As one of South Africa’s most visited museums, Robben Island tours are best booked well in advance. This half-day package includes museum admission and round-trip transfer from your Cape Town accommodation, ensuring a hassle-free trip. Learn about the island’s long history from your guide and see the cell that housed Nelson Mandela, then take time to reflect on your voyage back to the mainland.

Book in advance to avoid disappointment on the day
Round-trip transfer from your hotel ensures a hassle-free trip
Benefit from the historical insights of your small-group guide
See the cell that confined Nelson Mandela for 18 years

What's Included

Air-conditioned vehicle
WiFi on board
Bottled water
Parking Fees
Fuel surcharge
Entry/Admission to Robben Island.
Round trip transportation

Lunch
Gratuities

Meeting And Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Clients have to share their location and they will be picked up right at their door.

What To Expect

Robben Island Museum

5 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps

Infant seats available
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travellers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 32 travellers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Traveller Photos

Reviews

4.0

102 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travellers.

Showing 1-10 of 102 reviews

The tour was interesting...

Anne_S, May 2023

The tour was interesting but the cost of the tour and the value add it provided was nominal. Given how accessible Uber is I wish I had saved my money and booked myself in for the tour of the island and got myself to the museum.

Response from Host, May 2023

Good day Dear Client Thank you for reaching out by means of your tour review.Am glad that you did enjoy your tour.However the Uber experience compare to a Tour company experience plus the ample conveniences offered on your behalf that's the difference which will definitely affect your pricing. I would suggest to weight both sides before confirming your payment surely you will give yourself a reasonable decision. We thank you.

A beautiful place with a meaningful message

Pam_M, May 2023

It was intensely moving to see where Nelson Mandela slept on a mat in a cell for so many years, and to see where he was forced to work in the lime quarry. It was a lesson for us all how much he and the freedom fighters sacrificed. It is so important that we learn from history so we don't repeat the past.

Response from Host, May 2023

Good day Pamela. Thank you very much for taking the time to share your experience with us and leave us a 5 -star rating. It is much appreciated.

Rip-off

Joan_T, May 2023

A huge rip-off. We paid $100 for the same tour that others paid $30. We got nothing extra. My first experience with viator. I would not recommend them to anyone.

Response from Host, May 2023

Good dayJoan we regret your unpleasant experience.However, please understand that we are NOT a ticket office.We are a tour agency,offering tours all inclusive,The entry Tickets are among many of the services.Our tours are the packages meaning if you don't Need a particular service mentioned in the Inclusion section which appear in Black and white during your booking that does Not mean that we owe you.It's your choice and full right as a client.We are committed to improve the quality of all our tours striving to your safety and comfort during your stay with an amazing experience.Please,bear with us that we are NOT selling Tickets to the public we offer Tours all inclusive.We would suggest to read before you confirm your booking and see if it's worth it.We can still confirm that our prices are reasonable to compare wth the rest. Have a fantastic day further. Regards,

Regarding the tour under Confirmation #: 1387019047 Booking Reference #: 999099827,

Omer_D, May 2023

FIRST & IMPORTANT is I did not get any invoice or a receipt or anything shows that I have paid. Why did you not give anything? as I have paid with company credit card I need to have an invoice. I have asled by mail couple of time; you even not to bother to reply me back. Is that your sevice? if I can not get reply or any written receipt than I will complain to social media and everywhere I can; Regarding the tour under Confirmation #: 1387019047 Booking Reference #: 999099827, I have not get YET any official invoice; as the payment was made by official company credit card ; we should present an official invoice to the authorities , otherwise there should be penalties on our side. So please urgently send an invoice as addressed below. Company Name : Aktuel Organisation AS / Dual Tours Address : Ortaklar Cad 7/8 Mecidiyekoy Istanbul Turkey VAT Number : Mecidiyekoy TAX Office / 0420364525

Response from Host, May 2023

Hullo Omer your Email booking can also serve as invoice. Regards,

I have happily used...

Joseph_T, May 2023

I have happily used Viator in the past. Booked this tour for two of us for $103/person and told several of my friends on the trip about it and they booked also. Others booked directly with boat and paid $30 for the exact same tour. I understand the need for you to make a profit but this is exorbitant. You have lost my trust and I will never use Viator again.

Response from Host, May 2023

Hi Joseph. Thank you for sharing your feedback. Please know that this tour is weather permits, meaning that as we provide your entry Ticket we guarantee your tour to happen no matter how many times the Tour is cancelled upon arrival at the Terminal, we bring you back to your Hotel covering maximum of 25Kms radius one way. If you will not make it, a full refund is guarantee. PLUS your personal Tour guide and all conveniences you read on the inclusion Section of the Tour Details. Depending to where you stay plus all inclusion. This Tour is a package of everything for your SAFETY and COMFORT whether you stay near or far, the price remains the same. We can still confirm that our prices are much affordable with great service. Kind regards,

Disappointed

Page_C, Apr 2023

I paid approximately $100 USD for the tour/ferry when other participants from my group paid approximately $30.00 from another website. No extra service was required to warrant the additional cost. There was one guide per approximately 50-people. I am still waiting for my free water bottle.

