Robben Island is a small island in Table Bay. It was used as a maximum security prison for criminals for many years. During the years of apartheid, Robben Island began to be used as a political prison as well. Many leaders of the resistance movement were held at Robben Island - It was here that Nelson Mandela spent 18 years of his life. It is a truly moving experience.
In 1997 Robben Island was made into a museum. As you travel by ferry to the island, make sure you turn and look behind you at the spectacular view of Cape Town nestled at the base of Table Mountain. When you arrive at the Island you will be met by your guide and you will board buses that will take you to the various sites. This was a prison and it has been left in its original state. No attempt has been made to make it into a tourist center. There are rest rooms and there is a small store about half way along the bus tour where you can get a cold drink or a snack. There are some photographs along the wall by the dock. That's about it. Don't expect restaurants, dioramas, and tourist walkways.
The tours are conducted by former prisoners and, believe or not, by some former guards as well. The tour guides still live on the island. They will tell you about their own experiences, the day to day routine of the prisoners housed here, and the experiences of some of the famous people - like Nelson Mandela and Robert Sobukwe.
You will visit the infamous limestone quarry where many of the most notorious political prisoners were forced to work. You will see the lime cave which served as both eating area and outhouse - without the house. It was in this quarry that the erudite Mandela conducted university level classes during the breaks. These classes were open to both his fellow prisoners and their white guards. That's right - he invited the men guarding them to attend the classes as well, for he believed that they, too, were victims of apartheid. The guards were mostly poorer lower class whites without much formal education. Mandela believed that education would help them see the injustice of apartheid.
How could a man imprisoned for 18 years for trying to bring justice to his people be so giving and forgiving?!! As our guide described this aspect of the tour my eyes filled with tears. Nine months later, as I write this, they are tear filled again.
We go on vacation to our timeshare resorts to enjoy ourselves and to leave the troubles of the world behind. I was told that to go to South Africa and not see Cape Town with it's wine country, it's scenic Table Mountain, it's fabulous restaurants and nightlife would be to rob the senses -- but to visit Cape Town and not visit Robben Island would be to rob the soul.