Cape Town: Robben Island Tour Including Ferry Tickets & Transfers
Description
A must-visit when in Cape Town. Robben Island is filled with a rich 500-year-old multi-layered history. The Island represents an important aspect of South Africa's. Please Note: When booking, please provide us with the following: - A passport or ID(for South African citizens) number - An emergency contact number - A pick up address This information is purely for SAMSA compliance and will not be shared with anyone other than the Master of the ferry for Robben Island. Incase the weather does not permit for the tour to take place, you can reschedule for another day. Should you need a pick up/drop off, there will be an extra cost of R250.00.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Begin your journey with a hotel pick-up in Cape Town and transfer to the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V&A Waterfront, where you will board the ferry to Robben Island. On arrival, take a short walk to the tour buses, passing historic structures built by prisoners. Your guided bus tour includes Robben Island’s most significant landmarks: the leprosy graveyard, the Lime and Bluestone Quarries, Robert Sobukwe’s house, and the Maximum Security Prison. You will also see, Nelson Mandela’s prison cell, where he spent 18 years in captivity. Guides, including former political prisoners, share powerful stories of resilience and South Africa’s fight for democracy. After the tour, return by ferry to Cape Town, where your driver will meet you for your transfer back to the hotel. ⏱️ The full experience lasts approximately 4–5 hours, including hotel pick-up and drop-off.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Please provide us with a pick up address. Departure from your location within 10km (6 miles) of the Cape Town CBD. Please note that additional charges may apply should your accommodation fall outside of this radius.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(275)
I really enjoyed my time on this excursion. From my hotel pick up to the ferry ride to the tour and back. My bus ride had a wonderful guide. She explained and shared with us her family’s Reference Book. She teared up as she told the story about the book which made me tear up as well. Our tour guide at the prison was very knowledgeable. He was a former prisoner and showed us where his bed was positioned in section D. The tour was absolutely necessary in order to understand the history of Robben Island. After the ferry ride back my driver was there to pick me up. I choose to stay at Victoria and Alfred to have dinner and to do some shopping. Highly recommend this tour on your stay to South Africa. Only reason I gave it a four stars is you we rushed through the prison. Wanted to read more about the story of Robben island.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review. We are very happy to hear that you enjoyed the full experience, from your hotel pickup to the ferry, the island tour, and your return transfer. Robben Island is a deeply emotional and important part of South Africa’s history, and we are glad the stories shared by the guides made such an impact on you. Hearing from guides with personal and family connections, as well as from a former prisoner, truly makes the experience more meaningful. We also appreciate your honest feedback regarding the prison section feeling a little rushed. The timing of the Robben Island tour is managed by the island/museum guides, but we completely understand your point, as many guests would love more time to read and absorb the history in detail. Thank you again for choosing our tour and for recommending it to others visiting South Africa. We truly appreciate your support.
The ferry was an hour late in leaving for the island and then the tour guide sent us back to the ferry an hour earlier than everyone else. We just sat on the ferry thinking that it was leaving any minute but all of the other tour groups were still sightseeing. We had less than 1.5 hours on the tour. To make it worse, the first stop on the tour was a gift shop and snack bar. The first guide on the bus came out and asked us for donations.
Thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to hear that your Robben Island experience did not meet your expectations. We understand how frustrating ferry delays and waiting times can be, especially when they affect the overall tour experience. Please note that the ferry schedule, island routing, bus tour, prison tour, and onboard timing are managed by Robben Island Museum. However, we fully understand your concern and will pass this feedback on, as delays and unclear timing can negatively affect the guest experience. We are also sorry to hear that the request for donations made you uncomfortable. Any donation or tip should always be completely optional. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We appreciate your feedback and will use it to improve how we prepare and inform future guests.
Our driver (Faysil & David) were extremely helpful and ensured our comfort at all times. The Robben Island tour was frighteningly educational. A must for everyone.
Thank you so much for your kind words. We’re delighted to hear that Faysil and David took great care of you and ensured your comfort throughout the experience, I’ll be sure to pass your feedback on to them. We’re also glad you found the Robben Island tour so impactful. It truly is a powerful and important part of South Africa’s history, and we agree, it’s a must for every visitor.
Robben island is a must visit and the tour of the prison was very interesting. I do feel they are trying to get too many people through and It felt like not enough time. I would have liked more freedom to explore the complex. I understand the prison had to be controlled.
Thank you for sharing your thoughtful feedback. We’re very glad you found Robben Island and the prison tour interesting and worthwhile. It is indeed a powerful and important site to visit. We also appreciate your comments regarding the timing and pace of the visit. As this is a highly structured and controlled heritage site, visitor flow is managed carefully, but we understand your wish for more time to explore. Thank you again for visiting and for taking the time to share your experience.
Definitely worth including on any trip to Cape Town, it's a sobering experience and valuable knowledge to better understand South Africa and it's history.
Thank you for sharing your thoughtful feedback. We’re very glad you found Robben Island and the prison tour interesting and worthwhile. It is indeed a powerful and important site to visit. We also appreciate your comments regarding the timing and pace of the visit. As this is a highly structured and controlled heritage site, visitor flow is managed carefully, but we understand your wish for more time to explore. Thank you again for visiting and for taking the time to share your experience.
Did the boat ride to this island where the prison is. Very informative and worth seeing while in Cape Town S. Africa.
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're so glad you found the Robben Island tour informative and worthwhile. It’s truly a powerful and meaningful part of South Africa’s history. We appreciate your support and hope to host you again for another unforgettable experience in Cape Town!
Driver picked up at the hotel and we still skip the line at the boarding place because we already have the ticket. Great tour, with cultural knowledge and proper structure.
Muito obrigado pelo seu comentário! Ficamos muito felizes em saber que o serviço de busca no hotel e o acesso sem filas tornaram a sua experiência ainda melhor. É um prazer proporcionar um passeio bem organizado e com conteúdo cultural enriquecedor. Esperamos recebê-lo novamente em breve!
Fayical was a great guide and driver, gave us clear instructions and took great care of us. Thank youn
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're delighted to hear that Fayical took great care of you and provided clear guidance throughout your experience. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back again on your next visit to Cape Town!
Very moving and educational experience. I learned a lot and enjoyed the tour. It’s a must for a tourist.
Thank you very much for your kind review. We are so pleased to hear that you found the Robben Island tour moving, educational, and enjoyable. It is a truly special experience, and we’re glad it left such a positive impression on you. We really appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again in Cape Town.
It was very informative. People may get sick on the boat ride over. But we never. It was emotional. Loved it.
We’re delighted to hear that you found the Robben Island experience informative and emotional, it truly is a powerful and moving part of South Africa’s history. Yes, the boat ride can sometimes be a little rough depending on the weather, so we always advise guests to be prepared just in case, but we’re glad you had a smooth crossing 😊. It was a pleasure hosting you, and we hope to welcome you back to Cape Town again soon!
