there are usually 3 tour departures per day – 9 am, 11 am and then 1 pm. The tour lasts between 3 – 5 hours (including the ferry ride there and back).