Robben Island South Africa is the perfect destination for history and nature enthusiasts. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Center and a top attraction in Cape Town. Located 7km off the coast of Cape Town, Robben Island changed the course of the world history. It is not just a tourist attraction, it is a journey that was walked by political prisoners through resilience.
Brief History:
Robben Island’s history stretches back over 500 years. The island was used for centuries by Dutch settlers as a place of banishment. However, its most defining chapter began during the apartheid period. The island became a major political prison designed to silent the loud ideologies of the freedom fighters. Notable fighters included Nelson Mandela, Robert Sobukwe, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Ahmed Kathrada and thousands of others. All these are still commemorated in the museum, on the Robben Island Wall of Remembrance.
What to Expect at Robben Island:
This Prison housed many anti-apartheid activists, the most famous being Nelson Mandela. He spent 18 of his 27 years of imprisonment here, detained in a tiny cell. The intention to isolate and psychologically defeat these activists ended in vain. This is because they secretly educated each other on politics, law and freedom.
Today, former in-mates guide tourists through the prison territory. No museum display matches hearing someone say, “I slept here.” Tourists arrive as visitors and leave as witnesses of a painful history. While at the Robben island museum, you’ll view the lime quarry where prisoners performed hard labor, a village where prison wardens lived with their families, a mosque and African penguin colonies. At the maximum prison, an ex-inmate guide will take you through Nelson Mandela’s prison cell, communal sleeping quarters. You will also get the opportunity to visit the isolation cells and the exercise courtyard where secret meetings were held.
The Robben island museum currently manages the operations at the island. It stands out as a global monument for reconciliation rather than revenge, through dialogue.
Robben Island is one of the top attractions in Cape Town. However, you can also visit other great destinations during your stay in Cape Town. These include: The Table Mountains, Cape Agulhas, Groot Constantia, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens and so much more.