"ROBBEN ISLAND TOUR." a Robben Island Travel Page by PEE-WEE

Robben Island, today a symbol of democracy and the refusal of the human spirit to be broken, has had a turbulent and troubled past.

For the past 400 years Robben Island has existed as a fort , mental asylum , leper colony and prison for POW'S (prisoners of war), Muslim, Khoi and African leaders who resisted first the early settlers then later the Apartheid Government.

Declared a World Heritage Site in December 1997, the island now boasts a very informative museum.
There is a guided tour through the Maximum Security Prison, a chance to see Nelson Mandela's cell and an opportunity to interact with some of the former inmates who have now made Robben Island their home.

These are just some of the experiences that make this short 30 minute journey from the V&A Waterfront by boat a must see.

This is where Nelson Mandela spent part of his life as a political prisoner in the apartheid era before being released in 1994 to become the president of South Africa.