CapeTown Robben Island Tour:Pre-Booked Tickets &Extra Convenience
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Cape Town, South Africa
- 4 hours (approx.)
- Group discounts
- Offered in: English
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Overview
What's Included
- Return Ferry Tickets Secure, pre-booked
- Assisted Check-In at Nelson Mandela Gateway
- Dedicated agent to assist with ticket collection, boarding procedures, and orientation.
- Guided visit led by a former political prisoner, including Mandela Cell
- Digital map highlighting key landmarks and historical points, will be sent via your Watsaap
- Guided Shared Bus Tour Around Robben Island
- Pre-Tour Information Sent to WhatsApp
- Meals & Drinks beverages are not included.
- Purchases such as souvenirs, snacks at the Waterfront, or additional refreshments.
- Optional tips for guides and drivers are not included in the tour price.
- Mobility Arrangements Must be pre-arranged and may not be guaranteed depending on ferry availability
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- The Nelson Mandela Gateway To Robben IslandV&A Waterfront, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
The Gateway is located inside the V&A Waterfront, at the “Clock Tower Precinct” / “Clock Tower Square” area Is the red Monument near Fish market Restaurant
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
1
Robben Island Museum
3 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Last -minute Bookings include Complimentary Bottled water , Subjected to availability.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 270 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.3
based on 54 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Janet_H, Jul 2026
Without us, knowing, Viator arranged our tickets through a third-party person, not at the location of the boat ticket office. We were sent vouchers, but not tickets, and those vouchers were not good at the ticket window. With 90 minutes of effort, we had to go through via track down the third-party ticket merchant who casually walked into the lobby and proceeded to tell us we booked it all wrong and demanded 25 more dollars from each of us. We came to the boat two hours early so we could enjoy the museum, and all I can say is a good thing. I have used it many times and now will be much more careful about choosing their services.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations.
After reviewing your booking, we found that the reservation was made under the South African Citizen ticket option. This option is clearly marked and is strictly reserved for South African citizens who can present a valid South African ID at check-in. Unfortunately, international visitors are not eligible to use these tickets, and the ferry operator will deny entry if the incorrect ticket type is booked.
When an incorrect ticket category is selected, it must be upgraded to the correct international ticket before travel, which is why an additional payment was required. This is a requirement of the ferry operator and not an extra charge imposed by our team.
For future bookings, we kindly encourage all guests to carefully select the ticket option that matches their nationality and eligibility. Choosing the correct ticket type helps avoid delays, additional charges, or denied boarding on the day of travel.
We appreciate your feedback and remain committed to providing accurate information and assisting all guests throughout the booking process.
Kind regards,
KJA Tours
LaurenM_W, Jun 2026
Awesome experience! The way the tour was organizing using first hand experience from people who were on Robert’s island was great! Definitely would recommend the tour to others
Response from Host, Jul 2026
> **Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear you had such an awesome experience. It's especially meaningful to know that the firsthand stories shared by former Robben Island political prisoners made the tour so impactful. Thank you for your kind recommendation—we truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable Cape Town experience!**
Bruce_W, Jun 2026
Excursion cancelled by operator. They offered to reschedule but no refund offered to date, although requested.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for your message.
We would like to confirm that your refund has already been processed on our side. Please kindly note that bank refunds are not instant and usually take 5 to 7 working days to reflect in your account, depending on your bank’s processing time.
Regarding the cancellation, this was done strictly for safety reasons. The ferry to Robben Island does not operate during bad weather or unsafe ocean conditions, as passenger safety is our highest priority.
We appreciate your understanding and patience while the bank completes the transaction. If the refund does not reflect after the expected timeframe, please contact us and we will gladly assist further.
Michael_O, Jun 2026
All visitors to South Africa should do this tour in order to further their understanding of the horrors of apartheid, and the courage it took to remain human in an inhumane society.
Srini_K, Jun 2026
The travel agent followed-up with us regularly until he saw us at the cruise gate. The tour was good over all.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us! We are delighted to hear that you had a great time. Your feedback is invaluable to us and helps us continue to provide excellent service.
We hope to see you again soon for another memorable experience!
Susan_D, May 2026
The Robben Island tour is very informative and valuable, except for being cramped in the bus. This review is NOT about the tour, but about the Viator OVERPRICED offer of "tour with conveniences" when zero conveniences were supplied. We paid VIATOR way too much money, just go straight through Robben Island itself for booking.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are glad you found the Robben Island tour itself informative and worthwhile.
