With former Robben Island political prisoners
conducting the tour of the island and the prison
grounds, I heard personal accounts about the harsh
lives of the prisoners who were detained there from
the 1960’s to 1991. The tour is an absolute must for
any first time visitor to Cape Town and for anyone
wanting to better understand South Africa’s past
— and its very promising future that shows no sign
of slowing down.
op, complete with the Atlantic waves crashing against
the rocks behind us. From there we made our way
to the Boulders, a sheltered cove located just a short
drive from the Cape of Good Hope that has become
famous for its thriving colony of African penguins.
From just two breeding pairs in 1982,
the penguin colony has grown to an
estimated 2,200. Raised boardwalks took
us within a very close range of these
spectacular birds.
On our final afternoon, African
Travel, Inc. was able to fulfill my last-
minute request for a ferry and admission
ticket to Robben Island Museum, a
UNESCO World Heritage Site, which
serves as a vital reminder of the country’s
struggles under apartheid. Located approximately nine
miles off the cost of Cape Town, Robben Island was
where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 of the 27
years he served behind bars before the end of apartheid.
On our final afternoon, African Travel,
was able to fulfill my last-minute
request for a ferry and admission
ticket to Robben Island Museum...
TOP
Clockwise, from
the top-left:
The
award-winning
Twelve Apostles
Hotel and Spa;
South African
women in
traditional dress;
the birds and seals
of Robben Island;
the perimeter
fence around the
former prison at
Robben Island,
now a World
Heritage Site;
Cape Town’s
Scenic Route.
Feature Story
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SUMMER / FALL 2015
39
