Robben Island, Cape Town

Robben Island in Table Bay lies 7 kilometres off the coast of Bloubergstrand in Cape Town

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Township and Robben Island Combination Tour

  273 Reviews

    1 day

$68

On this tour you will visit different townships and the prison Mandela was incarcerated, giving you ...

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Offered by Get Your Guide

Robben Island Ferry & Island Tour With Hotel Pick-Up

  152 Reviews

   5 hour

$55

Secure a ticket for the ferry to Robben Island and visit the prison where Nelson Mandela was kept du...

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Cape Town Townships Tour including Robben Island

  131 Reviews

    9 hours

$77

Experience a thought-provoking guided tour of Cape Town and Robben Island, where ...

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Offered by Viator

Robben Island Ferry Ticket with Hotel Pick-Up

  117 Reviews

   5 hour

$55

This half-day package includes a hotel transfer by shared shuttle and a ticket to the ferry, plus a ...

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Cape Town: Half-Day Townships Tour with Robben Island Option

  83 Reviews

   8 hour

$75

Visit some of the notorious townships of Cape Town, including District Six, and learn more about Sou...

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Full-Day Robben Island and Cape Town City Tour

  36 Reviews

    9 hours

$105

A tour designed to maximize on your time in Cape Town, this tour includes all the ‘must-sees’ w...

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Offered by Viator

Full-Day Walk to Freedom Tour in Cape Town Including Robben Island

  20 Reviews

    9 hours

$89

This tour offers a wealth of insight into South Africa’s history and past injustices, the legac...

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Offered by Viator

Robben Island & Cape Town Private City Tour (Table Mountain)

  13 Reviews

    10 hour

$199

Learn more about the recent history of South Africa and visit the museum at the former prison on Rob...

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Offered by Get Your Guide

Robben Island & Township - Full Day Cape Town Tour

  8 Reviews

   8 hour

$84

Mobile Voucher Accepted

Feel the raw energy of Cape Town's history in one unforgettable morning. Visit the oldest and newest...

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Offered by Get Your Guide

Robben Island and Cape Town City Private Tour

  8 Reviews

    9 hours

$223

A tour designed to maximize on your time in Cape Town, this tour includes all the ‘must-sees’ w...

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Offered by Viator

Cape Town: Half-Day Tour of the City Townships

  7 Reviews

   8 hour

$75

Visit some of the notorious townships of Cape Town, including District Six, and learn more about Sou...

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Offered by Get Your Guide

Robben Island Tickets, Penguins & Private Cape Point Tour

  5 Reviews

    10 hour

$199

Robben Island tickets combined with a Cape Point Tour is the perfect way to catch two of the biggest...

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Half-Day Robben Island Tour from Cape Town

  5 Reviews

 4 hours

$195

Robben Island needs no introduction with regards to the significance of its place...

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Offered by Viator

Robben Island By Air Scenic Helicopter Flight

  3 Reviews

 20 minute

$151

Take a scenic helicopter ride to Robben Island for an unrivalled viewing experience. Circumnavigate ...

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Offered by Get Your Guide

Walk to Freedom Private Tour in Cape Town Including Robben Island

  2 Reviews

    9 hours

$229

This tour offers a wealth of insight into South Africa’s history and past injustices, the legac...

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Offered by Viator

Robben Island Ferry Ticket and Private Short City Tour

  1 Reviews

   6 hour

$65

Skip the lines to buy your Robben Island ferry ticket, and enjoy a short city tour of the historical...

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Offered by Get Your Guide

Private Cultural & Robben Island Tour

  No Reviews

 9 to 9.30 hrs

$167

Experience the tongues of 11 different languages, insight and interaction with di...

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Offered by Viator

Robben Island, Table Mountain and Cape Town City Private Day Tour

  No Reviews

 8 to 10 hrs

$167

Join us on one of the most popular heritage tours in South Africa and experience more about South A...

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Offered by Viator

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Robben Island, Cape Town

Robben Island in Table Bay lies 7 kilometres off the coast of Bloubergstrand in Cape Town.

Robben Island in Table Bay lies 7 kilometres off the coast of Bloubergstrand in Cape Town. Home to the prison in which Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for 18 of the 27 years he spent behind bars, the island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for bearing witness to South Africa's sombre history, and symbolizing 'the triumph of the human spirit, of freedom and of democracy over oppression'. The tiny 3.3 km long and 1.9 km wide oval island has been used since the end of the 17th century for the isolation of political prisoners and lepers. It was home to over 3000 anti- Apartheid political prisoners during their fight to end institutionalized racism.

To reach the island, take a 45 minute ferry ride from the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V & A Waterfront to the Murray's Bay Harbour. Explore the island to see the 17th century lime and bluestone quarries, the tomb of Hadije Kramat who died in 1755, 19th century administrative buildings including a chapel and parsonage, Robert Sobukwe's house, small lighthouse, remains and graveyard of a leper colony, the lepers' church, ruins of World War II military bunkers around the harbor, and the maximum security prison of the Apartheid era which has Mandela's cell. Guided tours present an overview of the island's history, as well as personal accounts of some former prisoners.

In stark contrast to its depressing history, the island and waters around are home to a great variety of wildlife, including over 132 species of birds such as African Penguins, Crowned Cormorants and Black Crowned Night Herons. You may also see tortoises, Cape Fur Seals, and Southern Right Whales.

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About Robben Island

 Table Bay, Cape Town

Robben Island and Nearby Sights on Map

Bloubergstrand Beach

Bloubergstrand has a white sand beach with great views of the Table mountain across the bay

Cape Town Stadium

Melkbosstrand Beach

Lion's Head

The distinctively shaped Lion's Head peak rises to a height of 669 metres between Table Mountain and Signal Hill, which was earlier called Lion's Tail

Cape Wheel

The Cape Wheel is a giant 40 metre high ferris wheel on the V&A Waterfront that offers panoramic views over the city, Robben Island, Table Mountain, and Paarl Mountains

Two Oceans Aquarium

The Two Oceans Aquarium on the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront showcases the marine life of the Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean, which meet at Cape Town

Victoria & Alfred Waterfront

The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront on the Atlantic coast in Cape Town is the highlight of South Africa's oldest working harbour

Table Bay

The Table Bay on the Atlantic Ocean is 12 miles long and 8 miles wide, with gorgeous white sand beaches that are great for windsurfing and kitesurfing

Bo-Kaap

Bo-Kaap is an ethnically diverse quarter of Cape Town, known for its brightly colored houses and cobble-stoned streets

Camps Bay

Camps Bay attracts hordes of international visitors every summer, who come here for the white sands and scenery