We would like to clarify that the experience offered is a shared tour, not a private one, and the pricing reflects the services and logistics we provide to ensure smooth access and coordination. While seating on the bus may feel compact at times, this is standard for shared group tours, and we strive to balance affordability with convenience.
We regret if the value did not feel aligned with your expectations, but we assure you that the price charged is consistent with the service level and inclusions offered. Your comments are important to us, and we will continue working to make sure our guests feel the convenience and value we aim to deliver.
Maria_D, May 2026
Unfortunately we did not have a good experience. Apparently we had not indicated when booking that we were from UK not South Africa so we’re unable to download tickets. Were told we could amend booking for an extra fee of 1800 rand . This just seemed so expensive. Finally rebooked for another day in person at the booking office. We have lost over £75.00 sterling using Viator and are very disappointed.
Response from Host, May 2026
Dear Guest, Maria
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re truly sorry to hear about the difficulties you experienced with your booking. The option you selected was specifically for South African citizens, which unfortunately does not apply to international visitors. As advised at the time, the booking needed to be amended to the correct international option, which involved an additional fee.
We understand this caused frustration and extra expense, and we regret that the process was not clearer upfront. Your comments are very valuable to us, and we will work on improving the clarity of our booking information to avoid similar issues in the future.
We hope you were still able to enjoy your visit, and we appreciate your understanding.
Stacy_N, May 2026
We strongly recommend avoiding KJA Tours for the “Robben Island Tour with Extra Conveniences” experience. The listing implied that the significantly higher price included personalized service and logistical support that would make the experience smoother and less stressful. Instead, it created far more stress than simply booking directly through the official Robben Island Museum ferry service.
We paid more than double the standard ticket price based on promises including:
* Assisted check-in at the Nelson Mandela Gateway
* A dedicated guide to assist with ticket collection, boarding, and orientation
* Personalized support throughout the process
* Electronic tickets and coordinated communication
None of those promised conveniences were actually provided.
When we arrived at the ferry terminal, no one was there to meet us. We had not received our electronic tickets, had received no communication from the company, and were left scrambling at the terminal trying to figure out whether we were even going to make the ferry.
I had to call the vendor myself, and it took approximately 30 minutes for them to respond. The ferry happened to be running about 20 minutes late, which is the only reason we did not miss the tour entirely. Had the ferry departed on time, we likely would have lost the entire excursion.
Ironically, if we had simply purchased tickets directly through the official Robben Island Museum ferry terminal, the experience would have been far less stressful and dramatically less expensive.
It’s also important to note that many of the positive reviews appear misleading because they reference the Robben Island experience itself — the ferry ride, the museum, and the former political prisoner tour guides. Those are standard parts of every Robben Island visit and are not unique benefits provided by this third-party vendor.
The actual Robben Island tour was meaningful and worthwhile. The service provided by KJA Tours was not.
We would absolutely not book through this company again.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are truly sorry to hear that your experience with us did not meet your expectations. Our goal is always to provide smooth logistics and added convenience for our guests, and we regret that you felt unsupported during your visit.
We would like to clarify that all necessary information, including tickets and guidance, was sent to you in advance via email and WhatsApp. We encourage all guests to check these messages the day before their activity, as they contain detailed instructions to ensure a seamless experience.
That said, we understand how stressful it can feel when communication does not align with expectations, and we will continue working to improve our responsiveness and clarity. We are pleased that you found the Robben Island tour itself meaningful, and we hope that despite the challenges, the historical significance of the visit left a lasting impression.
We value your feedback and will use it to strengthen our service so future guests feel fully supported from start to finish.
Tina_H, May 2026
The tour was cancelled because of the weather and I asked to get a refund because I was on a tight schedule. I never heard anything or got my money back.
Response from Host, May 2026
We’re truly sorry to hear about your experience. Unfortunately, the weather forced us to cancel the tour for safety reasons, and we understand how disappointing that must have been given your tight schedule. Your refund request should have been handled promptly, and we apologize that you didn’t receive communication from us. Please reach out to our customer support team at info@kjatours.com or call us directly at +27631253170 so we can resolve this immediately and ensure your refund is processed. We value your time and appreciate your feedback—it helps us improve our service.
