Robben Island Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Robben Island Robbeneiland
Robben Island Village
Robben Island Location in Western Cape Show map of Western Cape Robben Island Location in South Africa Show map of South Africa
Country	South Africa
Province	Western Cape
Municipality	City of Cape Town
Area
• Total	5.18 km² (2.00 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	116
• Density	22.39/km² (58.00/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
• Black African	60.3%
• Coloured	23.3%
• White	13.8%
• Other	2.6%
First languages (2011)
• Xhosa	37.9%
• Afrikaans	35.3%
• Zulu	15.5%
• English	7.8%
• Other	3.4%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
PO box	7400

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Type:	Cultural
Criteria:	iii, vi
Designated:	1999 (23rd session)
Reference #:	916
State Party:	South Africa
Region:	Africa

Robben Island is an island near Cape Town in South Africa. It was a high-security prison where Nelson Mandela was held captive for 18 years. He and the other political prisoners were forced to work at the limestone quarries on the island. They were not allowed to talk or do anything but work.

Robben Island is both a South African National Heritage Site as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Images for kids

Robben Island as viewed from Table Mountain towards Saldanha Bay
Dutch map of the island, from 1731
Robben Island Lighthouse
View of Table Bay from Robben Island coast
Robben island coast with a view of Table Mountain
Endangered African penguin on Robben Island, 2015
Ahmed Kathrada, who was imprisoned in Robben Island between 1964 and 1982, is pictured giving a tour of the prison to the then US President Barack Obama and his family in 2013.
Rock pile started by Nelson Mandela and added to—one rock at a time—by former prisoners returning to the island.
Muslim Moturu Kramat shrine on Robben Island.
World War II guard pillbox.
African sacred ibis on Robben Island, 2015.