Robben Island

Robben Island is in the Western Cape of South Africa, approximately 7km off the coast and 12km from Cape Town harbor. This island is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also called as Penguin Island. Robben Island is roughly oval in shape, 3.3 km long north-south, and 1.9 km wide, with an area of 5.07 square km. The island is composed of Precambrian metamorphic rocks belonging to the Malmesbury Group. It is of particular note as it was here that former South African President and Nobel Laureate Nelson Mandela and former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, alongside many other political prisoners, spent decades imprisoned during the apartheid era. Due to limited facilities and conservation efforts, visits to the island is restricted to 1800 people per day. Be sure to book the trip to Robben Island in advance as the tours are usually booked up for several days ahead.