Anita_W, May 2026
Our guide was amazing. Told us real stories from this time in history, very emotional.
So glad my other excursion was cancelled to get to see this.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us! We are delighted to hear that you had a great time. Your feedback is invaluable to us and helps us continue to provide excellent service.
We hope to see you again soon for another memorable experience!
Kimberly_L, May 2026
The tour to Robben Island was amazing! The guides were so wonderful and we learned a lot. Highly recommend!!
Response from Host, May 2026
Dear [Reviewer’s Name],
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback. We’re delighted to hear that your visit to Robben Island was such a meaningful experience and that our guides helped bring the history to life.
Your recommendation means a great deal to us, and we’re grateful you chose to spend your time with us. We look forward to welcoming you again on future tours.
Warm regards,
Lynne_G, Apr 2026
Do NOT book a Robbem Island tour with Viator. I was incredibly frustrated with the experience. Instructions that were sent were confusing and contradictory. Because of that we arrived far too early and waited a long time. After a phone call to the tour company we realized that the only thing we got from using Viator were electronic tickets and a bottle of water. Perhaps this is a value if you are visiting at the peak of high season and want to have an electronic ticket before you arrive. Otherwise you should just buy a ticket online directly from the attraction or buy a ticket in person at the check-in. Either way is very easy. The website gives you instructions about when to arrive and you can bring your own bottle of water or buy it there. To be fair, I am giving this review 2 stars because we were not charged more than the walk-in rate. And it might have saved waiting in line for tickets in peak season. The experience was confusing and frustrating because we were waiting for a guide. Of course, now that we have done it, I know that you can only use the Robben Island guides.
Skip this tour from Viator!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that your experience did not meet expectations and that the instructions provided caused confusion and inconvenience.
We would like to clarify that this is a shared tour service, as stated in the booking details, and that the experience on the island itself is conducted exclusively by the official guides. Our role is to facilitate the booking process and provide guests with secured tickets in advance, which can be particularly helpful during busy periods.
We regret that the communication regarding arrival times and procedures was not as clear as it should have been, and we appreciate you bringing this to our attention. Your feedback helps us improve our instructions and overall service for future guests.
At the same time, we’re glad to hear that there was no additional cost compared to the standard ticket price, and that the booking may still offer value in peak seasons by avoiding ticket queues.
We appreciate your honest review and will continue working to enhance the clarity and quality of our service.
Gordon_T, Apr 2026
Boat access and trip was super easy, Bus tour is very interesting and informative, the prison tour was done by a previous inmate and was life changing.
Response from Host, May 2026
Dear Gordon,
Thank you for sharing your experience. We’re delighted to hear that you found the boat access and trip easy, enjoyed the bus tour, and appreciated the informative commentary.
It’s especially meaningful to know that the prison tour, guided by a former inmate, left such a lasting impression. We’re honored to help provide experiences that are both educational and life changing.
We truly value your recommendation and look forward to welcoming you again in the future.
Warm regards,
Suzy_N, May 2026
From a historical point of view, you must have seen Robben island. But I find the execution against falling. With tour operator agreed on location and time but we saw no one. That would give us water and a digital map. We weren't called or anything while we were being contacted day before surgery. Tour was supposed to start from ferry but confirmation initially said 8.15 (after apping back time was changed to 9.45), and confirmation said that boat leaves at 10.30 while I was supposed to leave at original booking 10.00. Eventually the boat left later than 10.30 (not the fault of tour operator). There were 2 local guides (one on the bus and one at the prison). Our guide on the bus was very long-winded, so we were the last bus to leave and had very little time at the 1st stop location. The 2nd guide was also a bit long-winded. All impressive experiences of these ex-cons but it could have been much shorter.
When we got back on the boat I had complained to the tour operator because we didn't get the extras. I was then accused of having to contact them myself. But the method of transmission was not known to us (and our fellow tour followers). In the end, tour operator did offer us a free city tour, which unfortunately I could not use.
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Response from Host, Jun 2026
We regret that communication with the tour operator was unclear and that you did not feel properly informed. The offer of a free city tour was intended as compensation, but it is unfortunate that you were unable to use it. Please note that all information was sent to your WhatsApp, and you were supposed to meet our guide at the designated meeting point.
Your feedback helps improve the Robben Island experience and the organization of tours. Thank you again for your honest review.
From $55.80
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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