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Free tour

Robben Island untold Walking Tour

Duration: 1h and 30min
Languages: English
Guru: Michael
Quality Verified Registered on April 06, 2022

Good day Guru Walkers, Welcome and thank you for reaching us. 😃 Our guests have reviewed us to be the top rated GuruWalk tour operator in Cape Town and South Africa 🇿🇦. They also highly recommend us as well. In fact, we are the first GuruWalk operator in Southern Africa to reach over 100 and then 200 reviews with mostly 5 🌟 ratings. For your convenience, we have the most scheduled tours per week. My name is Michael and I am a professional registered Regional and Provincial Cultural Tourist Guide (WC12125), as well as a registered National Overnight Off Trail Mountain Adventure Trekking Tourist Guide. I was born in Cape Town and married to Bridget. She is a professional registered Cultural Tourist Guide (WC12124) as well. Together we have worked and travelled throughout South Africa, as well as in many other countries around the world. We also enjoy membership with the Cape Tourist Guide's Association. My uncle (who is still alive today) was the neighbour of Nelson Mandela when he spent almost 7 years in the jail cell right next door to Madiba, as a political prisoner on Robben Island. For more about this, you may want to book our "Oppression and Apartheid to Liberation" walking tour. We also conduct tours all across South Africa, including Sightseeing Tours, Hiking Tours, Rock Art Tours, Safaris, Adventure Tours, Wine Tours, National Parks, and more.

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  • No minimum number of attendees
    No minimum number of attendees is required for the tour
  • Free booking and cancellation
    Free payment tour, no set price, booking and cancellation are free

Tour description

Robben Island untold


"Secret places . . . we'll take you there"

  • This is a walking tour in and around the V+A Waterfront, and NOT a tour to the island itself.
  • The tour is based on history and the personal experiences of members of Michael's family, including his uncle who was jailed for almost 7 years (between 1972 and 1979) in the cell right next door to that of Nelson Mandela.
  • Of course, this tour also covers the system of apartheid that was devised by the racist white regime of the time, and how it led to people being detained as political prisoners on Robben Island.


NB
The information shared may be of a sensitive nature to some, and also includes facts that are not available on the internet.



  • The tour is ideal for those who:
  • do not have the 3 to 4 hours required to do the excursion to the island
  • have done the tour to the island but would like added information which is not offered during the tour 
  • are unable to do the tour to the island due to health issues such as pregnancy or sea sickness etc
  • are not able to secure a booking for a tour to the island
  • are not able to do the tour to the island due to ferry maintenance or technical issues
  • are not able to do the tour to the island when the service is down due to rough seas, fog or strong wind



Meet your guide outside the Cape Big Wheel. The guide will be wearing an official tourist guide badge.



Itinerary:

  • Places of interest
  • Khoisan history (indigenous people of the Cape)
  • Buildings
  • Ruins
  • Artefacts
  • Plants and flowers
  • The early Portuguese arrivals
  • The Dutch East India Company
  • The British influences
  • Penguins
  • Shipwrecks
  • People
  • Cultural heritage
  • Religious prisoners
  • Leper colony
  • Political prisoners
  • Escaped prisoners
  • Churches
  • Mosques
  • National monuments
  • Sites of significance


 All our tours are based on proper research and facts, and the information shared is not meant to be disrespectful to anyone's gender, country, religion, ethnicity, culture, ancestors, place of origin, political persuasion, traditions or practices.
 
Your guide will take you back in time and talk about how Robben Island was named, to how the island has played and important part of the history and the development of the Cape of Good Hope.


The tour finishes back in the heart of the V+A Waterfront where one can enjoy refreshments at a restaurant in the area.
Service ends
We are ready to welcome you!

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  • Meeting point:
    Breakwater, Victoria & Alfred Waterfr...
    Breakwater, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
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    Please meet your guide outside the Cape Big Wheel. The guide will be wearing an official tourist guide badge.

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end of the tour the amount that he or she considers appropriate (these usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).

Tour opinions

6 ratings
4.3
By category
Professionalism
4.0
Fun
3.8
Expression
4.2
Quality
4.2
Route
4.2
Generic
5 stars
5
4 stars
0
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
1
Rosalinde 03 Mar 2024
London

Verified booking
Travelled in couple - Mar 2024
We decided to take a guru tour rather than going to Robben Island and were not disappointed! Michael was so informative and professional we parted company having learned so much.
Lynne 18 Nov 2022
Indian Wells

Verified booking
Travelled in couple - Nov 2022
Another great tour with Michael. Love that is so knowledgeable and passionate about his city and it’s history.
anonymous 22 Oct 2022
Bad Staffelstein

Verified booking
Travelled in couple - Oct 2022
Awesome (walking) tour. For summing it up -> Interesting facts that we learned during an amazing sunny day in a vibrant area presented by a charismatic, very authentic and highly experienced person. To be repeated ASAP.
Karen 24 Aug 2022
San Jose

Verified booking
Travelled alone - Aug 2022
Nos da otra cara de la isla, información qie uno no ve. Vale la pena hacerlo, es muy informativo y educativo
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Who is this tour for?

Accessibility
Suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Groups
Accepts reservations up to 100 people.
Pets
Not suitable for pets.

What should you know?

Minimum of attendees
There is no minimum number of people required for the tour.
Additional costs:
The tour does not require the payment of entrance fees or additional expenses.
Free cancellation
If you will not be able to attend the tour, please cancel your booking, otherwise the guide will be waiting for you.
When do you want to go?
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