World-famous as the place where Nelson Mandela was condemned
to life imprisonment, this little kidney-shaped island 11 Km (7 miles) off the
shores of Green Point was named by the Dutch for the large numbers of seals
(“rob)” they encountered her. It has a grim history: this was where Jan van Riebeeck kept Khoi Khoi leaders
captive; later, the British used it as a
general dumping –ground for lepers
paupers and lunatics alike known as
Irishtown was built next ot the jetty. A military base during World War ll, it
was finally taken over by the Department of Prisons in 1960, quickly acquiring
a reputation as South Africa’s most notorious penal colony.
Today, South Africa’s own Alcatraz has been turned into a
national monument and museum, run by the Ministry for Arts and Culture. Ferries
and charter boats bound for the island leave Cape Town‘s V&A Waterfront
several times a day, but not all of them are allowed to land. In order to
protect the environment (Robben Island is a haven for wildlife. Especially
seabirds and jackass penguins), visitor numbers are limited to 300 a day. Many
boats simply circle the island, providing passengers with a view from about a
kilometre (half a mile) out at sea.
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