Robben Island is situated just a few kilometres from Cape Town in the middle of Table Bay. Robben Island was a place of banishment, exile, isolation and imprisonment. It was here that rulers sent those they regarded as political troublemakers, social outcasts and the unwanted of society. Robben Island is one of the few places in the world that exemplifies and symbolises the struggle for freedom against oppression of basic human rights. Robben Island is most famous for the former president Mr Nelson Mandela who was a prisoners there for many years. The island is now a museum and conservation area and was declared a World Heritage site in 1999. Former inmates lead tours around their old cells, which is a moving experience for both them and thousands of visitors from around the world. There is plenty of wildlife here too, with antelopes such as springbok and bontebok, grazing the open land, plus a diverse selection of birds, including ostriches and a Jackass (African) penguin colony. Cape fur seals play in the cold Atlantic waters and are food for great white sharks; who along with the cold water and strong currents deterred prisoners from attempting to swim to the mainland. Trips to Robben Island commence from the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, on a super fast catamaran.

A trip to Cape Town city will not be complete without a visit to Cape Town's Robben Island. The boat trip, the natural beauty and the profound history make for a most fascinating experience. Enjoy a taste of South African culture in one of the terrific Cape Town hotels.