Response from Host, May 2023

Hi Page. Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. PLEASE remember that this Tour is a whether permits, meaning that as we provide your entry Ticket we guarantee your tour to happen no matter how many times the Tour is cancelled upon arrival at the Terminal. We bring you back to your Hotel covering maximum of 25 Kms radius one way. If you will not make it, a full refund is guarantee. PLUS your personal Tour guide and all conveniences you read on the inclusion Section of the Tour Details. Depending where you stay plus all the inclusion. This Tour is a package of everything for your SAFETY and COMFORT whether you stay near or far the price remains the same. We can still confirm that our price are much affordable with great services. Best regards,

Wonderful experience

Hamida_K, Apr 2023

It was an excellent trip and an amazing experience! The guides both in the bus and in the prison were fantastic!

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Hi Hamida. Thank you very much for taking the time to share your experience with us and give us the 5 - star rating. It is much appreciated.

Fleeced

Daniel_S, Apr 2023

We were picked up at the hotel and returned as advertised. But I could have bought my ticket online for $36 and taken the free hotel shuttle or paid a taxi less than $10. The markup was outrageous as we paid over $200 for the2 of us! More than double!!

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Hi Daniel. Thank you for letting us know about this. Your feedback helps us do better.Meanwhile,i can confirm that you did NOT use our tour services according to our Records.I would suggest,to find out and send the feedback to your Tour operator holder. Have a fantastic day Further. Kind Regards,

The trip was well...

igalassota, Mar 2023

The trip was well organized. Our tour guide, the former inmate on that prison gave us very good information about the life of the political prisoners. It's very emotional. The next day I went to Iziko South African Museum. That complete my knowledge.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Good day Client. Thank you very much for taking the time to share your experience with us and leave us a 5 - star rating. It's much appreciated.

Prisoners cells and...

Gordon_M, Mar 2023

Prisoners cells and Robert sobukwe house and the place were they work and play and the dog canel the church and security around

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Hi Gordon. Thank you very much for taking the time to share your experience with us and leave us a 5 - star rating. So much appreciated.

Unforgettable experience!

Anne_W, Mar 2023

Robben islands was very informative and unforgettable experience!. However, we were disappointed with the price. The tour agent charged ZAR8488 whilst actual cost of going to the island was ZAR2130. The mark up was very steep!

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Hi Anne. Thank you very much for taking the time to share your experience with us and for letting us know about this. Your feedback helps us do better.

Good history

Robert_S, Mar 2023

Interesting tour by former prisoner. The guide on the bus was probably very good but we could not understand her accent at all.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Hi Robert. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We are very sorry to hear that you had a problem with the accent and we appreciate your 5- star rating.

Go for the whole experience

Kimberly_R, Mar 2023

Really good tour. Well managed and split into groups of about 30 on the island. Having a former prisoner take us through was equally awesome and sad. I forgot to write down our guides name but his story was worth hearing.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Hi Kimberly. Thank you very much for taking the time to share your experience with us and leave us a 5 - star rating. It is much appreciated.

Memories Never Forgotten

Thomas_J, Mar 2023

Truly enjoyed hearing from the former political prisoner and seeing where Nelson Mandela was housed. A truly memorable experience.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Hi Thomas. Thank you very much for taking the time to share your experience with us and to leave us a 5 - star rating. It's much appreciated.

The guides were...

dbasknight, Mar 2023

The guides were interesting and knowledgeable. However I had trouble understanding the main guide. Surprised there is not more in posted info as in most museums. I watched Nelson Mandela movie in plane and related to the prison spaces I had visited.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Thank you very much for your feedback. Please know that we will be addressing this review with the team so they can learn from it and do better in the future.

Worth the tour but get ready for a big crowd.

Bobby_B, Mar 2023

Loved the actual tour. Our guide of the prison was an actual prisoner for 20 yrs there. Only negative is the mandatory bus ride around the island overcrowded big buses no a/c and if your on the opposite side impossible to see the other side of what they stop to see.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Hi Bobby. Thank you very much for taking the time to share your experience with us and for letting us know about this. Your feedback helps us do better. We are looking into this issue and hope to resolve it promptly.

MISSED A GREAT TOUR

Todd_J, Feb 2023

Didn't make tour, was in area with no cellular service or internet to contact the tour agency and cancel. Would like to thank the tour guide for all the attempts to contact me for the tour. Once i was in an area had got service, I see that he called 3 times and sent me several messages.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Hi Todd. We are very sorry that you missed your Tour. Thank you very much for taking the time to give us a review and leave us a 5- star rating. It is much appreciated.

A disappointing tour

Rosemary_D, Feb 2023

Not only was this tour very expensive, the guide at the Robben Island site hurried us along and did not wait for the second half of the large group to join him before describing each area. Consequently, we missed a number of the explanations. My husband and I have visited other well-known prisons such as Alcatraz, the one in Ushaia and the Kingston Federal Penitentiary and the tours conducted there were much better. (Please note that these comments do not reflect the situation with the very personable Viator representative who escorted us from our hotel to the ferry and back.)

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Good day Client. Thank you very much for taking the time to bring this to our attention. We will use the feedback to make us better and to ensure this does not happen again.

Informative

Shane_N, Feb 2023

Robben island was very interesting , especially when speaking to an ex prisoner. I hadn’t realised that the majority of the tour was on a coach & if I had chance to re- visit I would book walking tour

A must do

Nancy_V, Feb 2023

It was time well spent and moved along at a good pace. I was worried about it being too long but it was just right. The one first thing in the morning is best.

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