Robben Island Half-Day Tour with Ticket, Hotel Pickup & Drop-Off
Description
Upon pickup from your accommodation in Cape Town, we will take you to the Silo District, where you will be greeted by a former political prisoner and taken to the Nelson Mandela Gateway. Upon arrival at Robben Island Museum, you will be greeted by a former political prisoner and given a tour. The excursion lasts approximately four hours, including pickup from your hotel. (Our driver/tour guide will not accompany you on the Robben Island museum tour. The tour begins with a bus ride around the island, followed by a visit to Nelson Mandela's jail cell and the long trek to freedom. After we return, A visit to Robben Island is a must to learn about South Africa's history, and this tour offers a convenient and effective way to get there. There is a pick-up and drop-off service from Cape Town hotels, an entrance to Robben Island, and a guided tour. Get a glimpse of the Island's history as a prison and hear about Nelson Mandela and how he spent 18 years in prison.
Tour Options
Itinerary
One of the most popular museums in South Africa, Robben Island excursions are best planned well in advance. This half-day package guarantees a hassle-free vacation by including round-trip transportation from your Cape Town lodging and museum admission. Make reservations in advance to prevent disappointment on the day of the event after visiting Nelson Mandela's cell and learning about the island's lengthy history. With a round-trip transfer from your hotel, you'll enjoy a hassle-free trip. You'll see the cell Nelson Mandela was held captive for 18 years. You'll pass buildings and a high wall constructed by prisoners during the 1960s on your way to the buses. The prison tour will be led by a Robben Island Tour Guide. (Please note that our tour guide/driver will not be joining you on the tour of the Robben Island museum.) Visit the prison cell of Nelson Mandela and upon our arrival back at the Jetty, your Tour Guide and driver will meet you at the entrance of the Nelson Mandela Gateway.
Return from Robben Island to the V&A Waterfront and enjoy some free time to do some shopping or grab a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants (cost not included). Learn about the history of South Africa, the fight against oppression, and the thousands of freedom fighters—among them former president Nelson Mandela—who were detained on Robben Island by taking a guided tour of the prison. Take the ferry back to the V&A Waterfront and use your free time to shop or eat at one of the many restaurants (own expense).
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
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(60)
Driver on time to get us to Robben island ticket office. Took us inside and waited till boat boarding. Was distracted by mobile when asked for tickets. Was there when we arrived back from the island. The island is well worth a visit. A very moving experience. Saw penguins too at the toilet stop.
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re delighted to hear that you found Robben Island to be such a moving and worthwhile experience. It’s wonderful that you also had the chance to see the penguins during your visit! We appreciate your comments regarding the driver. We’re pleased that the transfers and assistance with boarding were smooth and timely. We also value your observation about the ticket collection process and will share this feedback with our team to help us improve the guest experience. Thank you for choosing this tour, and we hope to welcome you on another memorable experience in the future.
I didn’t realize there were two parts and it was good to have the bus tour. Learned a lot and having a former prisoner give the history is very impactful. Was hard to hear the guide at times as the other group’s guide was very loud. Might be better with the whisper sound system to block out the background noise and when the full group isn’t able to fit into the space or when the room is too long & narrow.
Thank you for sharing your thoughtful feedback. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found the combination of the bus tour and Robben Island visit both informative and impactful. Having a former political prisoner share their personal experiences is indeed one of the most meaningful aspects of the experience. We also appreciate your constructive comments regarding the audio and group dynamics during the guided portion of the tour. We understand how background noise and space limitations can sometimes affect the experience, and your suggestion regarding a whisper audio system is valuable feedback that we will share with our operations team for consideration.
A sobering visit to Robben Island. The tour was very well done. Said picked us up from our hotel and we were first in line to board the ferry. Felt very safe. Dolphins, seals, a sea lion and sailboats helped lighten our mood on the way home.
