A Short Distance off the Coast of Cape Town
Robben Island is located a short distance off the coast of Cape Town. It is within sight of Table Bay, Bloubergstrand, Sea Point and Camps Bay, and it is clearly visible from the top of Table Mountain. It is situated about 10 kilometres away from the V&A Waterfront, and about 7 kilometres from the beach at Bloubergstrand.
Despite its close proximity to Cape Town, the island is naturally isolated from the mainland by a short but formidable stretch of cold, wild ocean. It is this paradoxical combination of remoteness and accessibility that made Robben Island such a useful prison.
The highest point on the island is Minto Hill, standing about 30 metres above sea level, and an attractive lighthouse stands atop this low rise.
The depth of the sea between Robben Island and the mainland is also about 30 metres, and the island is actually joined to the mainland by a submerged saddle of land.
By David Fleminger
The best way to experience the real nature of the island is to walk it. I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to do this for myself...
It is a small and isolated community, but it is enchanting. The kids walk freely to each other’s houses, doors are left unlocked, time slo...
The ferry ride back to Cape Town is just as visually memorable as the ride out to the island. It is also a good time to sit back and reflect...
A highlight of the tour is the actual boat ride over to the island. The ferry takes about 30 minutes each way, and the views of Cape Town an...
During the apartheid years Robben Island became internationally known as the place where Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress el...
After the bus tour, visitors are deposited at the entrance of the Maximum Security prison for the emotional and rather distressing prison to...
In 1959, the Minister of Justice announced that Robben Island was going to once more become a prison. The military installations were reloca...
The first generation of political prisoners on Robben Island were Cape Khoikhoi who opposed Dutch rule and exiled rebel leaders from other p...
Today, thousands of people visit the former prison every week to experience for themselves the miraculous story of Robben Island. It is not ...
Robben Island was not the exclusive preserve of the ANC. As has been mentioned above, thousands of ‘ordinary’ foot-soldiers were impriso...
Robben Island was first used by the Europeans, as useful stop for hungry sailors on their way to the East. There is little evidence to sugge...
There is a sense that Robben Island remains stubbornly untamed. Human Beings have tried to ‘civilise’ it by planting palm trees (now ben...
Best known as the place where Nelson Mandela spent nearly 30 years of his life, Robben Island has further historical significance for South ...
The striking, geometric design of the Gateway is unmistakable. Head up the broad stone stairs and walk through the tall, glass doors, and yo...
Robben Island was an ideal place to send the mentally-disturbed, chronically poor and incurably sick, who would otherwise have depressed the...
The years from 1936 to 1960 were the proudest in the island’s long and mostly tragic life. These were the military years, when army and na...
I first visited Robben Island in 1989, as part of a special school tour. It was still a functioning prison back then, and my recollections a...