CapeTown Robben Island Tour:Pre-Booked Tickets &Extra Convenience
Description
Experience one of South Africa's most iconic attractions with our **Robben Island Tour from Cape Town**. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years in prison and discover the powerful history of the struggle for freedom. Your journey begins at the V&A Waterfront, where our team provides personal check-in assistance and helps you board the ferry with ease. On arrival, enjoy a guided bus tour of Robben Island, visiting the Lime Quarry, Leper Colony, WWII fortifications, and scenic viewpoints overlooking Cape Town and Table Mountain. The highlight is the Maximum Security Prison, where a former political prisoner shares a moving first-hand account of life during apartheid. This unforgettable **Robben Island experience** combines history, culture, and breathtaking scenery, making it one of the best things to do in Cape Town.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Once you step off the ferry, you board a tour bus with a local guide. The bus drives around the island while the guide explains the history, the prison system, and daily life on the island. Here’s what you will typically see: You see buildings and remains from the time when the island was used as a leper colony. • A small old church and several grave markers are pointed out. • Guides explain how people were isolated here long before apartheid.You’ll pass through: • The staff village where current island residents (guides, workers, museum staff) live. • Old houses and administrative buildings from the apartheid era.The Lime Quarry This is one of the most meaningful stops: • Prisoners, including Nelson Mandela, were forced to work here doing physically exhausting labour.After the Bus Tour: Walking Tour Inside the Prison After the bus loop, travellers enter the maximum–security prison area. A former political prisoner becomes your guide. You will see: Mandela’s cell (B-section)
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Last -minute Bookings include Complimentary Bottled water , Subjected to availability.
Reviews(54)
The Robben Island is a very good educational tour. The tour guide to the prison was a former prisoner and he shared memories with us....some of them very painful and makes you sad.
Dear Guest, Thank you very much for taking the time to share your experience with us. We are delighted to hear that you found the Robben Island tour educational and meaningful. Hearing the personal stories of a former political prisoner is truly one of the most powerful parts of the experience, offering a unique and emotional insight into South Africa’s history and the struggle for freedom. We appreciate your kind words and are pleased that we could assist with the pre-booked tickets and make your visit more convenient. Thank you for choosing KJA Tours, and we hope to welcome you back to Cape Town for another memorable experience in the future. Kind regards, Joseph Alphonse Kabera Director | KJA Tours
Without us, knowing, Viator arranged our tickets through a third-party person, not at the location of the boat ticket office. We were sent vouchers, but not tickets, and those vouchers were not good at the ticket window. With 90 minutes of effort, we had to go through via track down the third-party ticket merchant who casually walked into the lobby and proceeded to tell us we booked it all wrong and demanded 25 more dollars from each of us. We came to the boat two hours early so we could enjoy the museum, and all I can say is a good thing. I have used it many times and now will be much more careful about choosing their services.
Dear Guest, Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations. After reviewing your booking, we found that the reservation was made under the South African Citizen ticket option. This option is clearly marked and is strictly reserved for South African citizens who can present a valid South African ID at check-in. Unfortunately, international visitors are not eligible to use these tickets, and the ferry operator will deny entry if the incorrect ticket type is booked. When an incorrect ticket category is selected, it must be upgraded to the correct international ticket before travel, which is why an additional payment was required. This is a requirement of the ferry operator and not an extra charge imposed by our team. For future bookings, we kindly encourage all guests to carefully select the ticket option that matches their nationality and eligibility. Choosing the correct ticket type helps avoid delays, additional charges, or denied boarding on the day of travel. We appreciate your feedback and remain committed to providing accurate information and assisting all guests throughout the booking process. Kind regards, KJA Tours
An unforgettable and deeply moving experience. Visiting Robben Island was both educational and inspiring, with fascinating insights into South Africa’s history and the struggle for freedom. The tour was well organized, and the stories shared by the guides made the experience even more meaningful.
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that your visit to Robben Island was both educational and inspiring. It's rewarding to know you enjoyed the well-organized tour and found the stories shared by the guides so meaningful. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable Cape Town experience soon!
A sad but must-try experience. Both out transfer guy (Joseph) and our tour guide on the island (ex-prisoner Tom Moses) were amazing.
Thank you for your thoughtful review! We're so pleased to hear that Joseph made your transfer smooth and enjoyable, and that Tom Moses' personal stories made your Robben Island visit so meaningful. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable Cape Town experience in the future!
