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.

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 V&A 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 V&A Waterfront around 15h00. Tickets are R400 for SA adults.

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

This is a must see as a memorial to South Africa's history. The museum involves a 30 minute boat ride each way, a 45 minutes walking your though the jail and a bus tour of the island. The walking tour is the part that features the former prisoners and guards leading the tours. We took the last tour of the day and our guide was definitely tired. There aren't many former prisoners and guards left so they are all working a lot to fit in the tours. Accessibility note: We had three folks in our group with visual disabilities and they were welcomed to touch anything they wanted (even if it was off limits to everyone else) as well as enter Mandela's cell.

A very powerful experience. There is a 30 minute boat ride, then a short, guided bus ride while on the island, followed by a very long, scripted speech from a former political prisoner. The speech lasts probably 35 to 40 minutes and covers a ton of great information, but it takes place almost entirely in one location. By the time the speaking portion is done, you're given about 60 seconds to snap a quick photo of Mandela's prison cell, and then have to hurry back to the boat at the dock. I would suggest having the speaking portion be significantly shortened, allow people to explore a bit more, and provide ample time for everyone to see Mandela's cell, and reflect at a pace that isn't so rushed.

Amazing staff. Had a wheelchair user and they were very helpful and accommodating. It made a tour more simpler and peaceful

They need to improve their services and communication a lot. I bought the ticket in advance via the website, and on the day of my visit, they only informed me at Mandela gateway that the day's tours had been canceled. This is a tremendous lack of consideration for tourists. The attendants were not at all receptive to the negotiations, implying that the tourist was to blame for the cancellation. They could at least have warned us in advance. Or rescheduled it for the same day.

Whenever I visit a new city, I always try and make time for culturally significant sightseeing. Robben Island was one of the worst tours I've been on. Starting with the 60 minute delay with no exanatjon or apology, it was one disappointment after another. Upon arriving from the Ferry, you're herded into what felt like an apartheid era coach with around 50 other people. One of the staff explains the sites via the microphone. With the amount of people on the coach, if you're on the wrong side it's difficult to see, plus there's no depth to what she's saying, more 'this is a church' and not much explanation as to the history of it. That part lasted about 10-15 minutes before being ushered back off the bus to a historically accurate tuck shop where you have as much time to buys snacks as you had to sightsee on the coach. Invigorating. The final stop is at the prison. That's a bit better. A previous convict takes this part of the tour. He's the best part about the tour, but through no fault of his own, having a thick accent, and speaking to a large group of 50 people, it felt so lacking intimacy and depth, it was hardly worth the effort. Interesting nuggets are shared before you're taken for a quick photo op at Mandela's cell before being herded (and I mean herded) back to the ferry. Genuinely, I could have overlooked all of this if I'd felt like I'd learnt about the island's history and Mandela. I learnt more from the TV screen affixed to the Ferry on the way there and back, than I did during the actual experience. What is clearly an important part of South Africa's history is not given any justice with this tour. A money grab packing as many sweat soaked tourists in as possible. So disappointing. Would not recommend to anyone. Better off checking Wikipedia or watching a documentary. Go and explore the beautiful outdoors that Cape Town has to offer instead.

After a long wait came a rather chaotic, disorganised, cramped embarquent procedure on a boat that has seen better days. Same thing once on the island. You are randomly dispatched without explanation part on a bus, part on foot. The prison buildings were quite sterile. The only good thing were the former political prisoners that told you their story of the place.

Cannot really say how it is as I haven’t been. They canceled the trip due to wind (fair) however we never got a refund. When we complained they asked us for a listing of our credit card expenses. Absolutely insane asking for this and absolutely unprofessional!

Robben Island, South Africa 🇿🇦 Robben Island is an island in Table Bay, 6.9 kilometres west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, north of Cape Town, South Africa. It takes its name from the Dutch word for seals (robben), hence the Dutch or Afrikaans name Robbeneiland means “seal island”. Nelson Mandela a political activist and lawyer was imprisoned on the island for 18 of the 27 years of his imprisonment before the fall of apartheid and introduction of full, multi-racial democracy. Robben Island is a South African National Heritage Site as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Robben Island is accessible to visitors through tours that depart from Cape Town's waterfront.

This is an obvious must-do for visitors to South Africa and hopefully all South Africans would be able to visit as well. While the whole experience is sobering and informative, the top highlight was hearing from a former prisoner. Having him personally tell of his imprisonment while standing in the place of his incarceration is riveting. We're grateful to have had the privilege of hearing his testimony while there are still former prisoners living and willing to tell their story.

It was an amazing travel in my life

Its humbling.. very humbling.. if your there to walk through the Footsteps of a country wounded by other people.. so inspiring

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.

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.

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

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.