Get skip-the line for tickets access to the Robben Island Ferry and go behind the scenes"Former political prisoner will take the guests on the bus tour around the island including the cell" and learn more about how the former prisoner become a President of Rainbow National after spending "27-years in prison sentence of Nelson Mandela" the most important is how he become FREEDOM FIGHTER in South Africa.
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
Larger groups pay less per person.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 8.
You will be picked up from the address you provided (within our pickup radius). you will take a shared transfer to the Silo District, where you will be met and taken to the Nelson Mandela Gateway. Here, you will take a shared ferry to the Robben Island Museum, where you will be greeted and given a tour of the island by a former political prisoner. (Please be aware that our driver/tour guide will not be going on the Robben Island Museum tour with you.) The total duration of the excursion, including hotel pickup, is +–5 hours. You will be driven around the island by bus for the duration of the tour, after which you will see Nelson Mandela's jail cell and make the long walk to freedom. Your tour guide/driver will meet you at the Nelson Mandela Gateway entry when you return to the Clock Tower Building.
Pickup and drop-off are included within a 12 km radius of the city centre. Guests outside this area may incur an additional transfer fee. Please be ready 10 minutes before pickup time.
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For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Robben Island Ferry Ticket &Guided Prison Tour with Pick-up& back lasts about 4 hours. The itinerary has 1 stop.
Prices start at $53 per person for this Cape Town experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 2 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM.
Children aged 2–17 pay from $43, adults from $53. Infants go free.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Yes, pickup is offered. Pickup and drop-off are included within a 12 km radius of the city centre. Guests outside this area may incur an additional transfer fee. Please be ready 10 minutes before pickup time. Pickup points include ONOMO Hotel Cape Town Waterfront.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 100 participants.
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Travellers rate it 4.4 out of 5 across 98 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by CAPE COAST EXPLORE (PTY) LTD.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Great incite into the history of South Africa. The ferry ride has great views of Cape Town and the harbor.
Thank you so much for your kind words. It truly means a lot to us. We’re happy you enjoyed the journey, the incredible harbour views, and the opportunity to connect with South Africa’s rich history. It was a pleasure having you with us, and we’d love to welcome you back to Cape Town for another memorable experience.
Really well organised and interesting tour. It was such an amazing experience to hear from someone who had actually lived through being incarcerated on Robben Island. How they dealt with what must have been such a traumatic experience. The bus guide was funny and informative also. I highly recommend this trip to anyone interested.
We’re so pleased you found the tour meaningful, informative, and enjoyable. Hearing firsthand stories from someone who experienced Robben Island’s history is truly unforgettable. We’re also glad you enjoyed our bus guide. Thank you for the recommendation,we truly appreciate it.
Great tour. Very knowledgeable guides. Faycial who picked us up from our hotel and dropped us back, excellent!
We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found our guides knowledgeable. It was a pleasure meeting you and providing your transfers. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back to Cape Town again soon.
This tour was very informative and the experience was more impactful when we found out that not one but two of our tour guides were former inmates. This history and knowledge hit the soul.
Thank you so much for your heartfelt review. It means a lot to us to know that the stories and personal experiences of our former inmates touched you so deeply. We’re grateful you chose to experience this history with Cape Coast Explore. It was a pleasure having you with us.
Was looking forward to this very much as it was our first time in Capetown. The hotel pick up was excellent, getting onto the boat to take us to the island went well. However the crossing was a bit choppy, so much so part of the roof came down, just missing us… arrived on island where you get on a bus. The first part of the tour is a bus trip around the island. Went on for far too long. Our guide kept going on about seasickness and asking if people wanted pills for return trip, must have sat on the bus for about 20mins which we missed later on. The rest of the bus trip was ok, nothing much to report. Onto the prison itself, due to the bus issues we arrived with only 45 mins to get around. Our guide did his best and we would loved to have heard more but with the lack of time it felt rushed so we could get back to the boat. Plenty of potential to make this so much better however did not live up to expectations. We have been to other famous prisons on our travels and this feels like it’s missing a trick.
Thank you for taking the time to share your honest feedback. We’re pleased to hear that the hotel pickup went smoothly, but we’re truly sorry that the overall Robben Island experience did not meet your expectations, especially on your first visit to Cape Town. We understand your disappointment with the delays and the limited time at the prison. Your feedback is very valuable, and we will share your concerns with the relevant team to help improve the experience for future guests. Thank you for choosing Cape Coast Explore, and we sincerely hope we have the opportunity to give you a better experience in the future.
Good to visit and know where the prison was. The trip felt outdated when you got to the prison itself. It could very easily have been made up to date by adding some interactive screens and TV display screens when you get onto the prison grounds. The bus guide was good, but the prison guide rushed through the visit. As a South African citizen, the trip felt slightly overpriced at around R900 per person.
We’re glad you enjoyed the historical significance of Robben Island and the bus guide’s commentary. We’re sorry the prison tour felt rushed and less interactive than expected. Your suggestions are appreciated, and we understand your concerns about the overall value. Thank you for sharing your experience, and we hope to welcome you again in the future.
It was a beautiful and confrontational trip. Our tour guide Fayical was on time, very professional and knowledgeable. The island and the tour itself is another experience. Would highly recommend doing this trip!
What a pleasure it was to share this remarkable experience with you. Thank you for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful review. Knowing that the tour made a lasting impression on you is incredibly rewarding. Robben Island is a place of great historical significance, and I am honoured to have been part of your journey in discovering its powerful story. Your recommendation is greatly appreciated, and I hope your memories of Cape Town stay with you for many years to come.
A memorable and insightful experience. The tour was well organized, the guides were knowledgeable, and the history of Robben Island was presented in a powerful and engaging way. A must - visit for anyone wanting to better understand South Africa's journey to freedom.
Your kind words are greatly appreciated. It is rewarding to know that the tour was both engaging and educational, leaving a lasting impression of this important historical landmark.
Amazing experience to visit this place and very humbled by our guide who was a former prisoner there. Well worth a trip Saw a whale on boat trip back.
We are pleased to hear that you found the experience both memorable and inspiring. Having the opportunity to learn from a former prisoner offers a unique and powerful perspective on this important chapter of history. We're also delighted that you enjoyed a whale sighting on the return ferry, making the day even more special. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you on another tour in the future.
Thought there would be more to see in the prison The guide was very knowledgeable but did get a bit boring it went on so long
Thank you for your feedback. We're glad you found the guide knowledgeable. While the prison may not have met your expectations, we hope the stories and history shared during the tour provided valuable insight into this important heritage site. We appreciate your comments and thank you for visiting.
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robben Island Ferry Ticket &Guided Prison Tour with Pick-up& back | 4 hours | 4.4 (98) | $53 | |
 Robben Island Half Day Prison Tour with Pre-Booked ferry Ticket. | 5 hours | 4.0 (363) | $77 | View |
 Guided Robben Island Historic Prison Tour with Pickup & Drop-off | 4 hours | 4.4 (75) | $49 | View |
 Robben Island Guided Tour with Ferry and Hotel Pickup | 4h 30min | 4.4 (51) | $57 | View |
 Robben Island Tour from Cape Town: Pre-Booked Ticket & Transfers | 3–4 hours | 4.3 (218) | $57 | View |
 Robben Island Half Day Tour with Pre-Booked Ticket from Cape Town | 3–4 hours | 4.3 (177) | $59 | View |
 Robben Island Tour from Cape Town Pre-Booked Tickets &Transfers | 4 hours | 4.3 (108) | $59 | View |