Robben Island is a barren little place, just off the Cape coast. Yet it’s history is very rich—it has been everything from a leper colony to a prison and famously is where Nelson Mandela was held captive for 27 years under the Apartheid regime. Ex-prisoners often lead the tours of the island and they are real characters.

I went a few times as a schoolkid and we always took the boat across, but I believe that sometimes you can helicopter in. Boat is quite fun though and you get some great views of the coast