Blouberg, Blaauwberg, Cape Town – South Africa

Robben Island’s Unforgiving Coast Line

Robben Island, Cape Town, South Africa as seen with Table Mountain in the background.

Robben Island is in the Western Cape of South Africa, approximately 7km off the coast and 12km from Cape Town harbor. This island is an  UNESCO World Heritage Site.

History

The island was first discovered by Europeans in 1488 when Bartolomeu Dias reached Table Bay.

Soon afterward it was put to use as a prison by the Portuguese, British and Dutch. From 1652 the island also served as a refreshment station for ships that did not wish to visit the mainland.

In 1658 the island saw its first political prisoner, Autshumato was stealing back livestock that was confiscated by the new European settlers, was tried and imprisoned on the island. Later the same century a number of people resisting Dutch rule over the East Indies were also shipped to Cape Town and incarcerated on the island.

In 1795 the British took control of the Cape. They continued to use the island as a prison and from the middle of the 18th century also used it as an asylum. In 1890 a leprosy colony as established on the island.

In 1936 the South African Defence Force took control of the island and improved the infrastructure by building new roads, a power station and housing.

From 1961 it was again used as a prison, primarily to house those opposed to the apartheid government of the time.

Today the island is a museum and tourist attraction.

Two shipwrecks spotted with Google Earth

While browsing around on Google Earth, I found two shipwrecks clearly visible. It appears as if these two wreckage’s are from the same ship yet information found indicates that they are from two different ships.

There are 4 listed shipwrecks around the Island, two as recent as 1998.

* Chanson de la Mer, (1986) at Shelly Beach
* Han Cheng 2, (1998) in Rangatira Bay
* Sea Challenger, (1998) in Rangatira Bay
* Fung Thu, (1977) on the South of the island

Layout of Robben Island

Click to enlarge

As seen above, the first photo is a view of both the shipwrecks, the Han Cheng 2 and Sea Challenger which both struck the island in 1998.

Visiting Robben Island

Due to limited facilities and conservation efforts, visits to the island is restricted to 1800 people per day. As at 1st February 2008 the waiting time to visit the island is two weeks, so if you plan to visit make sure that you book as soon as you arrive in Cape Town to avoid disappointment.

Ferries leave the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town six times a day. Trip time to the island is about 30 minutes. Book in advance, ph: +27 (0)21 413-4208. For information, ph: +27 (0)21 413 4200.

Be sure to book the trip to Robben Island in advance as the tours are usually booked up for several days ahead.

Want to take a helicopter flight to Robben Island? Contact Civair, +27 (0)21 419-5182.

Contact information for Robben Island:

Robben Island Museum
Telephone: +27 (0)21 409 5100
Fax: +27 (0)21 4111 059
Postal address: Robben Island Museum, Private Bag, Robben Island, Cape Town, 7400

Nelson Mandela Gateway

Telephone: +27 (0)21 413 4200
Fax: +27 (0)21 419 1057
Postal address: Nelson Mandela Gateway, PO Box 51806, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, 8002

Website: http://www.robben-island.org.za

And lastly we leave you with a beautiful of Cape Town taken from Robben Island.