Robben Island Bus Tour – Nelson Mandela’s Prison Cell

Robben Island – symbol of the fight against the suppression during the apartheid area

This island, which is only 5 km from the Cape Town city bowl, is known by almost everyone – Robben Island. Nowadays, this small island is a symbol of the fight against the suppression during the apartheid area, which is characterized by one name – Nelson Mandela. In 1997, Robben Island became a museum and in 1999 it became a UNESCO Word Heritage Site.

Robben Island Tour – Departure Point

Point of departure for a Robben Island trip is the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. Next to the Clock Tower there is a modern terminal building for Robben Island visitors. In honour of the most famous prison inmate, it was named Nelson Mandela Gateway.

Here you can find a lot of interesting information and photographs of Robben Island. Visitors will board the modern ferries for the 30-minute ride to the small harbour of the island. During the ferry ride to Robben Island, guests can enjoy fantastic views of Cape Town skyline with the majestic Table Mountain in the background.

Round trip on Robben Island

On arrival, visitors will board a bus, which takes them on a round trip (approx. 1 hour) to the most important sites on Robben Island. A guide will give valuable information at each stop. 

One of the stops during the round trip is the limestone quarry where the inmates had to work during the scorching heat. At the end of the tour, guests can visit the remnants of the high-security prison.

The view inside the small prison cell where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for 20 Jahre years will give you the shivers. The prison courtyard can also be visited. This is where the photo of the inmates breaking stones was taken.