Robben Island
Robben Island is a world heritage site located off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa. The island was originally used as a leper colony, but later became an apartheid prison. Nelson Mandela, the world-famous South African leader of the anti-apartheid movement, was imprisoned on Robben Island for 18 years. Today, the island is open to tours, and visitors can see the cell where Mandela was held, as well as the prisons and leper colony.
It’s historical importance aside, the island is also home to a variety of wildlife, including penguins, seals, and ostriches and a feral population of peacocks. The boat trip to Robben Island from Cape Town takes about an hour, and tickets can be purchased at the Waterfront or online in advance. Tours of the island are conducted by former prisoners, making for a unique and enlightening experience.
Popular Activities Around Robben Island
Robben Island is best known as historical landmark with significance in South Africa’s political history, but this World Heritage Site offers so much more.
