Robben Island Tour Pre-booked Tickets, Meeting Point & Transfers

The tour package I purchased here was very limited, I only bought tickets from a third party and did not meet anyone behind this account. But they communicated very well and promptly, shared my tickets with detailed instructions, and I was able to find my way to the docking station easily! The Robben Island tour itself was very eye-opening, both our bus and prison guides were engaging and well informed. While the prison part felt a bit rushed, I recommend you do it to learn a very important part of SA's history!

The meet instructions differed between TripAdvisor and the WhatsApp message from the guide. This resulted in us arriving 1 hour earlier than necessary. The guide still ended up being late and did little more than check us in. In retrospect, it would have been easier to simply by our tickets at the Gateway. As for Robben Island, the site was sobering and the guides were eloquent.

Overcrowded. Could have been better historical commentary. Also, the buses are old and could do with updating. Investment into this unique island heritage would not go astray

Way overcrowded. Not that well organized. Tour on the island the group was way too big & difficulty in hearing guide

Packed loading area and delayed sailing so we spent nearly an hour in a holding area - felt like a prisoner so perhaps that was part of the experience 🤣 Once aboard the boat we watched an interesting film about the island. On arrival we were loaded onto hot coaches. Drove around with a guide who was tricky to understand but highly amusing . We then met with an ex-prisoner who was really interesting who showed us around the block. I felt due to the very poignant history of the place that it should have been a better trip.

The tour was definitely eye opening about the prison and the history of Robbens Island. Would highly recommend.

Special thanks to Joseph for his great kindness and support. His help at check-in was brilliant, and he was very generous in his concern for me. The tour of Robben Island was excellent.

Interesting place, but rather crowded. Ferry not very comfortable, but video was educative. Also my visit was postponed by technical issues by 2 hours and communication with provider should be better too.

The tour of Robben Island itself is brilliant and something every young person should learn about. The talk by the ex-prisoner is inspiring. My advice, however, would be to go and get your tickets directly from Robben Island Museum. The tour company we booked through via Viator literally doubled the price, turned up to say hello, made sure we had our tickets and gave us some bottles of water and that was it. They should be ashamed..

The Robben Island is a very good educational tour. The tour guide to the prison was a former prisoner and he shared memories with us....some of them very painful and makes you sad.

Without us, knowing, Viator arranged our tickets through a third-party person, not at the location of the boat ticket office. We were sent vouchers, but not tickets, and those vouchers were not good at the ticket window. With 90 minutes of effort, we had to go through via track down the third-party ticket merchant who casually walked into the lobby and proceeded to tell us we booked it all wrong and demanded 25 more dollars from each of us. We came to the boat two hours early so we could enjoy the museum, and all I can say is a good thing. I have used it many times and now will be much more careful about choosing their services.

An unforgettable and deeply moving experience. Visiting Robben Island was both educational and inspiring, with fascinating insights into South Africa’s history and the struggle for freedom. The tour was well organized, and the stories shared by the guides made the experience even more meaningful.

A sad but must-try experience. Both out transfer guy (Joseph) and our tour guide on the island (ex-prisoner Tom Moses) were amazing.

This was an incredible learning experience. The guides were amazing and you can get a real sense of what was experienced by those there and the importance and beauty of their cause.

I took the Robben Island Tour with Extra Conveniences and it was a truly unforgettable experience. From the moment we were picked up at our hotel to the drop-off back in the city, the service was seamless. Cape Town traffic is no joke, so booking the pickup was a smart move. The ferry ride was smooth, and the views of the city, ocean, and even dolphins playing alongside the boat were stunning. The “extra conveniences” meant an air-con car, ferry queue skip, assisted check-in at Nelson Mandela Gateway, and a small group radio so we caught every word. Our guide was knowledgeable, passionate, and engaging, and seeing Mandela’s cell with context from a former political prisoner was sobering and powerful. It’s not “fun,” but it’s essential if you want to understand South Africa’s history.

We did this tour as a family, and it turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip. Everything was well organized, from the ferry to the transport, so we could just enjoy the experience without worrying about logistics. Our guide shared the history in a thoughtful and engaging way, making it easy for everyone to follow. Visiting the prison and learning about Nelson Mandela and the other political prisoners was incredibly moving. The tour focused on hope, courage, and resilience, leaving us with a much deeper appreciation of South Africa's history. Highly recommend.