Thank you for sharing your experience. We’re delighted to hear that your visit to Robben Island was both meaningful and well organized. It’s wonderful that Said helped make the day start smoothly by ensuring you were among the first to board the ferry and that you felt safe and well cared for throughout the excursion. We’re also glad that nature provided some special moments along the way—seeing dolphins, seals, a sea lion, and sailboats certainly adds a memorable touch to the journey. Thank you for choosing us, and we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable experience in Cape Town.
A Must Do! The tour is lead by former political prisoners. You can’t visit South Africa without taking a trip to the Robben Island Prison.
Thank you for the wonderful review! We’re so glad you had such a meaningful experience visiting Robben Island. Hearing the stories firsthand from former political prisoners makes the tour truly unforgettable and offers a powerful insight into South Africa’s history and journey to freedom. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again on another adventure soon
Incredible experience Talk and guide with an apartheid victim Heavy, but very educational Really good experience
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re truly glad you found the experience incredible and meaningful. Hearing firsthand stories from a guide who lived through apartheid can be powerful, and we’re pleased it made your visit both educational and impactful. We really appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you again for another memorable experience.
A thoroughly worthwhile and emotional experience. The guides are ex political prisoners and there stories are extraordinary.
Thank you very much for your kind words. We’re so glad to hear that you found the experience worthwhile and meaningful. Hearing the powerful stories from the former political prisoners is truly something special, and we’re happy it left such an impression on you. We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback and hope to welcome you again in the future.
The history of South will be incomplete without the mention of Robben Island. From the explorer's Station to the Prison of both civil crimes and later on to Political opponents. The Island was once considered a place of no escape, but now we can talk of professional swimmers crossing over for the Good Course (charity). History can help us to be more human. The scars can be very massive and be seen from thousand miles away, but it should not be paining. And that what we call healed healers. Mandela had a big heart.
Thank you so much for this deeply thoughtful and moving review. Robben Island truly holds a powerful place in South Africa’s history, and your reflection captures its journey—from isolation and suffering to remembrance, learning, and healing. We’re glad the tour allowed you to connect with the island’s past and its enduring message of resilience and humanity. As you beautifully noted, history reminds us how scars can heal and teach us compassion. Mandela’s legacy and the spirit of Robben Island continue to inspire hearts around the world. Thank you for sharing this perspective with us.
This was the most educational and intellectually fulfilling tour I’ve taken. This tour is much less about seeing sights and much more about learning about some critical South African history, and hearing about it from a former political prisoner on Robben Island. There’s a beautiful 30-45 minute boat ride in each direction and touring of the village and prison. Visiting the prison is sobering. The staff out at Robben Island are wonderful and have much knowledge to share. I highly recommend this tour.
Thank you very much for taking the time to share such a thoughtful and detailed review. We’re truly glad to hear that you found the tour educational and meaningful, and that the experience of hearing firsthand accounts from a former political prisoner made such an impact. Your kind words about the staff and the overall experience on Robben Island mean a great deal to us. We sincerely appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again in the future.
The pick up and drop off was seamless. The driver was good at communicating and sending all instructions in good time. I enjoyed the tour
Thank you very much for your kind review. We’re delighted to hear that the pickup and drop-off were seamless and that our driver communicated clearly and efficiently. It’s great to know you enjoyed the tour, and we truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. We hope to welcome you again on another tour in the future.
Booking cost twice as much as a regular ticket and we didn’t get anything extra for it not even a bottle of water as promised. The Tour itself was fine but that was not necessary through this booking. Bizarre money knocking.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re glad to hear that you enjoyed the tour itself. We’re sorry to learn that the booking did not meet your expectations and we sincerely apologize for the bottle of water that was promised but not provided. That is certainly not the experience we aim to deliver. By choosing to book through a tour operator, guests receive the convenience of advance arrangements and support, but we understand that this did not feel like added value in your case. Your comments are important to us and will be shared with our team so we can improve our service going forward. Thank you again for visiting, and we hope to have the opportunity to provide you with a better experience in the future.
