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Cape Town Township Tour including Robben Island - Walk to Freedom Tour
Cape Town, South Africa
- 9 hours
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Take a fascinating trip through South Africa’s difficult past on a tour of Cape Town and Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison. Visit the District Six Museum to get an in-depth look at the troubling history of apartheid in South Africa, and see how that system still impacts modern life in townships like Langa and Gugulethu. See how residents of these townships work to improve their lives and communities. Take a ferry to UNESCO-listed Robben Island for a tour of the former prison for political prisoners.
- Full-day guided tour of Cape Town and Robben Island
- Visit District Six Museum and learn about apartheid history
- Travel to nearby townships, including Langa, and meet their inhabitants
- Ferry to Robben Island and visit Nelson Mandela’s cell
- Small group limited to 12 people to ensure a unique and intimate experience
What's Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Professional guide
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Start time
08:00 AM
Pickup details
Camps Bay Hotels: 8am departure Sea Point Hotels: 8:15am departure Waterfront Hotels: 8:30am departure Downtown Hotels: 8:45am departure Up Town Hotels: 8:45am departure
What To Expect
After getting picked up at your hotel, your first stop is the District Six Museum. This museum gives you an excellent look at the history of apartheid in this area, how it began in 1950 with the enforced eviction of more than 60,000 black South Africans from the district in order to make it an all-white neighborhood.
With this history in mind, your next stop is the township of Langa, the oldest township in Cape Town. Townships first sprang up under apartheid as places for non-whites to live. They were always in unsavory areas, and were essentially cut off from city infrastructure. In Langa with your guide, stop into a shebeen (tavern), go to a local market and visit a traditional healer. Next, visit Guga S’thebe Arts & Culture Centre to see the work being done to improve the lives of the Langa community, most of whom are Xhosa.
Head back toward Cape Town for the last township visit, Gugulethu. This township was originally built specifically for migrant workers from the Transkei region of the Eastern Cape. Here, again, there are signs of both progress and poverty — shacks alongside restaurants and night clubs.
Back in Cape Town, enjoy some free time in the afternoon at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront where you can get lunch (own expense) before getting into a ferry to ride across Table Bay to Robben Island. The island was once a prison, where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison. Today, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site where former political prisoners give tours.
See Mandela’s cell in the prison—it’s roughly seven square feet (0.6 square meters)—and hear what life was like for him and the other prisoners there, including how he was made to dig in a quarry when officials found out he was acting as a leader during a prisoner rebellion.
Contemplate the distance Mandela traveled from these prison gates to the presidential office as you ride the ferry back to Cape Town. The tour ends with a drop-off at your Cape Town hotel.
Please note:
• District Six Museum (closed Sundays)
With this history in mind, your next stop is the township of Langa, the oldest township in Cape Town. Townships first sprang up under apartheid as places for non-whites to live. They were always in unsavory areas, and were essentially cut off from city infrastructure. In Langa with your guide, stop into a shebeen (tavern), go to a local market and visit a traditional healer. Next, visit Guga S’thebe Arts & Culture Centre to see the work being done to improve the lives of the Langa community, most of whom are Xhosa.
Head back toward Cape Town for the last township visit, Gugulethu. This township was originally built specifically for migrant workers from the Transkei region of the Eastern Cape. Here, again, there are signs of both progress and poverty — shacks alongside restaurants and night clubs.
Back in Cape Town, enjoy some free time in the afternoon at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront where you can get lunch (own expense) before getting into a ferry to ride across Table Bay to Robben Island. The island was once a prison, where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison. Today, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site where former political prisoners give tours.
See Mandela’s cell in the prison—it’s roughly seven square feet (0.6 square meters)—and hear what life was like for him and the other prisoners there, including how he was made to dig in a quarry when officials found out he was acting as a leader during a prisoner rebellion.
Contemplate the distance Mandela traveled from these prison gates to the presidential office as you ride the ferry back to Cape Town. The tour ends with a drop-off at your Cape Town hotel.
Please note:
• District Six Museum (closed Sundays)
District Six Museum
9 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Robben Island Museum
9 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Thompson's Touring & Safaris - Day Tours
9 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- District Six Museum (closed Sundays)
Cancellation Policy
This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
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Reviews
4.0
184 reviews
Tamika_G, Nov 2023
The tour guide was such a good sport- so friendly and jovial. This tour actually made me so emotional as I learned about the history and the pain of the people. I would definitely recommend.