I never thought I’d get to enjoy history, but Robben Island actually got me. The ferry ride was rough and l got seasick, but once we got to the prison it hit different. Mandela’s cell is tiny like smaller than my bedroom and I couldn’t imagine living there for years. The stories about prisoners studying at night and smuggling notes with soap felt like a movie, not a textbook. Walking through the limestone quarry was heavy too, knowing they damaged their eyes working there but still kept learning. Glad we got to go there

At first l didn’t want to go because “history tour” sounds dry. But Robben Island was actually worth it. The ferry was rough but seeing Mandela’s cell in person hits different. It’s tiny.The guide explained how prisoners studied and sent secret notes even while breaking rocks at the quarry. That part was crazy. It’s not fun-fun, but it makes you think. Glad I went. And quite educative too

An unforgettable and deeply inspiring experience. The tour was well organized from start to finish, with smooth ferry transfers and knowledgeable guides who shared powerful stories about South Africa’s history. Visiting the prison where Nelson Mandela was held provided incredible insight into the struggle for freedom and democracy. The former political prisoners who guide parts of the tour bring a unique and authentic perspective that makes the experience truly special. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Cape Town. A must-see historical landmark and an important part of understanding South Africa’s journey.”

What an incredible experience! Robben Island is rich in history and offers a unique opportunity to learn more about South Africa's past. The visit was informative, moving, and something I will always remember. Thank you to KJA TOURS for making the trip so convenient and enjoyable. Everything was well coordinated, allowing us to fully appreciate this historic destination. Highly recommended!

Awesome experience! The way the tour was organizing using first hand experience from people who were on Robert’s island was great! Definitely would recommend the tour to others

I had a wonderful experience visiting Robben Island with KJA Tours.The trip was very educational and gave us a deeper understanding of South Africa's history .A special thank you to our tour guide , Joseph , who was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the tour enjoyable from start to the end.I highly recommend KJA tours to anyone to anyone looking for a professional and informative tour experience .

Robben Island is a truly unforgettable place to visit, filled with history that is both powerful and thought-provoking. Walking through the island and learning about its past gives you a deep appreciation of South Africa’s journey and the strength of those who lived through it. KJA TOURS provided a smooth and well-organized experience, making the whole visit easy and enjoyable. I would definitely recommend them for anyone wanting a stress-free and meaningful tour.

Our trip to Robben Island was an incredible experience and one of the highlights of our visit to Cape Town. The island's rich history and significance in South Africa's journey to democracy made the tour both educational and deeply moving. It was a valuable opportunity to learn, reflect, and gain a greater appreciation for our country's past. Thank you to KJA TOURS for providing such a well-organized and enjoyable trip. From start to finish, everything was handled professionally, making the experience stress-free and memorable. I highly recommend KJA TOURS to anyone looking to explore South Africa's most important historical landmarks.

Visiting Robben Island was a very meaningful experience, filled with history that is both humbling and inspiring. The island carries so many important stories that stay with you long after you leave. It’s the kind of place that makes you reflect on freedom and resilience. KJA TOURS ensured everything went smoothly, making the visit easy to enjoy from start to finish. I would gladly recommend them for a well-organized and reliable tour experience.

Robben Island is a place every South African should visit at least once. The experience was powerful, eye-opening, and filled with important lessons about our nation's history. Seeing the historic sites firsthand brought the stories we have learned about to life and left a lasting impression on us. A big thank you to KJA TOURS for organizing such a wonderful trip. The day was smooth, well planned, and stress-free from start to finish. If you're looking for a reliable tour company and an unforgettable historical experience, I highly recommend KJA TOURS.

Excursion cancelled by operator. They offered to reschedule but no refund offered to date, although requested.

All visitors to South Africa should do this tour in order to further their understanding of the horrors of apartheid, and the courage it took to remain human in an inhumane society.

It was very amazing, I had the best time . I lent about things I didn't know and the history of the place.The place was very amusing too.I wish to visit once again .

This tour exceeded our expectations,very well executed from pick up to the tour around robben island.The former prisoners host made sure to give us a very detailed experience they had,a very hard breaking one.Will surely bring our daughter and her friends so much history they will learn.Thank you so much Joseph,KJA TOURS made out experience smooth and enjoyable, definitely worth recommending Cheers JOSEPH and team.

Had a great time with family. This was a chance to learn more about south Africa's history and to spend more time with family. It was an honour to be in the hands of KJ tours

An excellent experience. I had a great time and I learnt a lot.

The travel agent followed-up with us regularly until he saw us at the cruise gate. The tour was good over all.

DO NOT DO EXTRA CONVENIENCES; WE NEVER GOT THEM. ROBBEN ISLAND However is faboulous and the guides are outdstanding.

An ex prisoner telling us his touth history and for all others including Nelson Mandela. Very restrictive rules, previlegies just for few ones and everyone separated by sectors A B C D by Africans, Indians, other and only one white person. Good to know tge history, to respect other political time and other countries culture. And also to thank GOD for the life I have!

