Ocean Prediction Enhancement in Regions of Africa

Practical information

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Meeting venue

Where?

SAEON offices - Seminar Room 5th floor,
Foretrust Building,
Martin Hammerschlag Way,
Cape Town

When?

8 to 10 April 2024

Getting from airport to hotel

Participants arriving by plane will land at Cape Town International Airport. From the airport, attendees can reach the conference venue by taxi airport shuttle service or UBER, which typically takes around 20 minutes.  

Getting around

Taxi
Services like Uber and Bolt typically charge between 10 and 11 ZAR (approximately $1.50 USD) per kilometre. We particularly recommend using Uber while in South Africa, as it is recognised as safe and reliable.

Airport transfers
Taxi services or a dedicated airport shuttle both provide airport transfers. Upon arrival, shuttle services will be available on-site at the airport, with several organisations offering online reservations for those who prefer to pre-book. Rates for these shuttles generally range from 10 to 40 ZAR (about $0.50 to $2.50 USD) per kilometre.
Please keep justifications of all your ground transport receipts to request for reimbursement after the meeting. 
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Accomodation and meal

Hotel

Accommodation will be provided for funded participants at the:
12 Christiaan Barnard St, Cape Town 8000
Breakfast is included in the hotel offer.
The hotel is about a 3-minute walk from the meeting venue. 

Meals

Lunches and tea breaks will be catered for at the meeting from 8 – 10 April and one social dinner will be organised in the evening of 8 April for all participants. Participants will be responsible for all other meals and funded participants may request for reimbursement for these meals on presentation of justifications (e.g. receipts) after the meeting.

Restaurant options near venue

There are many restaurant options in the Cape Town CBD, with the highest density on Kloof Street, Long Street and Bree Street that are all a short drive away (5-15 minutes depending on traffic). It is recommended to get an Uber, rather than walking (particularly at night). Alternatively, the V&A Waterfront is another good option for restaurants (again, a 5-15 minute drive away and it's not an easy walk), where you will find several types of restaurants within the V&A Mall, many outside of the mall on the harbourfront and there is a fantastic Time Out Food Market also at the waterfront.   
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 Essential information for Your Trip to South Africa

Visa

entry requirements



Click here  for the visa entry requirements for South Africa. Please read this carefully to determine if you require a visa. You are responsible for ensuring your entry into South Africa based on your nationality. Visa fees will be reimbursed after the meeting upon justification.

Mobile

communication

The meeting venue and hotel will have a WIFI connection. The international access code for South Africa is +27. Mobile phone networks are available across the country, and there are roaming agreements with most international mobile operators. Mobile service providers offer very cheap ‘pay-as-you-go’ SIM cards, which are a good option for visitors staying for some time. We have four main network providers:
 Vodacom, MTN, Cell C and Telkom.
See guide to buying a sim card at Cape Town Intl. Airport: 

Banking Services

and Currency

Card payments
Debit, credit card, and contactless payments are widely accepted throughout Cape Town. Check your bank’s rates for international transaction fees which may apply and can vary depending on your provider. It is also recommended to carry a small amount of cash for situations where card payments may not be accepted. MasterCard, Maestro, Visa and Visa Electron are accepted everywhere. American Express and Diners Club are also accepted in some places.
Cash
You can exchange your home currency for South African Rand (ZAR) at banks, forex bureaux and other authorised dealers before you travel to Cape Town. Throughout your stay, there is also the option to use ATMs to withdraw cash. Please be aware of the going exchange rates and bank fees to get the best value for money.
Value-added Tax
South Africa charges value-added tax (VAT) of 15% on goods and services. Foreign visitors can reclaim VAT on purchases of more than R250. This can be arranged through the VAT refund offices at Cape Town International Airport. To reclaim VAT, you will need your original tax invoice/s, as well as your passport. For more information on reclaiming VAT, visit www.taxrefunds.co.za. 
Tipping for services 
 While South Africa has no legislation regarding tipping, it is customary to leave a service tip of at least 10% of your bill at restaurants and bars. If you are driving around, you will notice car guards patrolling streets where there is free parking. While you are under no obligation to tip these car guards, it is customary to do so if they have looked after your car for more than 30 minutes. While the amount is at your discretion, locals would normally tip an official car guard about R5.

Safety & security

and useful numbers

As always, travellers should take a few basic precautions to ensure a safe and pleasant visit:

  • Never leave personal property unattended
  • Store valuables in your hotel’s safety deposit box and keep your hotel room locked at all times.
  • Avoid displaying expensive jewellery and cameras and do not carry large sums of money on your person.
  • Stay away from dark, isolated areas. 

For emergency response dial 10111
For medical emergencies dial medical: 10177.

Health
We recommend obtaining travel insurance before travelling. If you feel any sickness or symptoms of illness during your time here, please contact your hotel in the first instance or seek medical attention.

In a life-threatening medical emergency, dial 112 to reach emergency services in South Africa. 

power points

Charging devices

In South Africa power is provided at 220V and the plug standard is a 3pin model, according to the image below. We recommend bringing a plug adapter, ideally an all-in-one international adapter.  
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 Useful contacts

Lillian

Diarra

Whatsapp: +33 6 33 28 65 15
Email

Enrique

Alvarez Fanjul

Whatsapp : +34 658 63 19 48
Email

Jennifer

Veitch

SAEON local host
Whatsapp: +27 72 408 9528
Email

Aphiwe

Mtetandaba

SAEON local host
Whatsapp: +27 72 408 9528
Email
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