March 27, 2024 – Robben Island

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While we know it as the prison for those opposed to the apartheid government of South Africa, most notably, Nelson Mandela, who served 18 of his 27-year sentence there. Robben Island has a history that dates back to the 15th century. The island gets its name from the Dutch word for seal, “Seal Island”. First discovered by Bartolomeu Dias in 1488, the island was used by Portuguese navigators, later by English and Dutch as a refueling station.

The Ferry to the island takes about 30 minutes. Once on the island there is a tour in 2 parts. The first part is a bus tour around the island to show some of its history, the Leper grave yard, the old church and the residences.

The bus let us off by the prison where we were given a tour of the cells and exercise yard by a former prisoner.

We sat in a room that had been used to house 60 prisoners while the guide explained life here during the 7 years he served as a prisoner. He then took us to the area where Mandela was kept in a solitary cell.

The tour took about 2 hours in total. Then the ferry ride back to the mainland where we got ready for our last night in Cape Town. We decided to have a good meal out. The Hotel staff recommended The Codfather, a restaurant where you pick the fish from a butcher counter. They then grill it for you and bring it to the table. Before that we had some sushi. The sushi bar was one where the items are on a conveyer belt that circles the bar. You grab what you want and bring it to your table. And yes, I eat the sushi.

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