Robben Island. The former home of Nelson Mandella, it has now been made in to a museum. This is a prison on an island, where some of the most dangerous criminals were held.
The island is located just off Cape Town. To access the island, all you have to do is get on one of the boats owned ... Read review
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Advantages: Very educational Disadvantages: Not much food available, some guides not understandable
Robben Island. The former home of Nelson Mandella, it has now been made in to a museum. This is a prison on an island, where some of the most dangerous criminals were held.
The island is located just off Cape Town. To access the island, all you have to do is get on one of the boats owned by the island, which are modern and clean, and you will be whisked directly to the island. You must, however, pre-book your tickets in advance. ...You learn that the reason Robben Island is just off Cape Town, or Kaapstad in Afrikaans, is so that the prisoners would be able to see the city all busy, and people free to do as they please, but they were locked up in prison, with nothing to do.
You then go for a bus ride around the Island. You see that there's actually a small village, with a school and even its own Pick 'n' Pay supermarket! These people are the children of prison ... more
Robben Island. The former home of Nelson Mandella, it has now been made in to a museum. This is a prison on an island, where some of the most dangerous criminals were held.
The island is located just off Cape Town. To access the island, all you have to do is get on one of the boats owned by the island, which are modern and clean, and you will be whisked directly to the island. You must, however, pre-book your tickets in advance.
On arrival, you are instructed on what to do, and precautions to take. Then, you are given a tour by one of the ex-convicts, who show you around the prison and what's what.
You learn that the reason Robben Island is just off Cape Town, or Kaapstad in Afrikaans, is so that the prisoners would be able to see the city all busy, and people free to do as they please, but they were locked up in prison, with nothing to do.
You then go for a bus ride around the Island. You see that there's actually a small village, with a school and even its own Pick 'n' Pay supermarket! These people are the children of prison staff.
You are also able to take in the sheer beauty of the island, its wonderful trees, hills. And you also get to see a quarry they have there. And, when I went, there was even a mini-shipwreck! Goodness knows how that got there!
So once back inside, you are allowed to roam free around the cells. But if you misbehave, you are locked up for the rest of the day! And then, you are allowed to see Nelson Mandella's cell. But you are not allowed inside - you have to look through the window.
It really is an amazing experience, which shows you heaps of stuff you never knew before, and you really get an idea of the suffering these people had to go through there.
You are told many stories about people trying to escape, people dying and suicides, and it's all very interesting - definitely worth a visit! But there is one story that you aren't told...
...Robben Island bought a new bus, because the ones thay had - and have at the moment are a bit old. It was a state-of-the-art machine, worth £100,000. So, they were bringing it over from the mainland suspended in a helicopter, and it lost its grip and dropped the bus in the water!
The weather is generally good - about the same as Cape Town. It' an idea to take some money, but not too much, because with all those criminals around... There's quite an interesting shop which sells lots of memoirs.
If you're stuck in Cape Town with nothing to do, then just ring up Robben Insland and go there for the day - it's really simple, educational and fun for the kids, and you can have some serious problems trying to find the way out!
Unfortunately, there is a bit of a problem. Some of the guides do not speak very good english, and are hard to understand, and sometimes they don't understand you. Also, you can't get any lunch!
I would recommend this trip to anyone and everyone - it's absolutely fascinating. It's easy to access - the boat takes you there and back and it really is just great entertainment. A must for anyone visiting Cape Town.
Advantages: unique view into Nelson Mandela's prison life Disadvantages: trips may be cancelled due to bad weather
Robben Island is known the world over as a place of banishment, exile and imprisonment, for nearly 400 years colonial and apartheid rulers banished those they regarded as political troublemakers, social outcasts and the unwanted of society to this rocky outcrop in Table Bay.
During the apartheid years Robben Island became internationally known for its institutional brutality. Some freedom fighters spent more than 25 years in prison for their beliefs. ... ...Now you can visit Robben Island, the standard tour includes: -
A return boat trip across Table Bay.
A visit to the famous maximum-security prison, which includes the Footsteps Of Mandela Tour- from the main prison entrance through the famous b-section, which includes Nelson Mandela's cell and also the Cell Stories Exhibition in A-Section- a stark area of 40 isolation cells with artefacts loaned by ex-political prisoners. Intimate stories of lesser-known ...
catman 29.03.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Robben Island (South Africa)
Advantages: A trip well worth experiencing Disadvantages: none
...offered the chance to visit Robben Island but I felt that it was something I wanted to experience with people that I knew as I was certain that it was going to be a daunting event. The prison was set up to hold Islamic holy men, political dissidents, pirate and murderers. By far the most famous of the prisoners was Nelson Mandela who was incarcerated on the island for 27 years for being a political dissident. The last political prisoners left in ... ...island as a wildlife sanctuary and place of pilgrimage for South African nationalism. I was immediately struck by the feeling of total entrapment. The only escape for the prisoners was across a treacherous stretch of water infested with man-eating sharks. The entrance to the prison housed the visiting block where relatives could apply six months in advance for a day pass. Prisoners were only allowed two visits a year. On the tour around the island ...
vix82 07.03.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Robben Island (South Africa)
Advantages: A great all round experience Disadvantages: If there was one there is no break period, no place to get food etc.
...There is so much history to Robben Island from before the time is was a prison camp as well. The view of Cape Town coming back on the boat in the evening all lit up was stunning as well. It was very educational as well. Would definately recommend it. ...
ppwithers 05.05.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Robben Island (South Africa)
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