Maximum security prison, Robben Island

When we reached the maximum security prison, we left the bus and were taken on a walking tour by a former inmate who was incarcerated in 1986 following his participation in student protests against apartheid. It was very sobering to hear his stories of the treatment they received and to see the conditions in which they lived. We were particularly moved to see the tiny cell where Nelson Mandela was held for 18 of the 27 years he spent in prison. One bright moment was to see the apple tree and the grapevine still thriving in the yard where Mandela planted them many years ago.

After our tour, we returned to the mainland by boat. We got there too late to look around the exhibition at the Nelson Mandela Gateway, so we will have to go back another day. We headed back to the hotel, stopping on the way to have a Chinese meal for dinner. It was very good!Read more