View from Robben Island

Robben Island is a small island in Table Bay, about 7 km off Cape Town’s coast.
 
It has a layered history—first used as a refreshment station by the Dutch in the 17th century, later as a leper colony and military base.
 
Most famously, it served as a maximum-security prison during apartheid, where Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners were held for decades.
 
Today, Robben Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and museum, symbolizing resilience and the triumph of democracy.
 
Visitors can tour the prison, meet former inmates, and learn about South Africa’s struggle for freedom.