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Round the World Travel Guide

Touring Robben Island

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Nelson Mandel's prison cell on Robben Island

Lucinda (Australia) and I ate lunch at the V&A waterfront before boarding the ferry to Robben Island. We both opted to organize the trip as part of our township tour given the waiting list for boat tickets can be several days. The prison tour was guided by an ex-political prisoner who was once held on the island along with Nelson Mandela and many others. Surprisingly, he and most of the island's employees live there today.

The ex-political prisoner who lead our tour

Our 3pm boat was split into two, creating a tour group size larger than I expected. Made up of families, couples, and a few younger backpackers, we walked through the prison which had recently undergone a makeover. Unlike the eerie feelings I felt in Cambodia's S-21, this prison's new interior paint job did little to give a dreary view of life there.

View of Cape Town and Table Mountain from Robben Island

In addition to the walking tour, we took a bus ride around the island, passing through the current residents' village, along the coast for great views of Cape Town, and past World War II embattlments and the limestone quarry where prisoners would work. Amazingly, the island is host to 148 different species of birds.

The island is overrun with bunnies

And up to 10,000 bunny rabbits. It has been in the news that the island will be closed for the first two weeks of November to cull the furry critters. Apparently a non-indigenous cat was removed, leading to an explosion of the non-indigenous bunnies. They've been destroying the island's vegetation so it's time for them to go.

Sunset over the new soccer stadium being build for the 2010 World Cup

During the 6pm ferry back to Cape Town, the sun was setting and I had my first view of the new stadium being build for the 2010 World Cup.

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Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking. For more of his adventures, follow him on Instagram or Twitter.

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Comments

  3. Kango Suz says

    October 27, 2008 at 11:40 am

    They can totally borrow my non-indiginous cat, although that might be dangerous to the indigenous birds as well…

  4. Kango Suz says

    October 27, 2008 at 4:40 pm

    They can totally borrow my non-indiginous cat, although that might be dangerous to the indigenous birds as well…

  5. Car Hire South Africa says

    November 26, 2008 at 8:18 am

    I second what Amy said, you seem to take the best photos, you obviously have a decent camera! Keep up the good work :smile:

  6. Car Hire South Africa says

    November 26, 2008 at 3:18 am

    I second what Amy said, you seem to take the best photos, you obviously have a decent camera! Keep up the good work :smile:

  7. Bruce Starke says

    October 16, 2010 at 8:41 pm

    While the tour is incredible just be aware that if the tour is cancelled by the organizers, you may well not have the fare refunded.This has to be applied for ( no idea why this is not automatically refunded to your credit card) and may not ever be refunded, I applied 3 times ( yes really) and did not get any money back.This is really poor service and spoiled an otherwise wonderful trip.

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