In 1997, three years after apartheid fell, the prison was turned into the Robben Island Museum. The most powerful part of the tour is a visit to Mandela’s cell, ...

The Prisoner In the winter of 1964, Nelson Mandela arrived on Robben Island where he would spend 18 of his 27 prison years. Confined to a small cell, the floor his bed, a bucket for a toilet, he ...

Today, Robben Island houses a fascinating museum detailing the history of the island and offering tours led by former inmates of the former prison, including Mandela's cell.

However, according to research, Nelson Mandela spent 18 years of his 27-year prison sentence on Robben Island, and was transferred to Robben Island from Pretoria in 1964 and remained there until 1982.

Mandela first went to Robben Island Prison in May 1963, after being sentenced the previous October to five years for sabotage, as he led a campaign against the apartheid government in South Africa.

He said that conditions at Robben Island were intended to crush the prisoners' spirits. [WATCH] ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa visits cell number 913 at Robben Island, Cape Town.

A South African man who once served as a guard at Robben Island Prison is traveling the world, sharing the lessons he has accumulated from one of his former prisoners, Nelson Mandela.

Mandela was jailed initially on Robben Island, a former leper colony, for 18 years. In 1982 he was moved to Pollsmoor Prison outside Cape Town and later served time at the Victor Verster Prison.

Cape Town, South Africa – One morning in December 1967, prison warders strode into Robben Island’s Cell Block 4 with a football and randomly chose two teams of 11. While walking to the ...