Cape Town day trips, South Africa.

For over 300 years Robben Island was used as a throwaway place for criminals, the unwell (such as those with leprosy or mental illness), and for political prisoners. The first prisoner arrived in 1653 and the last left in 1991. Nelson Mandela is its most famous inhabitant, spending 18 of his 27 years incarcerated years on Robben Island. The tour guides are former Robben Island prisoners themselves. Stories told first-hand hit harder.

Aquila Safari is an accessible way to do a wildlife safari from Cape Town, no overnight required. It’s an easy 2-hour drive and lunch is included in the afternoon game drive fee. How can one tire of seeing animals in the wild??

Babylonstoren is a farm/garden/winery/hotel/spa/restaurant destination of earth-loving, local goodness. Had it not been a thousand degrees out the day we went, we probably would have loved it more.

Letter to prisoner, redacted by prison authorities

This tour guide (like most) was a former political prisoner at Robben Island

Prison authorities maintain torture was not used, but evidence like this contradicts their claim.

This lion was a rescue and doesn't hunt, so he gets food from the reserve sourced by locals.

One of the Robben Island tour guides

Elephants at Aquila Safari

The V&A Waterfront

Seeing elephants up close

View of Table Mountain from Robben Island

Cape buffalo, one of the Big Five