Robben Island lies just off the coast of Cape Town in South Africa. Tourist brochures occasionally market it as the "Alcatraz" of Cape Town. It's true, convicts had been held on Robben Island for more than 400 years. But the reason most people visit the island (now a museum) is because over 3000 political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela, were incarcerated there between 1961 and 1991. Robben Island is where Nelson Mandela and others began to frame the current South African constitution. The island symbolizes the eventual triumph of good over evil, of democracy over Apartheid. Robben Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is not exactly "Alcatraz".

I recently toured Robben Island and was shown around by an ex-political prisoner who served more than a decade in the maximum security prison. He had played a roll in the anti-Apartheid student demonstrations that rocked Soweto during the mid-1970's. Everyone who purchases a tour of Robben Island is guided by an ex-political prisoner (for at least part of the tour). This means you can ask questions and gain insight into prison life from someone who was actually there. I can't think of anywhere else in the world that you are able to have this kind of experience.

Find out more about Touring Robben Island...

_{Image of Nelson Mandela's Cell -- © Anouk Zijlma}