Robben Island
Robben Island is a complex, sensitive eco-system and as such is protected by South African Law as a nature conservation area. In addition to this it is designated a World Heritage Site and has to balance additional stringent conservation requirements in line with RIM’s mission of ensuring public access to the Island’s heritage
Robben Island (Afrikaans: Robbeneiland) is an island in Table Bay, 6.9 km west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, Cape Town, South Africa. The name is Dutch for "seal island." Robben Island is roughly oval in shape, 3.3 km long north-south, and 1.9 km wide, with an area of 5.07 km².It is flat and only a few meters above sea level, as a result of an ancient erosion event. Nobel Laureate and former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela was imprisoned there for 18 of the 27 years he served behind bars before the fall of apartheid. To date, three of the former inmates of Robben Island have gone on to become President of South Africa: Nelson Mandela, Kgalema Motlanthe, and current President Jacob Zuma.
Robben Island is accessible to visitors through tours that depart from the Waterfront of Cape Town. Tours depart three times a day and take about 3.5 hours, consisting of a ferry trip to and from the island and a tour of the various historical sites on the island that form part of the Robben Island Museum. These include the island graveyard, the disused lime quarry, Robert Sobukwe’s house, the Bluestone quarry, the army and navy bunkers and the maximum-security prison including Nelson Mandela’s cell.
Currently the ferries operate at 09h00, 11h00 and 13h00. (The 15h00 will be added when peak season commences on 01 September 2015). Passengers should arrive no later than 30 minutes prior to the scheduled times of departure, boarding gates close 10 minutes before departure time
Robben Island
With Robben Island being in the Tourism and entertainment hub of Cape Town, they are only a 10-minute Drive away from places like the Circa Hotel, the mycity bus hubs and the La Muse restaurant.
Robben Island Cape Town South Africa
The standard tour to Robben Island is about 4 hours long with two half hour ferry trips, this is only true for the Sikhi as other boats take longer, between 30 min and 1 hour.
Circa Hotel Luxury Apartments Cape Town
With Robben Island being in the Tourism and entertainment hub of Cape Town, they are only a 10-minute Drive away from places like the Circa Hotel, the mycity bus hubs and the La Muse restaurant.
