The Island

Robben Island (Afrikaans: Robbeneiland) is an island in Table Bay, 6.9 kilometres (4.3 mi) west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, north of Cape Town

The Prison

Robben Island Prison is an inactive prison on Robben Island in Table Bay, 6.9 kilometers (4.3 mi) west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, Cape Town, South Africa. Nobel Laureate and former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela was imprisoned there for 18 of the 27 years he served behind bars before the fall of apartheid.

Tours

Robben Island is accessible to visitors through tours that depart from Cape Town's waterfront. Tours depart three times a day and take about 3.5 hours, consisting of a ferry trip to and from the island, and a tour of the various historical sites on the island that form part of the Robben Island Museum. These include the island graveyard, the disused lime quarry, Robert Sobukwe's house, the Bluestone quarry, the army and navy bunkers, and the maximum security prison. Nelson Mandela's cell is shown.

Shark Diving

The merest of ripples will have you scanning the deep, blue waters. The schools of fish, once busy chasing scraps off the stern, suddenly vanish. Now – silent anticipation! Your first encounter with over four hundred million years of evolution is about to come true.

And there it is – a lithe, muscular, torpedo-like body rising from the depths; beginning to circle; its approach measured, unhurried, all-powerful; its senses alive, its eye watchful; its dorsal fin breaking the surface as it glides past – an unforgettable moment; your trepidation turning to awe, for to be in the company of such majesty is truly an honour; a life-changing moment beyond your wildest dreams.

Tours

There are two tour options available - departing from Simon Town (45 minutes from Cape Town) or Gansbaai (3 hours from Cape Town).

If you desire to see Great Whites, the Gansbaai option is your best bet, but that would require a long day trip.

The Area

Franschhoek is a small town in the Western Cape Province and one of the oldest towns in South Africa. It was formerly known as Oliphants hoek (as there were vast groups of elephants roaming the valley). It is situated about 75 kilometres (47 mi) from Cape Town, a 45 minute drive away.

In 2022, Franschhoek was mentioned in Time magazine as one of the top 50 places in the world to visit.

Wine

Wining and dining in Franschhoek is definitely one of the must-do things in Cape Town. There are 50 wine farms and even more restaurants in the Franschhoek Valley obliviously you won’t be able to visit all of them in one, two, or three days. We’ve been to Franschhoek many times and managed to visit only about 15 of them, but we have a couple of favorites that we go to every time. Some of the wine farms do tasting only by appointment but most of them are open at regular hours.

Tours

While Franschhoek is only a 45 minute drive from Cape Town, you will need a responsible driver.

Numerous tour options are available but one of the most popular is the Wine Tram

Another popular tour option is the Franschhoek Mystery Tour