Practical information and advice: Cape Town, July 2014
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This page will be regularly updated, please keep checking back:
Emergency numbers:
Javier: + 27 (0) 608260513
Dominique: +27 (0) 608260536
Jump to:In Cape Town: Being safe around Cape Town; Currency and exchange; Weather and health; Transport around Cape Town; Accommodation; Venue; What to bring
In Advance: Visas, Registration, Flights
IN CAPE TOWN
Being safe around Cape Town
In general when walking around Cape Town, it is best to not look too much like a tourist! Avoid having cameras on display. At night, we suggest you walk only in groups.
Be careful when you are getting money out from an ATM. Lonely Planet tells us that there are dozens of scams that involve stealing your cash, your card or your personal identification number (PIN) - usually all three! So try to avoid using them at night or in secluded places.
Those staying at the Mountain Manor are fine to walk in the daylight from the hostel to the City Hall. At night, we suggest you walk only in groups.
Cape Town government advice on walking in the street:
- avoid dark or deserted places
- don’t use a cellphone while walking
- keep your cellphone and wallet tucked away
- don’t wear expensive jewellery
- don’t carry large sums of money or your passport with you
- protect your PIN number at cash withdrawal machines (ATMs)
- only use ATMs that are inside a mall or other buildings. The till points at some major retail stores (such as Pick n Pay and Checkers) also act as ATMs
- use travellers' cheques as a safe way of carrying money around. You can exchange these at banks, and get a refund if they are stolen
- do not divulge any personal information to persons unknown to you
We are assured that Cape Town is an LGBTI-friendly city.
Currency and exchange
South Africa's currency is the Rand. Check the price of exchange here: http://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/
Their are foreign-exchange outlets in the public concourse of the International Arrivals hall at Cape Town International Airport.
South Africa Tourism health tips link:
http://www.southafrica.info/travel/advice/healthtips.htm
Weather and health
The weather in Cape Town in July is due to be generally sunny, with rain expected on a couple of days. Temperatures range between 12 and 20° in the daytime, with the coldest night expected to be just 1°.
You can check the weather forecast for different days here: http://www.accuweather.com/en/za/cape-town/306633/month/306633?monyr=7/01/2014
Other things to bear in mind:
- Cape Town's tap water is safe to drink
- Cape Town is not a malaria area
- No inoculations are needed before visiting Cape Town
Transport around Cape Town
Using MyCiti buses
To use the MyCiti bus system (which includes travel to and from the airport) you will need to acquire a myconnect for 25 Rands (€1.70).
There are many kiosks around the city where you can buy a myconnect card (including at the airport, where the kiosk is open from 04:20 to 22:30 every day). You can buy your card and top it up with cash or with a debit card.
You will be given a receipt for your myconnect card, simply take your myconnect card and receipt to a MyCiTi station kiosk to have the price you paid for the card refunded. For more information visit the MyCiti website.
Taxis
Moving around Cape Town, we suggest you only use metered taxis: Metered taxis have the taxi sign on top and on the passenger door side, they have the price of the fares.
If you can book in advance, try http://rikkis.co.za/
Getting from the airport: The company GreenCab have offered considerable discounts for conference participants. They will charge R225 per person for a one-way transfer to UCT. Please write to admin@thegreencab.co.za if you would like to book this. You will then be met at the airport by a meet & greet person with a welcome board displaying your name/s and the event logo.
Accommodation
Accommodation for the conference will be in two main places. Click on the links to read more information about each one
You should have received an email telling you where you are staying, and how to reach your accommodation from the airport. If you have not, please email us at info@wri-irg.org!
Venue
We are grateful for the support of Cape Town City Hall, who have given us their space free of charge. The site has a long history in South African struggle, and was the place where Nelson Mandela made his first speech after leaving prison.
What to bring
Electricity: South Africa uses a 220/240 alternating current (AC), with plug sockets in three-prong or two-prong (similar to common European plug) configurations.
Radios: please bring a radio and some headphones! We will be using interpretation (English/French/Spanish) during the conference, which you can plug into using an FM radio.
IN ADVANCE
Visas
If you require a visa to enter South Africa, please write to hannah@wri-irg.org. We can offer visa invitation letters to those who have registered to the conference.
See 'Countries exempt from South African Visas' to establish whether you will need a visa or not.
Flights
It may be cheaper to book flights to Johannesburg, and then separetely book internal flights. You can use this website to do so.
See the calendar to establish the dates for the gathering (which comprises the conference, plus related events).
Registration
Has now closed, but you are still welcome to register if you do not require accommodation: /seminars/registrations/southafrica2014
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