Robben island and the cable car to go to table mountain. My travel agent says no, but i just read a trip report by ekscrunchy. However, i would still recommend that you book your robben island tickets at least a month in advance just to be safe. Book your tickets online for robben island museum, cape town central. Robben island museum rim is a public entity responsible for managing, maintaining, presenting, developing and marketing robben island as a national estate and world heritage site. If you find its too tight for timing or the weather is against you, or you find you have any spare time, consider visiting.
Robben island is a historic sight that holds south africas social history. Jul 16, 2019 robben island in south africa only accepts a maximum of 1800 visitors per day, so be sure to book in advance if your planning to be in cape town for a short period of time. My experiences with cape town in august are great, some light rain and sometimes wind. A minimum of 2 persons is required to book this tour at the adult rate. Robben island tours they sell out to agents, who then release the tickets if they dont have enough people.
The journey takes around 30 minutes, giving you plenty of time to admire spectacular views of cape town and table mountain and to look for the whales, dolphins, penguins and fur seals that inhabit table bay. Children under 2 enter for free with a presentation of a birth certificate. We did a halfday robben island tour from cape town, south africa. In 1964, an antiapartheid revolutionary named nelson mandela was arrested and brought to south africas robben island, just west of cape town. Located a 12minute walk from milton beach, the property provides a garden and free private parking.
Do you need to book in advance to visit robben island museum. The first stop will be the clock tower at the waterfront, where you will take a shared boat to robben island prison museum. Things to do in cape town and everything you need to know about robben island, the attractions, history and information for visitors, tourists and residents. There are no private tours so you just have to book your public tour in advance, get on the hovercraft, and then get on one of the waiting buses on robben island. Please bring a warm jacket, sun lotion, good walking shoes, water, sunglasses and some spending money. We will be in cape town 21st 25th september how far in advance do we need to book robben island thanks. Do i need to buy robben island tickets in advance on the internet. Guests should ideally have a basic level of fitness. Robben island tickets in advance cape town central forum. May 24, 2011 if youre going to book your robben island tickets in advance just check the weather forecast so youre not left out in the cold. Single passengers are welcome but must pay the single adult price.
Robben island was named in 1999 unesco world heritage site to recognize the historical value of this landmark. I have read on the forum that it is necessaary to buy tickets to robben island in advance. Robben islandtable mountain timing flyertalk forums. Failure to produce corresponding proof will result in full price being charged. When in kruger, go on an evening safari as well as an early morning safari, as different animals can be seen.
Visiting robben island on a tour from cape town stoked to. The experience was firmly at the top of my list too during my recent visit to beautiful south africa. Robben island in south africa only accepts a maximum of 1800 visitors per day, so be sure to book in advance if your planning to be in cape town for a short period of time. Robben island boat trips visit the official robben island tour booking website for more details on this not to be missed cape town attraction.
Oct 23, 2017 it was a sunny day when we headed to the cape town waterfront to catch the boat to robben island for our halfday robben island tour. I hope you werent too disappointed you didnt get there. Visit to robben island robben island tour heritage. You will need to provide your passport number at the time of booking. Also remember to carry proof of i d, copies are ok, even of passport.
For 2020 ticket prices, please visit the rates page. Traveling in cape town around new years what do i need to. When visiting robben island, you need to book quite far in advance as there is limited space for visitors. I do not know of any difficulties in booking online, and it is does make sure that you get. Apartment robben island views, cape town, south africa. And thats what i think is such a pity so many people want to visit robben island because its such an important site but then they probably dont get the experience they were hoping for.
