Nelson Mandela's Robben Island Prison Museum Cape Town City Tour + Ferry Tickets
Description
This is a great tour which brings the tourist face to face with history, nature and sightseeing opportunities. Experience the life of World Statesman Nelson Mandela during his 18 years of imprisonment at the world heritage site Robben Island as part of his 27 years in prison. Climb the Table Mountain - voted one of the new 7 world wonders in 2012, attracts 800 000 visitors annually. Experience Cape culture at Bo-Kaap that has bright coloured houses as a celebration of their freedom from slavery. The first residents arrived from Indonesia, Java, Malaysia and other parts of Asia. It is also a heritage site. The Company Gardens has a rich history, it has also has museums like the Slave Lodge, the Iziko South African Museum, the Planetarium. The S.A. Art gallery, the Cape Town Holocaust centre, St Georges Cathedral. There is also amazing fauna and flora. The Castle of Good Hope is the oldest standing colonial building in South Africa.
Tour Options
Itinerary
After being picked up from your hotel in Cape Town, you will be driven to the V&A Waterfront where you board the Robben Island Ferry to the world-famous place of incarceration of Nelson Mandela for 18 of his 27 years. This place, dubbed “South Africa Alcatraz” served as a leper colony, a place of isolation, banishment, and imprisonment. The Island is a state reminder of the harsh conditions endured as a reward for freedom from the Government of apartheid. After the historical, emotional, educative and informative tour which is conducted either by ex-prison warders or ex-prisoners of Robben Island, you board the ferry back to the Waterfront. You then have lunch and are picked up immediately after.
The tour proceeds to the Bo Kaap (Afrikaans for upper Cape) that has colorful houses for a Cape cultural experience. Also known as the Cape Malay Quarter, this is one of the major tourist attractions on the City tour. It is a place known for its brightly coloured homes and cobblestoned streets. The area is traditionally a multicultural neighbourhood with a predominantly Muslim community. Slaves were initially imported from Malaysia, Indonesia and other parts of Africa hence the name “Malay”.
The Company Gardens is a park and heritage site located in central Cape Town. The gardens were originally created in the 1650s by the Dutch East Indian Company purposefully to provide fresh vegetables, fruit, and water. Here are some of the reasons you visit this garden History – It was built as a refreshment station for sailors sailing around the tip of Africa to and from the East. Ships sailing to the East would stop by after months at sea to stock up on fresh produce which was grown in the Garden and freshwater – hence, “The Company Garden”. There is so much in terms of history in the garden, with a combination of memorials, statues, and monuments all contributing to the rich history of the Garden. There is more to see. Critters – This garden is home to amazing and overwhelming amounts of fauna. In there you will find pigeons, Egyptian Geese, herons, rodents the famous squirrels and last but not least an aviary where you can view dozens of bird species. If you fancy it, you may buy a bag of peanuts in the gardens to feed the squirrels which are more than happy to scamper right up to you for a snack. The Food The Food – The restaurant in the Company Gardens is very popular with domestic and international tourists Sit down and enjoy traditional Capetonian food that includes – burgers, sandwiches, fish, and chips. A variety of juices, beers, milkshakes, and wine can be enjoyed in the huge outdoor seating area. Really a lovely place to enjoy a city centre lunch, and beneath the large trees among the reeds- a dreamland The Art- The Company Gardens is also home to the South African Art Gallery, which houses an impressive permanent collection of South African, African, British, French, Dutch and Hamish art. This Gallery also hosts temporary exhibitions by some of the country’s top artists, and occasionally international artists too. The Natural Beauty- A trip to the Company Gardens is not complete without sparing a moment to admire the beautiful flora. There’s an 80-year-old bamboo plantation, the Ginkgo tree with no living relatives, the towering rubber tree and the ancient saffron pear Next to the Company Gardens is the South African Parliament, National Library of S.A. St Georges Cathedral, Slave lodge, centre for the books and more. After the Company Garden, you proceed to the Castle of Good Hope.
This is an imposing structure in the City of Cape Town known as The Castle of Good Hope. It was built by the Dutch between 1666 and 1679 and is the oldest standing colonial building in S.Africa. This has been the centre of civilian, political. Religious and military life at the Cape from around 1679. In its current state, the Castle arguably represents one of the best-preserved 17th century DEIC architecture on the entire globe. The Historical building now houses among others the William Fehr Collection, a permanent ceramic exhibition (FIRED) and the Castle military museum. The tour ends with a drop off at your hotel.
Our registered Guide will then take you to District Six Museum which is located in the former inner city residential area in Cape Town. This Museum was established in 1994 as a memorial to the forced removals of 60 000 multicultural inhabitants of District Six. Tourists will be taken on an emotional tour about the forced removals from 1968 after a declaration by the Apartheid government in 1966.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick up from any hotel in Cape Town within a 5 km radius from the city center. We also do pick ups from the Cape Town Cruise Ship Terminal
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(12)
The Ultimate Cape Town Duo If you only have one day to see the "must-sees" in Cape Town, this combo trip with Raw Tours is the way to go. Trying to coordinate the ferry to Robben Island and the cable car tickets for Table Mountain on your own can be a logistical headache, but these guys made it seamless. The Highlights • Robben Island: A deeply moving experience. The boat ride offers a great view of the city skyline, but the heart of the tour is being led through the prison by a former political prisoner. Their first-hand accounts add a layer of emotion and authenticity you just can't get from a guidebook. • Table Mountain: After the somber history of the island, heading up the mountain was the perfect "high" to end the day. The views from the top are world-class. • Stress-Free Logistics: This is where Raw Tours really shines. They handled the bookings and kept us on schedule. In a city where the weather can change in five minutes (affecting both the ferry and the cable car), having a team manage the timing was a huge relief. A Few Tips for Travelers • Book Early: These combos sell out fast because Robben Island tickets are like gold. • Layers are Key: It’s windy on the boat and chilly at the top of the mountain, even if the city feels warm. • Patience is a Virtue: Both sites are popular, so expect some queues, but the Raw Tours team did a great job of navigating us through the crowds. Bottom Line: An efficient, professional, and powerful way to experience the two biggest icons of the Mother City. Highly recommended!
