Robben Island Half-Day Tour with Diamond Museum Experience
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore Robben Island's rich history
- Visit Nelson Mandela's former prison cell
- Learn about South Africa's apartheid era
- Discover the Shimansky Diamond Museum
- Witness the diamond cutting process firsthand
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Round-trip ferry transportation to Robben Island
- Guided tour of Robben Island's historical sites
- Admission to the Shimansky Diamond Museum
- Meals and beverages during the tour
Itinerary
Pass by: After pick up at your accommodation in Cape Town we will travel to the Nelson Mandela Gateway to Robben Island situated at the Clocktower Precinct in the Waterfront. We ask that you kindly wait in the hotel lobby for your pick up. Hotel pick up commences 1 hour before the tour starts.
Upon our arrival at the Waterfront, we will stop at the Cape Diamond Museum, situated in the Gateway to Robben Island Clocktower Center. Here you will learn about the 3 billion-year-old history, from the diamond’s formation to the final polished stone. Explore the origins of South Africa’s diamond industry with an introduction to some of the great names in diamond history, like Cecil John Rhodes, Barney Barnato and the Oppenheimer family. The Cape Town Diamond Museum also pays tribute to the most famous South African diamonds, such as the 3,106 carat Cullinan rough diamond. This diamond was discovered in 1905 and showcases specimens of Kimberlite rock, dating back to billions of years. Life-size replicas of the famous diamonds worn by royalty, the rich and the famous are also on display. Please note that visitors will have the option to purchase exquisite jewelry pieces from Shimansky Jewellers that is adjacent to the Cape Diamond Museum. However, visitors are under no obligation to make any purchases of jewelry.
Upon your arrival at the Nelson Mandela Gateway to Robben Island, you will skip the ticketing line and proceed directly to the boat departures line. Upon your arrival at the Robben Island Jetty, you will disembark the boat and be guided on a bus by a resident Robben Island Tour Guide for a tour of the island. The guide will provide live commentary about Robben Island and its history. The tour will culminate with a view of the prison cell where former President Nelson Mandela was held as a prisoner and an opportunity to take a walk in his historical footsteps on The Long March to Freedom. Thereafter, you will return to the Jetty where you will charter the boat for your return journey back to the V&A Waterfront.
Pass by: Please meet your tour guide/driver at the entrance of the Nelson Mandela Gateway to Robben Island for your return transfer back to your hotel. Should you not require a return transfer, please advise your Tour Guide/driver in the morning when he pick you up.
Important information
Know before you book
- Confirm ferry departure times and locations in advance.
- Be aware that the tour involves walking and may include stairs.
- Ensure you have a valid ID for museum entry.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes for the island tour.
- Bring a camera to capture the stunning views and historical sites.
- Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly.
Cancellation policy
0All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair Accessible
- Stroller Accessible
- Easy Public Transport
- Infant Seats Available
Traveler reviews
SCAM!
SCAM!!!! I got to the Robbin Island ferry and they told me Beyond Africa Safaris & Tours didn't pay for my ticket third party so I had to re-buy my tickets and could not go to the Diamond Museum.
Worst experience with a Tour Operator EVER. BEWARE!!!
This was the worst experience we ever had with a tour operator. They canceled the tour, then said it was on and they would give us a pickup time. Several communication attempts with them and no pickup time until finally at 11:04PM (after we were asleep) a text arrived that they would pick up at 8:00AM the next morning- even though we booked for 10:00AM. Did not see the text until the tour guide woke us up the next morning at 8:00 AM. Do not ever use this company again! No apologies given and no credit given for our inconvenience and wasted time. The contracted tour guide who drove us (Marshall) was very nice but he showed us that he was never given our contact number until 8:20 that morning so he was not able to contact us in advance. Viator and Trip Advisor should never allow any of its customers to go through this experience.
Great day out
Excellent day out, must do on a trip to cape town. Enjoyable boat trip out to the island, great views of cape town. The tour itself was very informative, the guides were helpful and funny. Quite moving seeing nelsons prison cell and hearing all about his captured life.
Robber Island tour is a must when going to Cape Town
This is a great tour. All the details are taken care of for you. Ray our excellent tour guide contacted us the night before and told us what we needed to have to go to Ruben Island as well as what time he would pick us up. Ray gave us an overview of Cape Towno. The way to the dock. The ferry ride was a bit choppy but very happy that it went. A bus tour of the island occurs first and that gives you an overview of the facility. AN ex-inmate then give you a tour of the prison in detail and that is excellent. His personal experiences makes it rich. You get the sense of what it was like to be there as well as a history of the movement to end apartheid. Ray met us after the ferry took us back and we did the Shaminky Diamond tour. It is the history of diamonds and gold i South Africa. The showroom is open afterwards for business. They have wonderful pieces. Ray very generously took us to Table Mountain which was not on the itinerary and went to the top with us and give us an overview of what we were looking at. Thanks Ray- much appreciated. A wonderful day was had and made easier by a friendly, easy going guide.
A great day out to visit Robben Island & Diamond Museum
Thank you Kabura Travel Team for organizing our Robben Island Tickets when we could not get them directly as they were sold out online. We enjoyed and learnt alot at Shimasky Diamond museum about South Africa Mining and precious stones. The trip to the Mandela prison was great. Pick up at our hotel was prompt. Thank you to our guide Ibby who had a great general understanding of the complete logistics for the tour. we arrived to the gateway on time to be cheked in correctly and even enjoy the educational video offerd to us by the robben island team. Highly recommended.