Visiting robben island is one of the top activities to do in cape town and really ought to be included on any length visit to the city. This is due to the fact that one needs to take a ferry to the island. Robben island tour 7 things you need to know in less than 5. This was the place where sick people generally suffering from leprosy, people thought to be mad and criminals were sent. Robben island is a small landmass located just seven kilometres four miles off the coast of cape town, in table bay. If you find its too tight for timing or the weather is against you, or you find you have any spare time, consider visiting the district 6 museum which discusses another aspect of apartheid. The boat will depart at approximately 9am and will return between 12. Positive id will be checked against all ticket details for access. Nelson mandelas jail on robben island, south africa. Robben island is usually booked up in advance so you should try to book tickets for that. Robben island cape town central message board tripadvisor. Sa adults and pay r400 and sa children pay r210 for 2 18 years.
Choose from the below convenient and enriching robben island tickets that. The journey takes around 30 minutes, giving you plenty of time to admire spectacular. Although its maximum security prisons have now closed, the island remains famous as. We will be in ct, for our fist visit march 1415 saturdaysunday. Expect crowds and book your ticket in advance to avoid the ticket queue youll still have to queue for the cable car. How to get to robben island 8 steps leisure onehowto. In 1999 robben island became a unesco world heritage site and today is a pilgrimage for those who reject the hatred of the past.
Review of the halfday robben island tour from cape town. Details and tickets bookable online on the official robben island website which for mysterious reasons i m not allowed to include the address of in this response. Oct 28, 2019 yes it may be better to book tickets in advance. Cape town central tourism cape town central hotels. You can expect the tour including the trips to and from the island. May is not a high season so you should get bookings easily check out this site for more interesting activities and adventure sports that you can enjoy in cape town.
This is due to the fact that one needs to take a ferry to the island which has limited space. Robben island tours need to be booked well in advance. Try to go on the earliest times, 9 am and 11 am if you can. Visiting robben island on a tour from cape town stoked. Robben island museum cape town central, south africa. To limit the spread of the coronavirus, attractions may be closed or have. Now tourists can visit the prison on a robben island tour, led by. Conditions between the lower and upper cable stations can vary considerably. Even so, mandela went on to become his countrys first black president, a nobel peace prize recipient, and known. Book your tickets ahead of time as they often sell out weeks in advance. Today robben island is a popular destination for tourists and you need to book reservations in advance. We recommend booking robben island museum tours ahead of time to secure your spot.
Tickets to robben island will be booked in advance to ensure your preferred day and. New ticket prices table mountain aerial cableway official. I ve seen lots of suggestions that we should book in advance, perhaps even before we arrive in the country. Book now and enjoy more cultural activities in south africa through the klook website today.
Tickets often sell out, so its advisable to book in advance or make. Do i need to buy tickets for the robbin island tour in advance the one that actually disembarks on robbin island. All the sites advise to book our tickets in advance re. Robben island tours cape town attractions travelstart blog. Book your robben island tickets online and skiptheline. Whilst my knowledge of apartheid is reasonable thanks to my university degree in international politics, nothing can compare to learning and experiencing history firsthand in south africa. Ideally tickets for robben island tours should be booked at least two weeks in advance as they tend to sell out quickly. If you book or buy something through these links, i earn a small commission at no extra. If however you have a busy schedule when you are in cape town, it is wise to book in advance to make sure that you can go to robben island in the time that you have available. Ive seen lots of suggestions that we should book in advance, perhaps even before we arrive in. And thats what i think is such a pity so many people want to visit robben island because its such an important site but. Theres lots of good news, though, not least of which the fact that you can save time and. Cape townships and robben island full day tour in cape town.
You could also pack a picnic bag of snacks and drinks for the 4 hour excursion. I do not know of any difficulties in booking online, and it is does make sure that you get tickets for the time when you want to go. Ive seen lots of suggestions that we should book in advance, perhaps even before we arrive in the country. Robben island ferry prebooking september cape town.
Visit the district six museum, the townships of langa, guguletu and bonteheuwel, among many others on this insightful journey to the other side of the country. Hello, were keen to visit robben island as part of our trip starting in a couple of weeks time. Youll need to pack a sweater, but sometimes you can walk around in a tshirt. There are 4 round trip ferries daily that go between the waterfront and the island.
