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Robben Island Activities

Our most recommended Robben Island Activities

Cape Town: Robben Island Ferry Tour with 1-Way Hotel Pickup

1. Cape Town: Robben Island Ferry Tour with 1-Way Hotel Pickup

Take the ferry to Robben Island and tour the prison where Nelson Mandela was confined. Learn about South Africa's history of Apartheid and life in the prison from a former prisoner. Depart from Cape Town on a shared bus to the V&A Waterfront. Collect your ticket and make your way to the Nelson Mandela Gateway to Robben Island. Sail out to the island on a 45-minute journey. On arrival, embark on a bus tour of the island before visiting the prison and the cell where Nelson Mandela was kept for 18 of his 27 prison years. Gain an insight into the history and conditions of the prison from a former prisoner. After the tour, return to Cape Town and be dropped off at the V&A Waterfront. Here you will be free to return to your accommodation independently or continue touring the beautiful city.

Cape Town: Tandem Paragliding Adventure

2. Cape Town: Tandem Paragliding Adventure

Enjoy an adrenaline-fuelled paragliding adventure in Cape Town and marvel at the incredible views of the Atlantic Coastline, Lion's Head, Signal Hill, Camp's Bay, Clifton Beaches, and more. Fly high into the sky with your experienced instructor and create unforgettable memories of a lifetime. Meet your pilot and other daredevils at Signal Hill to begin your adventure. First, get a short induction from your pilot before you take off from a mountain slope under a canopy that resembles a parachute.  Get ready for liftoff; take a few steps or a short run to take off from the gentle slope, the wind will catch the canopy, and you will be airborne. Ride side-by-side with your instructor and feel the exhilaration, head rush, and incredible sensation of free-fall flying. End your day on a high as you experience a once-in-a-lifetime paragliding ride that you won't forget. Get hooked on the adrenaline high and see views of Lion's Head, Signal Hill, Camp's Bay, Clifton Beaches, Waterfront, and Robben Island, that you won't forget.

Cape Town: Robben Island Ferry Ticket and Townships Tour

3. Cape Town: Robben Island Ferry Ticket and Townships Tour

Discover some of Cape Town's most famous townships on a guided tour in an air-conditioned minivan. Visit District Six, take a walking tour in Langa, and learn about Bonteheuwel as you drive through it. After, explore Robben Island on your own with an included ferry ticket. Explore District Six, where 60,000 inhabitants were forcibly removed during the 1970s by the apartheid regime. Drive to Langa and learn the history of the oldest township at sites like the Old Pass Office and the monument to Robert Sobukwe. Learn about life during apartheid on a walking tour of the hostels and shacks. Visit a shebeen (pub), try some homemade beer, and see a traditional healer in action Then, drive through the Bonteheuwel township, reserved for the "colored" community during the days of apartheid. Hear about the division of people and its impact on the communities today. See the Gugulethu 7 Memorial to the members of an anti-apartheid group killed by the South African Police in 1986, and the memorial to the American student Amy Biehl, murdered by PAC supporters in 1993. Afterward, get dropped off at the V&A Waterfront to take your ferry to Robben Island.

Cape Town: Penguin Watching at Boulders Beach Half Day Tour

4. Cape Town: Penguin Watching at Boulders Beach Half Day Tour

The tour departs Cape Town and heads to the first stop of the day, Maidens Cove. From here, admire the stunning views across the Atlantic seaboard as well as marveling at the imposing Twelve Apostles Mountain range. The tour continues along Chapmans Peak Drive, rated one of the best mountain drives in the world. Along the way, stop at a selection of lookouts that provide unspoiled views of Hout Bay Harbour and Noordhoek beach. Arrive at Boulders Beach and learn about the friendly African Jackass Penguins that call the beach their home. Although the penguins roam freely on the beach and are comfortable being near humans, they are protected animals and visitors are not permitted to touch or feed them. Admire the penguins from a designated viewing point, and observe these creatures as they go about their day. Enjoy some free time to relax on the beach, take a swim with the penguins in the refreshing waters, or explore the surrounding landscpaes. The tour ends with a visit to Boyes Drive, a spectacular mountain road overlooking the stunning view of False Bay coast before dropping you back at your hotel (accommodation).

Cape Town: Table Mountain, Robben Island, and Aquarium Tour

5. Cape Town: Table Mountain, Robben Island, and Aquarium Tour

Join a guided tour and visit Cape Town's top attractions, including Table Mountain, Robben Island, the V&A Waterfront, and the Two Oceans Aquarium. Enjoy the convenience of a hotel pickup and travel in the comfort of an air-conditioned vehicle. Start your day of exploring Cape Town with an early pickup directly from your accommodation and set out to see the city's most iconic attraction, Table Mountain. Purchase your tickets and hop into one of the cable cars to make your way to the top of the mountain. Spend some time soaking in the breathtaking views of the City of Cape Town, Signal Hill, and Lion's Head. Then, join your guide as you walk to another lookout point and be rewarded with sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean, Camps Bay, and the Twelve Apostles Mountains. Ride the cable car back down the mountain and head to the V&A Waterfront where you'll board a ferry to Robben Island. Disembark at Murray's Bay Harbor on the east coast of the island and board a bus that will take you to all the historic sites. Get a guided tour of the prison while learning about South Africa's history, the struggle against oppression, and the thousands of freedom fighters who were imprisoned on Robben Island, including former president Nelson Mandela. Return by ferry to the V&A Waterfront and enjoy some free time to do some shopping or grab a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants (cost not included). End your day with a visit to the Two Oceans Aquarium. Explore the wonders of the ocean up close as you visit the penguin exhibit, shark exhibit, ocean exhibit, and much more. Finally, hop back into your air-conditioned vehicle and enjoy a comfortable ride back to your accommodation.

