"Robben Island, Cape Town" Robben Island by jumpingnorman

Robben Island Travel Guide: 13 reviews and 62 photos

The boat going to Robben Island was great because you get to catch the most beautiful pictures of Table Top Mountain (picture below). On the island itself, you ride a bus that gives a tour of the site including a glimpse of the firehouse pictured above. You also see local wildlife like turtles, ostriches and penguins along the shore.

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.

A great view of Table Top Mountain from the boat

Robben Island, Cape Town

This is the prison cell where Nelson Mandela spent most of his time - very small.

Intro Updated Sep 26, 2008
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Reviews (6)

Lighthouse on Robben island, Cape Town - Robben Island

See the Lighthouse of Robben Island Things to Do (5)

I love lighthouses and wanted a collection for myself but my study/library at home is already filled up with things I... more travel advice

Prison No. 7 of Mandela, Robben Island, Cape Town - Robben Island

Peek into Prison No. 7 -- Mandela's... Things to Do (5)

Mandela's prison cell on Robben island is No. 7 and has been repainted and looks very clean and small ---- you can peek... more travel advice

A turtle on Robben Island, Cape Town, South Africa - Robben Island

See Animals on Robben Island as well! Things to Do (5)

So you set off to Robben Island, intent on seeing the prison cell of Mandela, but also remember that animals do inhabit... more travel advice

On Penguin Sanctuary, Robben Island, South Africa - Robben Island

Visit a little penguin sanctuary on... Things to Do (5)

After the 2-3 hour bus/prison tour on Robben Island, you are brought back to the docks and told to wait for your boat... more travel advice

Warnings and Dangers (1)
Long Lines Going to Robben Island

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Written Sep 25, 2008

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Robben Island, Cape Town

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Comments (16)

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BruceDunning Sep 15, 2010 at 2:04 PM

The description of the island and the caves was very interesting-and another place I now know a little about and am jumping for joy to remember
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hunterV Sep 18, 2009 at 10:17 PM

~ It was a great trip, well done, Norman!
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csordila Aug 4, 2009 at 12:15 PM

The prison looks not so interesting. but the penguins and the LIGHTHOUSE .........!!!!!! Best. L.
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SLLiew Jul 24, 2009 at 2:39 AM

Alcatraz of South Africa - not quite.
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Yaqui Jul 23, 2009 at 9:49 PM

That cave looks fantastic. Would love to explore that. Oh, the light house is beautiful. Nice page Norman!
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pollon Jun 30, 2009 at 12:07 AM

Penguins miss on my list (I do love to see animals in the wild when I travel) and I missed penguins in Australia where rabbits were a problem too!!
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unaS May 29, 2009 at 9:06 AM

Some of the best experiences are worth waiting for...
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hopang Apr 1, 2009 at 7:34 AM

Robben Island is UNESCO's world heritage site. It must be a great tourist destination. We must make it a point to visit this heritage island some day! ~ho & pang
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Kuznetsov_Sergey Mar 30, 2009 at 10:20 AM

You have had a great ferry ride indeed, in spite of a long line you suffered before! Thank Norman for sharing!
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LoriPori Feb 26, 2009 at 6:32 AM

What an interesting trip to Robben Island and you got to see Nelson Mandela's prison cell.