Robben Island

On our last day in Cape Town, Loyola took a group tour to Robben Island. The tours depart from the Victoria & Alfred waterfront. Ferries leave the port several times a day. We took the 9am ferry and it was really hot already so I would not want to take one later in the day. Tickets should be purchased days in advance as always they sell out.

They can be purchased here: http://www.robben-island.org.za/

It begins with about a half hour boat ride to the island. Once you land, you are greeted by your guide. Every guide is a former prisoner and also lives on the island. The guide brings you throughout the inside of the prison and shows you Nelson Mandela's solo cell, the jail yard and other major landmarks.

Additionally, there is a 45 minute bus tour after the prison tour which was interesting but somewhat miserable because its so hot! The bus tour takes you by the leper graveyard and church, Robert Sobukwe's house, the warden's village and the lime quarry (where the prisoners worked). Also - make sure you sit on the left side of the bus because you cannot see most of the sites from the right side.

I was very surprised that this was not listed in the 1000 places to see before you die. It's definitely a must-see in Cape Town given its historical importance in the Apartheid movement.

Welcome to Robben Island!

View of the main prison

The prison yard. The prisoners were allowed only a few hours a day to exercise here. Nelson Mandela hid the manuscript for his autobiography here. At one point, the wardens found a draft of the book and took it away but Mandela had luckily saved a second draft in a different area of the courtyard.

Nelson Mandela's cell

Former prisoners

Our guide explaining their prisoner identification cards

Prisoner Cell

Leper Graveyard - we passed this on the bus tour. Before Robben Island was a political prison, the lepers were banished here. There is a leper church on the island as well.

Loyola Comparative Law Class (the sign says Robben Island but you can barely see it)

Beautiful view of Cape Town & Table Mountain from the boat ride back to the waterfront