This was an incredible learning experience. The guides were amazing and you can get a real sense of what was experienced by those there and the importance and beauty of their cause.
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you found your visit to Robben Island both meaningful and inspiring. It's great to know our guides helped bring the island's powerful history to life. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable Cape Town experience.
I took the Robben Island Tour with Extra Conveniences and it was a truly unforgettable experience. From the moment we were picked up at our hotel to the drop-off back in the city, the service was seamless. Cape Town traffic is no joke, so booking the pickup was a smart move. The ferry ride was smooth, and the views of the city, ocean, and even dolphins playing alongside the boat were stunning. The “extra conveniences” meant an air-con car, ferry queue skip, assisted check-in at Nelson Mandela Gateway, and a small group radio so we caught every word. Our guide was knowledgeable, passionate, and engaging, and seeing Mandela’s cell with context from a former political prisoner was sobering and powerful. It’s not “fun,” but it’s essential if you want to understand South Africa’s history.
> **Thank you for taking the time to share such a thoughtful review! We're delighted to hear that our Extra Conveniences made your Robben Island experience smooth and stress-free from hotel pickup to drop-off. It's wonderful that you enjoyed the scenic ferry ride and found the guided tour so meaningful. Robben Island is a powerful part of South Africa's history, and we're pleased our team helped make your visit both comfortable and memorable. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable Cape Town experience!**
We did this tour as a family, and it turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip. Everything was well organized, from the ferry to the transport, so we could just enjoy the experience without worrying about logistics. Our guide shared the history in a thoughtful and engaging way, making it easy for everyone to follow. Visiting the prison and learning about Nelson Mandela and the other political prisoners was incredibly moving. The tour focused on hope, courage, and resilience, leaving us with a much deeper appreciation of South Africa's history. Highly recommend.
> **Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that your Robben Island tour was one of the highlights of your family's trip. It's great to know our seamless arrangements allowed you to relax and fully enjoy the experience. We're especially pleased that the history and stories shared by the guides left such a meaningful impression. Thank you for your kind recommendation—we hope to welcome you and your family back for another unforgettable Cape Town experience!**
I never thought I’d get to enjoy history, but Robben Island actually got me. The ferry ride was rough and l got seasick, but once we got to the prison it hit different. Mandela’s cell is tiny like smaller than my bedroom and I couldn’t imagine living there for years. The stories about prisoners studying at night and smuggling notes with soap felt like a movie, not a textbook. Walking through the limestone quarry was heavy too, knowing they damaged their eyes working there but still kept learning. Glad we got to go there
Thank you for sharing your heartfelt experience! We're so glad to hear that your visit to Robben Island left such a meaningful impression. While we're sorry the ferry ride was a bit rough, it's wonderful to know the powerful history, stories of resilience, and the significance of Mandela's cell and the limestone quarry made the journey worthwhile. Thank you for choosing to travel with us—we hope to welcome you back for another memorable Cape Town experience in the future!
At first l didn’t want to go because “history tour” sounds dry. But Robben Island was actually worth it. The ferry was rough but seeing Mandela’s cell in person hits different. It’s tiny.The guide explained how prisoners studied and sent secret notes even while breaking rocks at the quarry. That part was crazy. It’s not fun-fun, but it makes you think. Glad I went. And quite educative too
> **Thank you for your thoughtful review! We're delighted to hear that Robben Island exceeded your expectations and turned out to be such a meaningful experience. While we're sorry the ferry was a bit rough, we're glad the powerful stories, Mandela's cell, and the history shared by the guide made a lasting impression. Thank you for your kind words—we're pleased you found the tour both educational and worthwhile, and we hope to welcome you back for another memorable Cape Town experience!**
An unforgettable and deeply inspiring experience. The tour was well organized from start to finish, with smooth ferry transfers and knowledgeable guides who shared powerful stories about South Africa’s history. Visiting the prison where Nelson Mandela was held provided incredible insight into the struggle for freedom and democracy. The former political prisoners who guide parts of the tour bring a unique and authentic perspective that makes the experience truly special. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Cape Town. A must-see historical landmark and an important part of understanding South Africa’s journey.”
> **Thank you for your wonderful and thoughtful review! We're delighted to hear that your Robben Island experience was both inspiring and memorable. It's especially rewarding to know that the seamless organization, knowledgeable guides, and powerful firsthand stories from former political prisoners made such a lasting impression. Thank you for your kind recommendation—we truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable Cape Town experience!**