Robben Island Tickets, Penguins, and Private Cape Point Tour

6. Robben Island Tickets, Penguins, and Private Cape Point Tour

After a 6:00 AM pickup from your hotel in Cape Town or the surroundings, you'll proceed along the Atlantic Seaboard where you can admire mountains on one side and the ocean on the other. Stop at the Maiden's Cover for a photo opportunity with a backdrop of the Twelve Apostles Mountain Range. Passing through Clifton, Camps Bay, Llundadno, and Hout Bay. Stop for photos on one of the world's most scenic routes, Chapman's Peak drive. Next, stop at Boulder's penguin colony to visit these enchanting creatures. Watch as these adorable birds play and frolic in the ocean. Your final destination will be the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve for a guided tour and a photo stop at this very popular landmark. From there, you'll travel to Cape Point, where you can hike to the top of the lighthouse (or take the funicular). At 10:30 AM arrive at the Nelson Mandela Gateway to Robben Island where you will take the 11:00 AM boat trip to Robben Island for a prison tour. On the island, an ex-prisoner will be your guide and take you through the prison. See the cell where Nelson Mandela spent so many years. Upon return from the island at approximately 3:00 PM, your guide will be waiting for you again at the clock tower to transfer you back to your hotel.

Cape Town: Marine Wildlife Tour from the V&A Waterfront

7. Cape Town: Marine Wildlife Tour from the V&A Waterfront

Climb aboard and look for marine life in the ecosystem of Table Bay on a 1.5-hour eco-cruise from Cape Town. See species in their natural surroundings, such as humpback and southern right whales, depending on the season. Get the chance to watch pods of dolphins breaching close to the boat and marvel at their acrobatic displays. Be enchanted by Cape fur seals lounging on the jetties and get close to unusual species, such as sunfish. Watch African penguins diving for fish to take back to their breeding colony on Robben Island.  Encounter birdlife, such as terns, gannets, cormorants and mighty black-browed albatross.

Township and Robben Island Combination Tour

8. Township and Robben Island Combination Tour

Discover some of the most notable townships of Cape Town, learning about the struggle against Apartheid. Then visit the infamous Robben Island to see where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for much of his 27-year incarceration. Start the tour at the historical site of District Six, where inhabitants were forcibly removed according to the Group Areas Act of 1950 during the Apartheid era. From there move on to Langa, the oldest township in Cape Town. Travel to Bonteheuwel, a township developed from the forcibly removed District Six residents classified as colored. Learn about the rules in these townships and how they affected everyday life. Make your way to Gugulethu, home to more than 300,000 residents. Here your guide will explain how this township has developed after the fall of Apartheid. Break for lunch at the V&A Waterfront, one of the top tourist destinations in Cape Town with breathtaking views of Table Mountain. After lunch, hop on the ferry to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for 18 of his 27 prison years. Here you take a guided tour of the infamous maximum-s.ecurity prison and see Nelson Mandela's cell. After exploring the island you will be taken back to the V&A Waterfront by ferry, where the tour ends

Cape Town Ocean Safari: Speed Boat Adventure in Table Bay

9. Cape Town Ocean Safari: Speed Boat Adventure in Table Bay

Our trips departing from Quay 5 in the Waterfront. With a bit of luck you will have a chance to see Cape Fur Seals, Dolphins, Whales, Penguins and Sun Fish and potentially much more as we search the bay for sea life. The destination of the tour is not always the same as this trip is really about spending time on the water and looking for the rich sea life that can be found in the proximity of Cape Town. However you can be assured that you will have amazing views of the Table Bay and will be able to see some of Cape Town most amazing landmarks from the water: Table Mountain, Signal Hill, Lion's Head, Camps Bay and Clifton Beaches, Robben Island. You will of course be able to take pictures when the speedboat occasionally stops to make sure you have memory of such incredible experience. The trip starts with a safety briefing by the skipper, the fitting of life jackets and the signing of the indemnity in our offices on Quay 5. Children are welcome as long as they are under the supervision of adults. Our expeditions are weather-dependent and routing will depend on the expected weather conditions for the day.

Cape Town: Lion's Head Sunrise Hike

10. Cape Town: Lion's Head Sunrise Hike

Take part in a wonderful hike for families and couples and see Cape Town from 670 meters above sea level. Gaze in awe at the breathtaking landscape, and identify icons such as the adjacent Table Mountain and Robben Island out at sea. Look down on glorious beaches, including Camps Bay and Sea Point.  Lion’s Head is a free-standing peak located next to Table Mountain and offers 360-degree views. You are able to do a sunrise hike to the top, a day hike, or even a sunset hike, according to your preference. Brave an adventurous path using staples and chains or choose an easier route to avoid them. Whichever option you and your party feel most comfortable with, breathtaking panoramas are guaranteed.

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Frequently asked questions about Robben Island Activities

What are other things to do than Robben Island Activities that are worth visiting in Cape Town?

The other unmissable things to do in Cape Town are:

Other Sightseeing Options in Robben Island

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What people are saying about Robben Island

We had a wonderful tour of the township and Robbens Island. Our guides were very professional, personable with a wealth of knowledge. This tour was our best in Capetown.

Touring Cape Town with Mr Samora as our tour guide was exceptional. He took us to Table mountain, the aquarium and Robben Island.

Super speedboat driver knowing a lot about animals world with strong sense of sustainability and ecology.

It was very convenient for me and my fellow travelers and also very interesting too.

Visit to all 3 places was awesome will recommend to anyone to visit these places