Robben Island Ferry Ticket and Guided Prison Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore Robben Island's historic prison
- Stand in Nelson Mandela's former cell
- Learn about South Africa's apartheid history
- Enjoy scenic ferry ride with panoramic views
- Experience guided insights from former inmates
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Round-trip ferry ride to Robben Island
- Guided tour of the prison facilities
- Visit to Nelson Mandela's former cell
- Meals and beverages during the tour
Itinerary
Arrive at the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V&A Waterfront, check your ticket details, complete boarding procedures and prepare for the ferry crossing to Robben Island. (30-minutes) Travel by shared ferry from Cape Town across Table Bay to Robben Island. Weather and sea conditions may affect ferry operations. (30-minutes)
Join the official shared island bus tour and see important historical landmarks connected to Robben Island’s political, military and social history. Walk through the historic prison complex with an official Robben Island Museum guide. Learn about the history of the prison and its conditions of life experienced by the political prisoners, and Nelson Mandela’s imprisonment journey on the island. End off with the Long March to Freedom in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela.
After this enlightening historical tour you will board the return ferry to the V&A Waterfront, where the experience ends back at the original meeting point.
Meeting point
Start Location
Unknown location
Important information
Know before you book
- Tours operate daily; booking in advance is recommended.
- Children under 2 years old can join for free if seated on a parent's lap.
- Photography is allowed, but tripods and drones are prohibited.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes suitable for uneven terrain.
- Bring a light jacket or sweater, as weather can be unpredictable.
- Ensure you have a valid passport or ID for boarding the ferry.
Cancellation policy
0All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Accessibility
- Easy Public Transport
Good to know
- Please ensure that you add your proper information such as the correct country code and mobile number because your tickets will be sent via WhatsApp or iMessage or email.
- Kindly note that this offer is for International travellers. (Non South Africans)
- If South Africans purchase this ticket at their own accord we would require their ID numbers and full names of everyone in the group.
- Please bring your identity document copy with you on your mobile phone.
Traveler reviews
A disappointing cancellation
My ticket was cancelled less than 24 hours before the trip - with no real explanation. My friends, who also booked through Viator, did not have their trips cancelled. I then had to struggle to get my trip refunded, as it had been cancelled within the 24 hour refund window. However I did eventually manage to get it refunded.
Know your History!
This was such a amazing experience! Our guide was amazing. He shared his story with great passion. A truly special experience.
A sobering experience worth the visit
What an eye opening and educational experience this was. Our prison tour guide, Derek Basson, shared not only his personal experience as a prisoner in the late 80/early 90s, but many stories of Nelson Mandela and Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe, who was the founding president of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC). Tears came to my eyes hearing the injustices prisoners faced during their time at the prison. Although it was a sobering experience it was worth the visit.
Tour needs more information and less politics….
As a history buff, this was a must see, and finally made it there on my 3rd trip to Cape Town. The view was great, even saw some penguins. But the tour was a bit random be shuttled around on a bus, only to be kept in a room with a guide that gave us a spiel that gave very little information about the island prison or its history, but may have qualified as a political pitch for the EFF party. Really had to bite my tongue.
"My name is Modise"
"My name is Modise" I have mentioned before the importance of recognizing amazing hospitality, today was such a day while visting Robben Island. Modise, our outstanding guide, who was a prisoner on the island for five years, spoke with authority and power about the time he spent incarcerated along with Nelson Mandela. You could hear a pin drop as he described their harrowing lives as political prisoners under the apartheid regime. Tears came to our eyes as he recalled the torture he endured at the hands of his captors. As our tour came to an end he thanked us for visiting his country and the opportunity to give us an insight into his life as a prisoner. It was a very humbling experience and one we shall remember forever.