Description

Essentials about Robben Island in brief

Next to Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay, Robben Island in Table Bay off Cape Town is probably the best-known prison island in the world. And it owes this largely to one of the most famous prisoners in history, who was imprisoned on the island for almost two decades – Nelson Mandela. During the apartheid era, Robben Island was a symbol of the oppression of South Africa’s black population. However, since the end of apartheid and the release of Mandela and his fellow prisoners, the island has become equally a symbol of freedom.

The location of Robben Island

Robben Island measures 3.2 kilometers north-south and 1.7 kilometers east-west. The area of the island is 507 hectares. This makes it the largest island in the coastal area of the South African mainland. The island is located about 12 kilometers from Cape Town and just under 7 kilometers from the nearest coastline Bloubergstrand.

The history of Robben Island

The Robben Island base dates back to the Dutch, who supplied the ships of their East India Trading Company here. The suitability of Robben Island as a prison island was recognized early on, since escape attempts were practically hopeless due to the great distance to the mainland and the cold, dangerous ocean current. The island was therefore used as a convict colony as early as the 17th century, among others for members of the Cape’s resident tribes. In addition, the quarries yielded good slate building material, which was used, for example, to build the Castle of Good Hope. Until the 20th century, the island was also a camp for lepers, who lived here in isolated villages.

The prison on Robben Island

From 1939, Robben Island served as a military base, and in 1961 it was converted back into a prison island. With the rise of the anti-apartheid movement, Robben Island became South Africa’s most notorious prison for political prisoners. In addition to Nelson Mandela, other leading figures of the anti-apartheid movement were also imprisoned on Robben Island. With hard work in the quarry with inadequate clothing and nutrition, solitary confinement, beatings and only very limited contact with the outside world, the prisoners were to be personally broken.

However, increasing resistance arose against the inhumane prison conditions. After strikes and protests by the prisoners and increasing international pressure on the South African apartheid regime, more humane conditions were finally introduced. From then on, prisoners were even allowed to study in detention. The main credit for these improvements goes to Nelson Mandela, who was imprisoned on Robben Island for 18 years. He used his free time for his own further education and also called on his fellow prisoners to do so, who significantly named the place Mandela University in the 1970s. In 1994, Nelson Mandela became the first black president of South Africa to include eleven of his former fellow inmates from Robben Island in his government.

In 1991, the maximum security prison for political prisoners on Robben Island was dissolved. Finally, in 1996, the wing for common criminals was also closed. Robben Island has been open for tours since 1997. Today, the island is a national memorial, a much-visited museum and, since 1999, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Visiting Robben Island

The Robben Island tours start at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town, where a new reception building has been built (the Nelson Mandela Gateway). From there, ferries depart for Robben Island. Once on the island, visitors first take a bus tour of the island, where all of Robben Island’s major facilities are shown. Afterwards, one can visit the prison, of which only one wing is still preserved.

Website

robben-island.org.za

Opening hours

The ferries depart at 9 am, 11 am and 1 pm from the Nelson Mandela Gateway towards Robben Island (in high season from 1 September there will be an additional tour at 3 pm).

The tours last about 4 hours (incl. return trip).

Admission fees

Adults: R340

Children: R190

For information on possible discounts, see the website.

Address

Getting there

By public transport:

Robben Island can only be visited on guided tours.

Mit dem Auto:

Robben Island can only be visited on guided tours.