Cancellation policy reschedules are only allowed 48 hrs before the tour. How far in advance do we need to book for a trip to robben island. The robben island tour is about a 4 hour tour to the island where nelson mandela was a prisoner for 18 years during apartheid. Best to book beforehand, but in rough weather they can be cancelled. If you are visiting cape town, south africa, it s a must do. Robben island is located in table bay, at less than 7km from west cape town, and has become a major must see if you are visiting the area. Robben island tickets you can book your tickets for the tour by using. Another famous landmark of cape town is robben island, an island in table bay, some km from the mainland, which became a prison in 1807. Feb, 2015 robben island was declared a national monument in 1996, a national museum in 1997, a world heritage site in 1999 and a national heritage site in 2006. On the island, an ex prisoner will be your guide and will take you through the prison including nelson mandelas cell. Walk to freedom tour including robben island do something. Visitors must arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time. Robben island, table mountain and cape town city private day tour. The best things to do in cape town telegraph travel.
If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. Frankly, its an effort to make this trip to robben island at least pyschologically, as you need to wake up early and get on a hovercraft for a 30 or 40minute ride to robben island. In the summer, book your tickets at least a month in advance. Sep 28, 2015 oh yeah, during the busy period you really need to book in advance. Tomorrow, october 1, table mountain cableways annual rate adjustment will kick in. Home affairs sign encourages couples to get married on. In 1961, robben island regained its function as a prison when the south african apartheid regime started using the island to stow away political dissidents, with the most famous ones being nelson mandela and current south african president jacob zuma robben island. If you want to take a trip out to robben island, make sure you book your tickets well in advance. A trip to robben island is a must if you are in cape town.
You could try and book tickets through the robben island website however in my experience this has not been an efficient way to do things. The tour includes a return trip, for more info visit. Also remember to carry proof of id, copies are ok, even of passport. Then do table mountain the day you do the red route on the hoho and do it first thing in the morning. While the only way to reach the robben island is by boat or air, there are still a variety of robben island tours to choose from. The price of the ticket includes access to robben island, ferry voyage to and from the island, access to jetty 1 and nelson mandela gateway exhibitions. He would spend the next 18 years imprisoned in an 8x7foot cell, forced to do hard labor, and permitted only one visitor a year. In the summer, book your tickets at least a month in. Spice up your cape town stay with a visit to the historic robben island and eyeopening townships in south africa.
Oh yeah, during the busy period you really need to book in advance. Robben island tour 7 things you need to know in less. Robben island tours and times things to do in cape town. It was established by the department of arts and culture in 1997. Make sure you try local food such as biltong and bobotie. You can, however, buy the tickets at the robben island museum as well. I would get there at least 30 minutes ahead and book ahead. South africa suggestionstips rick steves travel forum. You can, however, buy the tickets at the robben island museum as. Robben island museum, cape town central tripadvisor. Tickets are about r225 round trip which includes the tour of the island well worth it. Zeitz mocaa, wednesday to monday, 10am6pm last entry 5. This ticket is only valid for the date and time specified on the ticket.
Jul 23, 2018 especially for a large group it is always better to plan and book in advance. He was an open book and although his story is sad he did not make you pity him because he. Nelson mandela was held in the prison on the island for 18 of the 27 years he was imprisoned before the fall of apartheid and robben island is a huge part of both cape town and south africa history. Especially for a large group it is always better to plan and book in advance. It is a good idea to book in advance as its a popular tour, and make sure to arrive in good time to allow a few minutes to take in the installation in the waiting area which illustrates the history of robben island. December is a beautiful time in the city but can get very windy so i would say definitely book robben island early in the morning so that the waters are calmer. Green pointsea pointmouille point the perfect place to discover cape town and it surrounds. Wed visit the place which once held prisoners of the apartheid regime in south africa nelson mandela being the most famous among them. This requires callingemailing ahead to make arrangements.