Travelling to and staying in South Africa

Plane tickets

  • Direct flights are available via KLM from Amsterdam to Cape Town

  • Indirect options are often cheaper: Qatar, Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Lufthansa, Ethiopian airways.

  • The cheapest tickets are often found from Brussels Zaventum (~ €520). A train ticket there is ~€25-40.

  • Travel time: 11–12 hours (direct),
    16–18 hours (1 layover)

  • Tip: Book early (6–8 months ahead) for best deals (€550–€850)

Weather in April

  • April is early autumn in South Africa. This means warm days and cool evenings

  • Expect daytime temperatures of 22–26°C

  • Evenings can drop to 10–14°C

  • Pack layers: summer outfits for the day, something warmer for the evenings

Currency & budgeting

  • Local currency: South African Rand (ZAR)

  • €1 ≈ ZAR 20 (exchange rates vary)

  • Credit and debit cards are accepted almost everywhere

  • Cash is helpful for tips, small purchases, or markets

  • Tipping is expected in restaurants (around 10–15%)

  • Food is quite cheap. An average meal at a restaurant will cost a person €4-10, while very luxurious restaurants will cost you between €25-50.

Passport & Entry
Requirements

  • No visa required for Dutch citizens for stays up to 90 days

  • Your passport must be:

    • Valid for at least 30 days after you leave South Africa

    • Contain at least two empty pages

  • You’ll receive a simple entry stamp on arrival – no paperwork needed

What to pack

  • Travel adapter: South Africa uses Type M plugs

  • European adapters won’t work. Some houses do have plugs for both plugs.

  • Sunscreen, sunglasses & swimwear

  • A light jacket or sweater for evenings

  • Comfortable shoes for walking through vineyards or cobbled streets

Health & Safety

  • Stellenbosch is considered one of the most beautiful and safest places in South Africa

  • No mandatory vaccinations for the Stellenbosch or Cape Town area

  • Malaria-free zone – so no need for tablets

  • Recommended (not required):

    • DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, polio)

    • Hepatitis A (especially for extended stays)

  • For personal advice, check the GGD Travel Clinic

  • Avoid walking alone at night, especially in unfamiliar or dimly lit areas.

  • Don’t display expensive jewelry or electronics.

  • Avoid driving outside urban areas at night if you’re unfamiliar with the roads

Getting around

  • Uber is reliable, safe, and widely used in Cape Town and Stellenbosch

  • Car rental is recommended if you plan to explore outside the town

    • South Africans drive on the left

    • Roads are good quality and signage is clear

    • Sites like booking.com are great for finding cheap rental cars at the airport

    • Renting a car for a week will cost around 90-130 euro’s

  • No real public transport in Stellenbosch

Accommodation

To really enjoy your trip to South Africa we suggest you split your accommodation into two parts. Until the 4th of April you can stay in Cape Town, enjoying the beautiful beaches and everything this amazing city has to offer. After the 4th of April we suggest booking a place in or around Stellenbosch, so that you will be closer to the wedding venue and so you can properly enjoy the stunning Vineyards.

Accommodation in and around Stellenbosch

Below you can find a link to a pdf file that will display a variety of options to stay in and around Stellenbosch. All of them are in different budgets and more options. can be found on populair booking websites like booking.com

All adviced neighbourhoods in Cape Town

  • Seapoint

  • Camps bay

  • Greenpoint

  • Fresnaye

  • Hout bay

  • Clifton

  • The V&A waterfront

  • Three anchor bay

  • Moulie point

  • Bantry bar

  • Somerset west