Robben Island, UNESCO site

One hour ferry ride from Cape Town, take us to this UNESCO site.  Robben Island is one of the most historically important places in Cape Town and one of South Africa’s most powerful symbols of both oppression and freedom. Located about 7 kilometers (4 miles) off the coast in Table Bay, the island is best known for serving as a prison during the apartheid era.

For centuries, the island was used as a place of a prison, a military base, a hospital for people with leprosy.  Internationally, it became famous because many anti-apartheid political prisoners were held there, including Nelson Mandela.

Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison on Robben Island, from 1964 to 1982.  There we saw his tiny prison cell has become one of the island’s most visited and emotional sites.

Table Mountain see on a ferry ride

Prison cells