During much of his prison term, activist Nelson Mandela served it on Robben Island, just off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa. The island itself is in Table Bay, and has been used for centuries for various reasons. During your visit to South Africa, you will experience a visit to this historical island, named so, as “robben” is Dutch for “seal”.
The island itself is reached by ferry from Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, as it is several kilometers off the mainland. Visitors to the island enjoy an amazing tour of the island and prison facilities where Nelson Mandela was kept. The island is a true tourist attraction as the island has been declared a World Heritage Site for almost ten years.
Robben Island now stands as a testimony to freedom and triumph of personal spirit. Although it has primarily served as a place to “throw away” those who authority would deem troublesome, the Robben Island Musem is a symbol of hardships overcome and the perserverance of the human spirit. Enjoy the sunset on this ‘island of isolation’, now an ‘island of freedom’.
