Robben Island Ferry Ticket &Guided Prison Tour With Pick-up& Back

Very nice experience. Guides were very welcoming.

Not to be missed excursion. Historical and cultural value! Truly an excellent experience to learn about all the political prisoners that were incarcerated here

Great incite into the history of South Africa. The ferry ride has great views of Cape Town and the harbor.

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.

Great tour. Very knowledgeable guides. Faycial who picked us up from our hotel and dropped us back, excellent!

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.

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.

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 The trip felt outdated when you got to the prison itself.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.

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!

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.

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.

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

A really sobering experience. I hope we can learn from the past. The former prisoner tour guides were excellent and brought to life the history of Robben Island. The logistics of arrival and departure from the ferry terminal were seamless.

This is a scam. They do not provide any Robben Island tour or special service. They only take you to the ferry terminal and give you the official Robben Island Museum ticket (or don't give it at all, read other reviews). The official ticket costs R600, around $50, while this listing tries to charge foreign citizens around $100+ — basically double the price. The actual ferry and prison tour are operated by Robben Island Museum, not by this provider. Avoid this listing and book directly through the official website.

Highly professional and reliable service. The itinerary was perfectly planned, and the guide provided great insights along the way. A wonderful experience from beginning to end.

It was cancelled due to inclement weather and we were told it would take 35 days to receive a full refund.

They cancelled twice! First due to engine malfunctuon - then, after rebooking date - cancelled due to weather (and the weather was ok, no «strong winds»! And after 2 weeks still no refund! A disgrace! Not recommended!🥵

My experience visiting Robben Island was nothing short of extraordinary an absolute highlight of my time in Cape Town. From the moment the tour began, everything was executed with precision, professionalism, and genuine care.

The journey across the bay set the tone, offering breathtaking views and a sense of anticipation. Upon arrival, the tour was expertly guided, but what truly elevated the experience was hearing firsthand accounts from former political prisoners. Their stories, rooted in the painful yet powerful history of Apartheid, were deeply moving, authentic, and unforgettable.

Standing inside Nelson Mandela’s cell was a moment that cannot be put into words it was humbling, emotional, and profoundly inspiring. The entire experience is thoughtfully curated to educate, reflect, and honor the resilience of those who fought for freedom.

An absolutely exceptional experience at Robben Island truly the highlight of my visit to Cape Town. The tour was seamless, professional, and deeply moving. Hearing firsthand stories from former prisoners brought the history of Apartheid to life in the most powerful way. Visiting Nelson Mandela’s cell was unforgettable.

Do not book this trip online. Show up at the harbor. Costs 1/3 of the price, and you will get the same as everyone else. The company did not meet us either PS

Fayical was an excellent guide - he transferred us from our hotel to the ferry dock and was waiting for us when we returned from Robben Island. He organized everything we needed and more. One member of our group needed something from a pharmacy. It was near closing time on a holiday. But Fayical worked overtime to find a place that was open and get us there. The Robben Island tour itself was worthwhile. It took a while to get through the lineups to board the ferry, but it was time well spent. Important history being honoured there.

A brilliant tour. The information was shared in an engaging way and gave deep insights into the island and the experiences of those imprisoned there. It was a thought provoking and impactful day and left me wanting to learn more.

Incredible experience from beginning to end. You can tell the tour organizers care about the enjoyment of our experience. A former Robbin Island prisoner gave us the tour of the island and we saw President Mandela’s cell with many other interesting locations.

Definitely worth doing and having a guide who had been incarcerated in the prison added to the experience

The experience was truly special. It was well organised, rich in heritage and culture. Special mention to the driver that was very professional, on time, great to talk to and made the experience go smoothly.

Generally went well although there was misunderstanding over when we would be picked up from our hotel & we had to wait for the car when the boat returned from the island

This was a very smooth experience. My guide picked me up from my hotel and drove me to the terminal for the Robben Island ferry. He’d pre-booked my ticket and even made sure I had a bottle of water, and he made sure I was safely on the boat. Once on the island, the tour itself is led by people with personal connections to the island, and hearing their stories was really impactful. My guide would have collected me back from the terminal upon my return to the mainland, but I told him it wasn’t necessary as I wanted to explore the waterfront rather than return to my hotel.

