Former president Nelson Mandela is the most famous political prisoner to be held captive on Robben Island. But there is a lot more to the island than steely prison cells. 

Essence of the island

Robben Island, Dutch for “Seal Island” or “island of seals", can be found 12km off the coast of Cape Town. Rich in history, the island became a World Heritage Site in 1999 and its Robben Island Museum has welcomed tourists from all over the world. It can be reached via a ferry that departs from the V&A Waterfront. It is advisable to first visit the V & A Waterfront Information Centre. They will arrange bookings for your tours. Depending on the weather, it is open throughout the year. A new state-of the-art ferry, due to be launched in September, will be able to transport 300 passengers at a time. Consisting of a lower, medium and top deck, it will be the largest addition to the existing fleet.

An island of uniqueness

The island has a lot more to offer than just abundant history. In 1969, the Monturu Kramat was built in remembrance of one of Cape Town’s first imam Sayed Abdurohman Monturu. He was exiled to the island in the mid 1740s for teaching the Islamic faith, then considered a heinous crime. He later died in 1745. Many Muslim political prisoners paid homage to him before leaving the island.

A touch of pink

Robben Island also holds a deep connection for the gay traveller. In the 1700s when the Cape was a part of the Dutch East India Company's domain, men who were convicted of same-sex sexual transgressions were imprisoned on the island. In 1765, Nicolaas Modde was found to have engaged in sodomy with two slaves while imprisoned on the island. The three men confessed to their crimes before the Court of Justice as torture was often used to extract such confessions. They were sentenced to death. This sentence was carried out by drowning: the three men were bound together, loaded with weights, and thrown into Table Bay.

The unwell and unwanted

In 1846 Robben Island became a hospital for 'lunatics' lepers and chronically ill people from poorer communities. It soon developed a reputation for the poor sanitary conditions. The water was undrinkable and the food was toxic. There followed a leprosy 'scare' in the 1880s when many leprosy sufferers were rounded up and shipped to Robben Island.

Shining light

Minto Hill is the highest point on the island and this is where you'll find the Robben Island lighthouse. Built in 1863, it stands at 18m high. The wonders of this lighthouse are that it is the only lighthouse in South Africa to utilize a flashing light rather than a revolving light, yet it can be seen from more than 25km away.

Home to not just prisoners

Political inmates were not the first nor were they the last inhabitants on Robben Island. In early spring you can spot whales from its shoreline. Seals, penguins, a variety of buck and 74 species of birds also make it their home throughout the year. The penguins are a vital part of the island, thanks to The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB ), who release most oiled penguins here after they had been cleaned. Increased land activity has put them at risk, but thankfully the northern side of the island has been declared a sanctuary for these tuxedo-dressed creatures.

The island’s modern-day offerings

The island where Nelson Mandela was once incarcerated has now become a place of love. The organisers proudly say that none of the 150 couples who got married on the island have divorced. The couples have taken the struggle to heart saying, "If the former president could endure the struggle, then pledging 'till death us do part' shouldn’t be that bad."

The island looks forward to 2010

2010 World Cup fever hasn't escaped the island. With the new ferry underway, and the island currently receiving 1 800 visitors’ every day, it is preparing for the drastic influx of tourists. If you haven’t been to Robben Island yet, we suggest you do so soon. Make a day of it and tell us all about it. 

Cape Town is a historical city, book your package here