Robben Island Museum

5 Lee-Anne Curtis-Cox - 6 months ago

A guided tour to Robben Island is something that I would recommend South Africans complete at least once in their lifetime, and for tourists to include on their list of things to do here.

The ferry to Robben Island departs from the Vu0026A Waterfront and is about a 40 min cruise. On a non-windy day, the ride is very smooth with little chance of becoming seasick. Upon arrival on the island you climb onto a bus which stops at various interest points, allowing time for the tour guide to share fascinating historical facts and tales. The interest points include the burial sites, the quarry, the school, churches and military compounds.

One disembarks at a half way point where you can buy something to drink and snack on and take some photos. The bus tour ends at the prison grounds where you disembark. Another tour guide takes visitors around the prison and its grounds and we were lucky to have an ex-prisoner share some personal experiences and memories with us.

We left on the 11h00 ferry and only got back to the Vu0026A Waterfront around 15h00. Tickets are R400 for SA adults.

5 Manuel Manzano Höss - 3 years ago

The museum is housed on the former embarkation building for prisioners sent to Robben Island. It is well maintained and have a lot of information about the prisioners, the warders and families visiting the island. There is original artifacts, letters from the wifes of the prisioners and even the bed where the prisioners slept. I have visited the museum several times and usually is quiet, as it doesn't get much attention from the people walking around.

4 Travis Davids - a year ago

A must do if you want to see where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years of his jail sentence on Robben Island.

Robben Island is fairly large and you start with a bus tour with an on board guide giving you information about different buildings and landmarks as you drive around. You'll then head on foot into the maximum security prison.

We had a guided tour with an ex convict that gave us a deeper understanding about how the prison system functioned. You'll walk through the administration room, the armoury and various courtyard sections and jail cells with written stories on the walls of the jail cells as well as seeing Mandela's cell. Its insightful and quite the experience to walk where political activists and other prisoners lived and even died during their stay on the island.

1 Eimantas Galvydis - 2 years ago

They ask for passport then buy ticket. It is nonsense. Also bad organization. Everywhere was lines. We saw only some rooms, and half hour just talk, without any foto, video, or writen information

1 Laimis J. - 2 years ago

1. They require passports to enter the ferry.
2. Logistic organisation is super poor, we waited our bus for 30 min to one direction, and 40 min back.
3. The program is boring, no artifacts, no show, no interaction, just talking about history.
4. Groups are owercrouded, abot 60-70 people.

5 Okuhle Tinto - 9 months ago

visiting in the waterfront when you come Cape town is really the BEST! I know it can be pricey during high season, but WOW!So Worth it on every level! The vibe is super great,food is super delicious , the location is perfect, weather is awesome the views hmmm restaurants n shops wow, the service is excellent people are very friendly its a simply an outstanding location from start to finish. And if you are staying anywhere else, the history of our country is found the, seeing the boats, and the water , can’t talk about the affordability’s, ate corn dog 3 times????still wanted more , shopping ???? if you like me forgot your comforts sleepers at home? Don’t worry the are shops available for that just overall my experience was worth a while

5 Benard Mokoko Kotsoane - 8 months ago

What a pleasant trip, heard about all the historic news of those were taken to exile though it was sad but it has brought us to our freedom . Long walk indeed.