Question 1

What is the weather going to be like?

Accepted Answer

We want your trip to celebrate with us to be delightful, not sweltering! So, we've chosen November, a charming South African spring month. Think pleasant mornings and evenings with warm days, perfect for exploring Cape Town's mountains, beaches, and vibrant city life. Expect daytime temperatures around 75°F and cooler nights around 55°F. Remember, Cape Town's diverse landscape can bring microclimates, so pack for spring-like weather with a light rain jacket for good measure. 
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Question 2

What is the currency?

Accepted Answer

South African Rand; which is about .052 to 1 USD (fluctuates, but not much). Your dollar will go very far here and you will be very pleased with the affordability of South Africa upon arrival.

We love to use Google to see the latest conversion rates. Click here for more information; please also feel free to download a currency converter app.

Question 3

What is the time zone?

Accepted Answer

In November, it will be seven hours ahead of the Eastern Time Zone.
Time zone in Cape Town, South Africa (GMT +2)

Question 4

Safety:

Accepted Answer

South Africa is considered generally safe for tourists. Cape Town is a beautiful place and we want you to have the best time while you are here. As with visiting any country, there are certain safety precautions we would like you to take note of:

- Avoid carrying large sums of cash, carrying cameras or video cameras in plain sight and leaving belongings unattended.
- If you are taking a taxi, we suggest UBER, BOLT or a registered cab company that your hotel can recommend.

But as always, when traveling to a new place (within the United states or another country) always stay vigilant, respect their culture and do your research.

We do not think that you will need these numbers, but just incase, please note the following numbers.
 All emergencies from your cell phone: 112
 All emergencies from a landline – 107
 South African Police Services (SAPS) – 10111 Ambulance: 10177
 Fire Brigade: 461 5555
 Flying Squad: 10111
 Mountain Rescue: 10111
 Police (Tourist Assistance Unit): 418 2852 Sea Rescue: 405 3500

Question 5

Load shedding, what is it?!

Accepted Answer

You will certainly hear about load shedding in your research before coming and upon arrival. Not anything huge to worry about but absolutely good to be in the know about.

Load shedding is another term for rolling blackouts and power cuts. Load-shedding happens when there’s a huge demand on the national power grid, leading to the interruption of the electricity supply to the country. Load shedding discontinues the power supply to certain areas, according to a schedule, to allow the power utility to get failed generation units back online. Load-shedding is implemented in stages and depends on the extent of the shortage of electricity generation.

Feel free to learn more here! In the main city or surrounding cities and Winelands, you’ll rarely have to worry about this as they are prepared with backup generators.

Question 6

Data & WiFi:

Accepted Answer

This will depend on your current cell phone plan. For instance, Hannah has T-Mobile and South Africa is one of the countries that allows her to have unlimited data and texting while in South Africa!  Freddy has Verizon and there is a plan to pay $10/day to use unlimited data and texting.

Please check with your current carrier. Free Wifi is usually readily available around the city and in restaurants.

Sim cards are easy to get when you land in Cape Town as you come out of the bag pickup area. MTN and Vodacom are the main carriers.

Question 7

Do I need a visa for South Africa?

Accepted Answer

US citizens do not need a visa to enter South Africa. Neither do most EU/ UK countries. Just purchase your flights and have your passports ready with at least 6 months before your passport  expires and a few blank pages.

Question 8

Passports:

Accepted Answer

Yes, you will need a passport to travel to South Africa.

Purchase your flights and have your passports ready with at least 6 months before your passport  expires and a few blank pages.
You will need a passport before you purchase your flight(s)! 
Click here to learn more about obtaining or renewing a passport.

Question 9

Flights:

Accepted Answer

click here to go to the page on our website about flights.

Please plan to arrive a day or two before the wedding on Sunday, November 10th. This will allow for any buffer time needed for delayed or cancelled incoming flights.

If you are staying at the wedding venue, Molenvliet, please remember that check in is the day before the wedding on Saturday, November 9th.

Question 10

Tipping:

Accepted Answer

Most restaurants take cards and apple pay. A 10% tip is standard service based businesses.

Question 11

Driving:

Accepted Answer

Ride share apps such as Uber and Bolt are very easy to use and are ample around the city (Cape Town) and wine country (Stellenbosch).

We highly suggest using this as they drive on the left side of the road in South Africa which may pose a challenge to even the most seasoned driver. Otherwise, the roads and traffic are comparable to any moderate city in the United States with regular day time traffic.

Any valid U.S. driver's license is accepted in South Africa.

Question 12

Language:

Accepted Answer

Ditch the worry about language barriers! English is Cape Town's official language, so navigating signs and chatting with locals will be a breeze.
You might hear Afrikaans sprinkled in here and there - it's the national language. It's always nice to learn "hi" and "thank you" in Afrikaans to impress the locals.

"Howzit" is a traditional South African greeting that can mean "how are you?"or "hello". It can also be used as an informal greeting similar to "hi". "Howzit" is often replied to with another "howzit"

Question 13

International adapters:

Accepted Answer

You will need an international  adapter to plug in your electronics and chargers in South Africa. The plugs and voltage are different from the United States.

Question 14

Kids allowed?

Accepted Answer

Bringing the whole family? We celebrate that!
We know sometimes finding childcare can be tricky, especially for a special occasion like a wedding. We wouldn't want your little ones to hold you back from celebrating with us, so we're delighted to offer onsite, professional childcare during both the ceremony and reception.

That's right! Let your hair down and dance the night away while your precious cargo is in the capable hands of experienced, trusted nannies. They'll keep the kiddos entertained and kept safe just a walking distance away during the reception.

And of course, if you miss those sweet faces, you're always welcome to take quick breaks to check in and give hugs.

To help us make arrangements, please let us know if you'll be needing childcare by August 1st, 2024. We can't wait to celebrate with you and your whole crew! Kids ARE allowed on the other celebrations such as the welcome party and the farewell brunch :).

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