| The city of Cape Town is situated on the south | | | | banished to Robben Island. |
| western tip of the African continent, in one of the | | | | From 1846 Robben Island became a hospital for |
| most beautiful natural locations in the world. | | | | 'lunatics' lepers and chronically ill people from |
| How many Cape Town visitors are aware that | | | | poorer communities. It soon developed a |
| our historic, enigmatic Robben Island is actually the | | | | reputation for poor sanitary conditions. The water |
| summit of an ancient mountain, now hidden | | | | was bad and the food poor. There followed a |
| beneath the waves and linked to the Blouberg | | | | leprosy 'scare' in the 1880s when many leprosy |
| coastline by an undersea saddle? | | | | sufferers were rounded up and shipped to |
| Robben Island is made up of a lower layer of | | | | Robben Island. |
| Malmesbury shale which shapes its wild coastline, | | | | During the 1930s the hospital buildings were burnt |
| covered by a layer of limestone and calcrete, and | | | | down and in anticipation of war, Robben Island |
| topped by sand and a myriad fragments of shell. | | | | was fortified by big guns and occupied by a local |
| The island measures 5.6 kms approx. from north | | | | artillery school. The arms however were never |
| to south and 2.6 kms approx. from east to west. | | | | used in combat and in 1959 the island was taken |
| The highest point is 24 metres above sea level. | | | | over by the then Department of Prisons. |
| The inhospitable submerged rocks ringing the | | | | The first political prisoners arrived at Robben |
| coastline of the island have the reputation of | | | | Island Cape Town in 1962. They were followed by |
| sinking some 22 ships starting with the Yeanger | | | | members of the then banned African National |
| of Horne in 1611. | | | | Congress including the most well known, Nelson |
| Early seafarers referred to Robben Island Cape | | | | Mandela who, after many years in exile on the |
| Town as the Isle of Purgatory separated as it is | | | | island, was to become president of South Africa |
| from the Cape mainland by a rough stretch of ice | | | | in 1994. |
| cold Atlantic Ocean. | | | | Prison conditions were harsh in those years and |
| The crews of passing ships were first to land on | | | | the warders were renowned for their brutality. |
| the island in the 1500s to replenish their food | | | | The prisoners were made to do hard manual |
| supplies from the meat of the seals and penguins, | | | | labour in a lime quarry, but in their free time |
| and Robben Island was so named from the Dutch | | | | committed themselves to continuing the struggle, |
| word Robbe for 'seal' | | | | while studying and fighting illiteracy. |
| Robben Island became a Unesco World Heritage | | | | The ANC was unbanned in 1990 and by the |
| site in 1999. It remains an often painful reminder | | | | following year the air of political change was being |
| of dark days in South Africa, and a symbol of | | | | felt in South Africa. Democracy was finally a |
| human dignity and suppression during the | | | | reality. The Nationalist government of South |
| Apartheid years of the Nationalist Government. | | | | Africa gave in to demands and the last prisoners |
| Its purpose for many years was as a type of | | | | left Robben Island in May 1991. |
| local Alcatraz to imprison dissidents, political | | | | The island has been opened to the public and has |
| opponents - freedom fighters and enemies of the | | | | become a popular if not essential destination for |
| Apartheid regime. | | | | Cape Town visitors. Tours on the island are run |
| Since the first human occupation of the Cape, | | | | by the Robben Island Museum Tours Department |
| Robben Island Cape Town has worn a number of | | | | and some tour guides are ex-political prisoners |
| guises. It has been used as a postal centre, sheep | | | | who live on the island. |
| farm, whaling station, mental asylum, leper colony, | | | | You don't need to book days in advance of your |
| hospital, a garrison and a prison. | | | | trip to Cape Town if you want to visit Robben |
| The island had become a prison colony as early as | | | | Island. When you arrive in the city make your |
| the mid 1600s. Khoi and slave criminals were sent | | | | way to the V&A Waterfront where you'll |
| there from the mainland. One Sheikh Madura who | | | | find a booking office at the 'Nelson Mandela |
| opposed Dutch colonialism in his native East Indies, | | | | Gateway'. |
| was also imprisoned on Robben Island. His shrine | | | | Guided tours to Robben Island take 3.5 hours |
| stands near the prison building. | | | | including a return boat trip from Cape Town |
| In later years, Bushmen and Xhosa chiefs, | | | | Waterfront, A visit to the prison and a bus tour |
| defeated in the Eastern Frontier wars were | | | | with commentary. |