Robben Island, a treasure

This is probably the most well-known island in South Africa. If you hear the word Robben Island, your first thought and association is with Madiba (as Nelson Mandela is known to South Africans). Robben Island is an island in Table Bay and lies about eight km from Cape Town and measures about 3.four km by two km. The name was given to the island because of the seals (robben is the Netherlands for seal) that lived right here. Geographically, this island utilized to be part of the African continent many years ago. The Netherlands were not the 1st Europeans to stroll on this island. The Portuguese visited this island a lot of years ago before the English admiral set foot here in 1591. In 1601 Joris van Spilbergen (from Netherlands) followed and only in 1652 Jan van Riebeeck came. hyundai i20 They tried very challenging to develop the fish and seal business on this island, but since it was so remote, it was used to ban folks that had incurable sicknesses and crazy individuals (from 1846 1931). Even folks that stole sheep or cows were banned to this island, centuries ago. In the course of the Second Globe War, the island was used and a light tower was built due to the fact of the bad stranding record. Following the war ended it was turned into a coaching camp for the South African Navy. But in 1961 the island was placed under the jurisdiction of the Division of Justice and was employed as a jail. Non of the public was allowed to go there and a protective sea border of around 1.5 km was locations around it. This was the spot exactly where old president Nelson Mandela was sent in 1964 to serve a life sentence. Gear to begin a war in the country was located and 10 folks all with each other had been charged. Given that 1997, Robben Island has been a museum and the public was allowed back to pay a visit to, leaving from the Waterfront in Cape Town. Lots of function is also been completed to attempt and bring back the wildlife that ones lived on this island. The northern element has been declared a bird sanctuary and lots of penguins can also be located right here these days. No go to to the Cape is comprehensive without setting foot on this island, learning far more about its colourful background and paying a visit to Nelson Mandelas old jail cell. Boats leave for the island from the V & A Waterfront in Cape Town each day, so make positive you verify out the instances so you dont miss out! When you arrive on the island, you will have the most breathtaking view more than Cape Town and Table Mountain. A magnificent moment you will treasure forever!