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Thank you for your wonderful review! We will share your positive comments with all concerned.
Ruby_R, Nov 2023
All of it! !!! I enjoyed the boat ride with the Boat Crew, Captain Mosses, and, all of his wonderful trained personnel, who got us safely to the Island showing us great appreciation of Love. The presentation from your speaker was truly amazing and, nore than outstanding. 🙏🙏🙏
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Wow! Thank you for your wonderful review! We will share your positive comments with all concerned.
Jennifer_R, Oct 2023
The township Part of it was amazing and our guide was very informative and took us to a very nice artist co-op and into our room and one of the township hostels. The only reason I’m not rating It higher It is because of the Robbin Island portion. This is not a problem with Viator or even the tour guide because when you go to the island they have their own guides and ours could not be understood. He technically spoke English but we could not understand his accent so we left knowing nothing about what we had just seen. I don’t know how this could be avoided even if you did it on your own but just something to take into consideration.
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Thank you for your valuable comments. We will share with the team at Robben Island.
Antaneya_M, Mar 2023
An amazing tour our tour guide was great I would recommend for anyone visiting capetown the experience is so amazing
Response from Host, Mar 2023
Good day. Thank you for your feedback on your recent experience. We are delighted that you enjoyed your time and will share your comments with our guide. We look forward to welcoming you back again in the near future.
Melanie_J, Feb 2023
Richard was an excellent guide! I am a Black American and Richard was able to make connections between our history in the United States and the history of South Africa. Richard had an amazing sense of humor and we felt very welcomed and comfortable asking questions. Richard's insight and ability to communicate helped us to learn so much about South Africa's apartheid policies and their impact on its people.
Response from Host, Feb 2023
Good day. Thank you for your wonderful review and feedback on Richard! We are delighted to hear that you had such an enjoyable experience and we hope to welcome you back again in the future!
NayimuliAsaph_K, Jan 2023
The bus and prison guide were just on point. They brought the stories to life, sad though to listen to that history!
Response from Host, Feb 2023
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback. We are delighted that you enjoyed your experience. Please join us again soon!
Evy_G, Dec 2022
Robben island and township tour
A must experience to anyone visiting Capetown. Our guide Mr Sandie (spelling?) through Thompsons tours and from the Langa township gave us a true overview of the city and it’s history. The first stop was District 6 museum which showed us the reality of the unfortunate history of many in this city. Then we drove around it and visited Langa. Extreme poverty to vibrant art community. An area of many contrasts. Afterwards the visit to Robben island with a prisoner’s perspective and experience. Overall we all enjoyed the tour. Many of us have heard of apartheid and the fight of the local black communities but this really showed it. Totally recommend it in addition to the other attractions such as Table mountain, wineries, cape of good hope etc.
Response from Host, Dec 2022
Thank you for your wonderful input and positive comments. We are delighted that you found value in the tour. We hope to welcome you back again in the future.
Tiffany_S, Sep 2022
This was a great cultural and historical day tour. Our guide Andele was wonderful. Very knowledgeable.
Response from Host, Oct 2022
Good Day. Thank you for your lovely feedback. We are thrilled you had a great experience and we hope to welcome you back in the future. We will share your compliments with Andele.
Patrick_C, Jul 2022
Had a fantastic day tour with our guide Richard who was amazing and so knowledgeable. He gave us an incredible look into South Africa and Cape Town’s history and it was so interesting and refreshing to hear it from someone who lived through it and came from the actual township Langa that we visited. It was a surreal and humbling experience and would highly recommend anyone to do this tour and if you manage to get Richard you are in luck!! The second part of the tour to Robben Island was class as well and rounded off the day beautifully!!
Response from Host, Jul 2022
Dear Patrick. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience and in particular, that Richard was such a gem. Thank you for sharing this with us - we will be sure to pass on your comments.
Lesley_B, Jul 2022
The first part of the tour was great district 6 and museum. The town ships. The Robben Island tour not so good. Swashed onto buses. Not going far. Not enough time to enjoy the Island it's self.
Would be nice to have self guided tour.
Response from Host, Jul 2022
Good day. Thank you for your feedback on the Cape Town Township Tour including Robben Island. We're disappointed to hear that the experience didn't live up to your expectation. We will work on improving what we can and hope to welcome you back again in the near future.
...
From $119.01
-You will not receive a refund if you cancel.
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Cape Town Township Tour including Robben Island - Walk to Freedom Tour
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