Excellent tour by Raw Tours Very well organized. The tour guide was very informative, very educational. Kudos to Raw Tours.
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted that you enjoyed such a well-organised and informative tour. Our guides are passionate about sharing knowledge and creating enriching experiences, so it’s great to hear that the tour was both educational and enjoyable. Your kudos mean a lot to the Raw African Safaris team, and we look forward to welcoming you again soon!
We had a great time with Remmy sightseeing and learning the rich history of Cape Town! He was very fun and friendly to hang out with. Very great experience!
Thank you for your lovely review. We’re so happy to hear that you had a great time sightseeing and learning about the rich history of Cape Town with Remmy. It’s wonderful to know that his fun and friendly personality made the experience even more enjoyable. Thank you for choosing Raw African Safaris. Explore more of our tours here: https://rawafricansafaris.com/day-tours/ We hope to welcome you again soon. — The Raw African Safaris Team
This family tour was a perfect blend of fun and learning The ferry ride was calm and comfortable and upon arriving at Robben Island the guide explained everything clearly Children had a chance to understand history while adults enjoyed the experience and surroundings Every step of the tour was well organized and family It was a truly memorable day making this tour an excellent choice for families visiting Cape Town.
Thank you for such a wonderful review. We’re delighted to hear that your family tour was a perfect balance of fun and learning, and that both the ferry ride and the guided experience at Robben Island met your expectations. It’s especially rewarding to know that the children were able to engage with the history while adults enjoyed the surroundings as well. We truly appreciate your kind words about the organization of the tour. Thank you for choosing Raw African Safaris. Explore more of our tours here: https://rawafricansafaris.com/day-tours/ We hope to welcome you and your family again soon. — The Raw African Safaris Team
Sam and Remy were amazing! Remy was extremely knowledgeable of Cape Town's history. We learned so much! I highly recommend this group!
Thank you so much for your kind words. We’re thrilled to hear that Sam and Remy made your experience so memorable, and that Remy’s knowledge of Cape Town’s history added so much value to the tour. It means a lot to us that you learned so much and would highly recommend our team. Thank you for choosing Raw African Safaris. Explore more of our tours here: https://rawafricansafaris.com/day-tours/ We hope to welcome you again soon. — The Raw African Safaris Team
We did 5 different tours with Remmy and his company. This tour was great because my friend Roy from university has the best store called the African Trading Port to shop right when you return. Tell Roy that Akida sent you for the VIP treatment. You have to do all the tours with Remmy and his company from Table Mountain to the penguins to the best beaches. Remmy can also arrange private tours for you to go to wineries such as Mhudi. I’ve traveled around the world and Remmy and his company was the best tour guide company that I’ve ever experienced in my life. It is a MUST to use them if you visit Cape Town.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review and for joining us on five different tours! We’re truly grateful for the trust you placed in our team throughout your time in Cape Town. It’s fantastic to hear that you enjoyed the variety of experiences. We also appreciate your kind words about Remmy; he takes great pride in creating memorable and personalized experiences for every guest. It means a great deal to hear that, with all your global travels, our tours stood out as your favorite. Thank you again for the heartfelt recommendation. We look forward to welcoming you back on your next visit to Cape Town!
Hello. The owner Remmy took such good care of us even before we left the United States. He spent countless hours answering all of my questions to make me feel safe. The day of our your, He sent Kuda who was our driver and he also was awesome. Both were real gentleman and very knowledgeable about the tours.. I truly appreciate Remmy making this happen for me at the last minute. His information is locked in and we will use him again if we return to Cape Town. Bravo Remmy
We booked the trip on-line. Unfortunately everything went wrong ! Nobody met us at the pick up rendez-vous. We angrily called RAW tours…. Remy answered the phone and quickly calmed us down. They missed the booking, but a true test of a professional is how you recover from such an oversight. Remy rushed down to meet us, no luck, all ferries were booked, NOT wanting to give up, using his powers of influence he finally got us on another ferry to Robben Island. My wife was overjoyed, Remy was intent on not spoiling our experience. We appreciated all his efforts. To our surprise, Remy was at the Port upon our return only to check on us, he so exceeded our expectations we ended up going to the Cheetah Farm in the afternoon with him for another great experience. Our credit to Remy and RAW Tours for their dedication to customer service, things can go wrong at anytime but it’s how you recover that shows your true qualities. BRAVO !! Thank you from, Andrew and Janett B.
The views where amazing, l took a lot of photos, This was such a memorable tour. Everyone knows about the great Nelson Mandela but to actually tour inside and around the prison where he was held for 18yrs of his 27yrs life imprisonment. You will never forget a single moment of your experience on Robben Island. When thinking of visiting Robin Island think of RawTours and Remmy as your Tour Guide.
I had a great time. My tour guy was in time and very knowledgeable about everything Cape Town and the rest of South America. I will be using this company again when I return.
Hello Thank you for taking the time to write this review. Its a pleasure to be of service as always. See you on your return leg!! We will be waiting for you.