The Robben Island tour is very informative and valuable, except for being cramped in the bus. This review is NOT about the tour, but about the Viator OVERPRICED offer of "tour with conveniences" when zero conveniences were supplied. We paid VIATOR way too much money, just go straight through Robben Island itself for booking.

Unfortunately we did not have a good experience. Apparently we had not indicated when booking that we were from UK not South Africa so we’re unable to download tickets. Were told we could amend booking for an extra fee of 1800 rand . This just seemed so expensive. Finally rebooked for another day in person at the booking office. We have lost over £75.00 sterling using Viator and are very disappointed.

We strongly recommend avoiding KJA Tours for the “Robben Island Tour with Extra Conveniences” experience. The listing implied that the significantly higher price included personalized service and logistical support that would make the experience smoother and less stressful. Instead, it created far more stress than simply booking directly through the official Robben Island Museum ferry service. We paid more than double the standard ticket price based on promises including: * Assisted check-in at the Nelson Mandela Gateway * A dedicated guide to assist with ticket collection, boarding, and orientation * Personalized support throughout the process * Electronic tickets and coordinated communication None of those promised conveniences were actually provided. When we arrived at the ferry terminal, no one was there to meet us. We had not received our electronic tickets, had received no communication from the company, and were left scrambling at the terminal trying to figure out whether we were even going to make the ferry. I had to call the vendor myself, and it took approximately 30 minutes for them to respond. The ferry happened to be running about 20 minutes late, which is the only reason we did not miss the tour entirely. Had the ferry departed on time, we likely would have lost the entire excursion. Ironically, if we had simply purchased tickets directly through the official Robben Island Museum ferry terminal, the experience would have been far less stressful and dramatically less expensive. It’s also important to note that many of the positive reviews appear misleading because they reference the Robben Island experience itself — the ferry ride, the museum, and the former political prisoner tour guides. Those are standard parts of every Robben Island visit and are not unique benefits provided by this third-party vendor. The actual Robben Island tour was meaningful and worthwhile. The service provided by KJA Tours was not. We would absolutely not book through this company again.

Very well Organized, great guided historic tour and learnt a lot about the struggle for the fight for freedom and what they went through and cherry on the cake was we saw 100’s of Dolphins, playing and swimming along our boat

It was actually great had an awesome time

This wax a bad experience and would not use KJA again. We booked our trip and paid more than we would if we just got tickets on site. When we got there our tickets weren't even good for the date we booked them- it got settled eventually but we had to take another boat and it was extremely aggravating

The tour was cancelled because of the weather and I asked to get a refund because I was on a tight schedule. I never heard anything or got my money back.

Our guide was amazing. Told us real stories from this time in history, very emotional. So glad my other excursion was cancelled to get to see this.

The tour to Robben Island was amazing! The guides were so wonderful and we learned a lot. Highly recommend!!

Do NOT book a Robbem Island tour with Viator. I was incredibly frustrated with the experience. Instructions that were sent were confusing and contradictory. Because of that we arrived far too early and waited a long time. After a phone call to the tour company we realized that the only thing we got from using Viator were electronic tickets and a bottle of water. Perhaps this is a value if you are visiting at the peak of high season and want to have an electronic ticket before you arrive. Otherwise you should just buy a ticket online directly from the attraction or buy a ticket in person at the check-in. Either way is very easy. The website gives you instructions about when to arrive and you can bring your own bottle of water or buy it there. To be fair, I am giving this review 2 stars because we were not charged more than the walk-in rate. And it might have saved waiting in line for tickets in peak season. The experience was confusing and frustrating because we were waiting for a guide. Of course, now that we have done it, I know that you can only use the Robben Island guides. Skip this tour from Viator!

Boat access and trip was super easy, Bus tour is very interesting and informative, the prison tour was done by a previous inmate and was life changing.

The Cape Town Robben Island Tour was a powerful and moving experience that left a lasting impression. The history of the island is so rich and complex, and our guide did an excellent job of sharing it with us. The views of the city from the island were stunning, and it's amazing to think about the struggles of those who were imprisoned there. If you're visiting Cape Town, I highly recommend this tour – you won't regret it

Our guide was exceptional – they brought the history of Robben Island to life with their stories and insights. They were clearly passionate about sharing the island's story, and their enthusiasm was infectious. The tour was well-paced, allowing plenty of time to explore the island and take in the sights. Seeing Mandela's cell was a sobering experience, and our guide's words added depth and context to the moment

This trip was cancelled on the day due to rough seas. I have contacted TripAdvisor to ask for a refund but have heard nothing back.