My driver was Fayical he was very prompt, pleasant, and professional! Highly recommend this tour it was very emotional and was led by past prisoners

Excellent visit but meeting arrangements appeared to be “ very African “. We expected to be picked up from hotel….but despite best efforts failed ! All ok for us it was a comparatively short walk…..but others might be upset. Once on boat all went well and visit interesting , alarming and emotional

No need to book this tour. Just book directly with Robben Island. Everyone gets the same tour. This excursion was chaotic…booking direct would be easier. After 8 p.m. the night before the tour we were informed of pick up time. Too late. We walked to the clock tower…then had to wait for someone to get our tickets. Meanwhile the boat was nearly full. Getting off on Robben Island was chaotic…we were directed to one bus, then told to get off, then told something different. Save yourself the hassle and money, book direct. The island is worth a visit.

A truly remarkable visit to Robben Island. The ferry was comfortable, the schedule well managed, and the tour itself was exceptional. Our guide spoke with clarity and heart, making the experience educational and emotional at the same time.

This is my second visit to Cape Town, and I made sure to return to Robben Island because it is such an important and unforgettable experience. The tour was very well arranged, from the ferry to the guided walk on the island. Our guide was knowledgeable, respectful, and engaging, which made the history come alive. Once again, it exceeded my expectations. Highly recommended.

Beware of pricing. You can buy tickets on the official site for R600 ea for non South Africans. This covers the ferry and the tours on the island. Check closely if you're getting anything extra for the extra money paid through a 3rd party We paid above the odds for what amounted to a cab ride from the hotel to the ferry

Cape Coast Explore offers a truly first-class Robben Island experience. Exceptional organization, punctual pickup, comfortable transport, and outstanding customer service throughout. The tour was informative, emotional, and inspiring. Every detail was handled professionally, allowing us to simply enjoy and reflect on this historic journey

Our guy, Samuel, was really awesome and very protective of his crew making sure we were taken care of and didn’t get lost.

Lots to see on the island and the atmosphere in the prison was appropriately austere bbbbbb Ggggggggggvvvvvvvvvvv jjjjjj

so worth it, our guide got everyone quiet on the bus within 3 minutes. His story, the places where he had been, it was really touching

Despite buying tickets in advance through you - the actual bar code did not work so had to wait to the side until everyone else got on boat . Too long a wait as a consequence not a good experience.

Our driver Fayical Buchana did an excellent job, friendly, attentive and very professional. On the island itself, the former political inmates portrait the live of the prisoners on Robben Island very authentically and provided insights into the brutality of the regime in general, and on Robben Island in particular, during the 1960s to 90s. Everyone should listen to what these contemporary witnesses experienced.

Great experience with the guides Monbasa and Thomas, as former political prisoners, giving a great insight into the conditions they had to endure. It amazed us that they were so positive towards life. To see where Mandela was housed and where his manuscript was hid, brought it all to life.

Driver was on time explained to us what our day will be he took us to the waterfront where we caught the boat to Robben island it was very interesting the talk with one of the prisoners made it seem very real also seeing the penguins and the sight of table mountain was amazeing would definitely recommend this trip and the guide waited for us has we returned from the boat so all excellent day all round nice memories

The talk by the ex prisoner of Robben Island was moving and heartbreaking. To hear firsthand of the treatment made the experience very real.

5. The driver was very courteous and punctual. Total confidence in him. I would recommend again the service. The whole experience to Robben island was great. Thanks

This was a very moving experience - seeing firsthand the conditions where political prisoners like Nelson Mandela were held was deeply emotional. Fayical at Cape Coast Explore was hospitable, timely and informative. The pick up and drop off at both ends was smooth and convenient. Fayical was also very accommodating to help me sort some booking confusion (that I created). I commend him for his honesty too since he promptly returned my smartphone after I dropped it in his van.

It was an emotional and humbling day. Listening to the political prisoner was passionate, inspirational and enlightening. We learnt of the sorrow, suffering, and torture they endured, without basic human rights. A truly deep humanized experience on this tour. Thank you to Mr. Thomas Moses for sharing his story with us, and giving us this personal account. Thank you to Fayical and his team for great communication on arranging the transport to and from our stay in Sea Point, as well as ensuring a safe and reliable tour.

This is a trip not for the faint hearted. After being picked up at our hotel and dropped off at the ferry we head to ROBBEN Island. Once there we drive around the island before a prison visit. The drive round the island gives you its history from being a lepper colony then prison, military facility then back to prison. Once the tour of island is done it’s off to the prison to meet an ex prisoner who details his stay and the struggles involved. It ends with a visit to Nelson Mandela’s cell before heading back to the ferry. Overall it’s a very humbling experience and throws a lot of things into perspective

The visit to Robben Island was very insightful. We had the honor to listen to the story from an ex political prisoner who was incarcerated in this same place. He did a great job sharing his experience.