Robben Island, Western Cape
In Table Bay, World-Heritage-listed Robben Island is a haunting reminder of the horrors of apartheid.
Political activist and lawyer Nelson Mandela was famously imprisoned on the island for 18 of the 27 years he served imprisoned before the fall of apartheid and introduction of full, multi-racial democracy. He was later awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and was elected in 1994 as President of South Africa, becoming the country's first Black president and serving one term from 1994-99. In addition, the majority of prisoners were detained here for political reasons. Two other former inmates of Robben Island in addition to Mandela have been elected to the presidency since the late-1990s.
Perhaps the best part about this experience is that ex-prisoners are usually the guides, sharing poignant first-hand accounts of the atrocities they endured.
Tours to the island begin with multimedia exhibits in the museum at the Nelson Mandela Gateway in the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. Sightseers then board boats to Robben Island, often braving rough swells on the 30- to 45-minute ride. Be sure to book early, as the tours can fill up fast.
