Robben Island

Since the end of the 17th century, Robben Island has been used for the isolation of mainly prisoners. Robben Island was first used by the Dutch settlers as prison. It is believed that one of the first prisoners was probably Harry die Strandloper. Amongst its early permanent inhabitants were political leaders from various Dutch colonies, including Indonesia, and the leader of the mutiny on the slave ship Meermin. After a failed uprising at Grahamstown in 1819, the fifth of the Xhosa Wars, the British colonial government sentenced African leader Makanda Nxele to life imprisonment on the island . He drowned on the shores of Table Bay after escaping the prison.

Starting in 1845 the island was used as a leper colony with lepers from a colony near Caledon moved to Robben Island. This was initially done on a voluntary basis. Prior to 1892 an average of about 25 lepers a year were admitted to Robben Island, but in 1892 that number rose to 338, and in 1893 a further 250 were admitted.

During the Second World War the island was fortified and BL 9.2 inch gun Mk IX–X and 6 inch guns were installed as part of the defences for Cape Town. It was also used as a prison.

This, island with a rich history, is an island in Table Bay, 6.9, west of the coast of Cape Town. Robben Island is the Dutch name for "seal island". The island is 3.3km long and 1.9km wide, roughly in an oval shape.

It is of particular note that it was here that Nobel Laureate and former Presidents of South Africa Nelson Mandela and Kgalema Motlanthe, alongside many other political prisoners, spent 27 years imprisoned during the apartheid era. Among those political prisoners was current President of South Africa Jacob Zuma who was imprisoned there for ten years.

Cape Town tours can include Robben Island and can be combined with a tour to the Victoria Falls. Cape Town tours can also be combined with a self drive to the Kruger National Park.

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