Preparing for Your Journey
Cape Town, South Africa
The Art + Design of Cape Town
April 16 - 25, 2026
WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU!
We are so excited to spend time with you in Cape Town, South Africa. Your Ace Camps Travel trip will connect you to an incredible community where you’ll meet and form bonds with many wonderful individuals. Given the small-group nature of Ace Camps Travel trips, the health, safety, and well being of you, other guests, the instructors and workshop hosts, and the local communities are a key priority for us.
Please take a moment to read through this document in full as it contains important information that will help you prepare for your Ace Camps Travel trip.
GENERAL
Your Ace Camps Travel Host: Megan Smith
We want every aspect of your trip to be an amazing experience. To help us do that, you will have the support of an Ace Camps Travel Host who travels with the group and is there to make sure your trip runs as smoothly as possible. Megan Smith will be your Ace Camps Travel Host. She is a long-time Ace Camps Travel Host, including hosting recent trips to Eswatini, Italy, Peru + India. She is also South African! Based in Cape Town, Megan has extensive local knowledge and experience traveling in various parts of South Africa. While she is not a local guide, she will assist you in answering questions you may have along the way. We will send you Megan’s contact info closer to the Trip start date. If you have questions between now and then, please continue to email us at hello@acecampstravel.com.
Group Travel Etiquette
Please remember this is a small-group travel experience. It is important for you to join us with compassion, patience, and respect for everyone you interface with during your Trip. For example, if you asked to meet at a certain time, please be on time to avoid keeping the rest of the group waiting. If you choose to skip any activities or meals, please confirm your absence with the Ace Camps Travel Host directly so we’re not worried about your location or well being.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is required for all guests that includes: trip cancellation/disruption insurance; travel medical insurance; and medical evacuation insurance. Ace Camps Travel does not sell travel insurance. If you have questions, we suggest you discuss concerns about your coverage directly with a local travel insurance provider. Please ensure your listed emergency contact has all of your travel and medical insurance coverage details.
Itinerary Disclaimer
We do our best to keep to the itinerary on the Trip Details page of the Ace Camps Travel website. However, sometimes adjustments may occur. For example, we may need to make changes to the itinerary due to inclement weather, timetable changes, or circumstances beyond our control. While we do our best to plan ahead and prevent this from happening, it may be unavoidable. It can also happen with little notice, so please bear with us if we have to make modifications to the itinerary on the fly.
Smoking, Illegal Drug Use + Alcohol
Unless it is specified on the itinerary, alcohol is not usually included with meals. If you would like to have alcoholic beverages during your trip, you will need to pay for these separately. Ace Camps Travel Trips are 100% smoke free and we do not tolerate any kind of illegal drug use. We require responsible alcohol consumption.
Helpful App for Jet Lag
Help manage jet lag with Timeshifter.
COMMUNICATION
On-the-Ground Communication with WhatsApp
While on the ground in South Africa, we will be using WhatsApp to communicate. Before you arrive in South Africa, please make sure you have the most up-to-date version of WhatsApp downloaded, installed, and an account set up and working on your mobile device. Your Ace Camps Travel Host, Megan, will use WhatsApp to send you daily reminders, updates, and any other important information during the course of your trip. In addition to one-on-one communication with your Ace Camps Travel Host, we’ll be creating a group chat with all registered guests where we will send updates that affect the entire group while on the trip. We encourage everyone to engage on the group chat, as it’s a great place to get to know the rest of your new Ace Camps Travel friends, discuss travel plans and ideas, and share trip photos.
Emergency Numbers
In the case of an emergency, the local emergency number to dial in South Africa is 112 (from a mobile phone).
From a landline: dial 10111 for all emergencies.
Mobile Phone Usage
Get an international data plan or eSim for your mobile phone:
We strongly encourage you to have an international data plan on your phone so you can always have access to Google Maps for navigation, Uber for transport and WhatsApp for communication with your Ace Camps Travel host, in case you get separated from the group and for use during free time.
Using an ‘e-sim’ app to have data on your phone while you travel (depending on your phone model) is another option. There are several companies offering e-sims that can save money instead of roaming through your network provider. Companies like Airalo offer various South Africa options to choose from. Please note: e-sims are data only, you will not be able to place calls unless you use a data app such as Whatsapp, Facetime, FB Messenger etc.
Note: While e-sims are great, they do take some time to set up and install so be sure to spend some time before you leave your home country setting it up so you can just turn it on once you land (while we love to help where we can, our Ace Camps Travel Hosts aren’t tech support specialists).
SOCIAL MEDIA
If you are taking photos and would like to share them as a part of our trip story please tag your posts and/or stories on Instagram with @acecampstravel or hashtag #acecampstravel
ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE
Arrival + Departure Form
Please complete your Arrival and Departure form by February 13, 2026. We will use this form to organize requested Airport Transfers and monitor for flight delays. Your form can be found here: Cape Town Arrival and Departure form
Arrival Information: April 16, 2026
This trip starts and ends in Cape Town, South Africa.
Arriving by Plane at Cape Town International Airport:
Airport code CPT
The Cape Town International Airport, airport code CPT, is located 20-22 km from the city centre. Cape Town International Airport is the primary international airport serving the city of Cape Town, and is the second-busiest airport in South Africa and fourth-busiest in all of Africa.
Ground Transportation, Airport Transfers and Getting to the Hotel:
The drive from the airport to our hotel should take between 20-40 minutes minutes, depending on traffic.
If you are arriving at Cape Town International Airport on Thursday April 16, your arrival airport transfer is included in the cost of your trip. We’ll share a pick-up schedule and meeting point instructions with you prior to departure, once we receive everyone’s arrival details, including information about what to do and who to contact, if you cannot locate your driver.
If you arrive on another day or from another location, you are responsible for arranging your own transportation to our Cape Town hotel. If you have booked extra nights at iGadi Hotel through Ace Camps Travel and would like to arrange an airport pick up transfer (additional fee), please be sure to indicate this on your Arrival and Departure Form. We will be in touch after we receive this to discuss your transfer request.
Uber: As an alternative to an organized airport transfer you can use Uber to request a ride to our Cape Town hotel. Be sure to have an active and up to date app and account before you travel to South Africa.
Download Uber:
Apple Phone App
Android Phone App
Welcome Dinner + Group Meeting: April 16, 2026
Once we’re all settled in Cape Town, we’ll be hosting a casual meet + greet welcome dinner so you can get to know your group. Please plan to arrive at our hotel no later than 4:30 pm on April 16, 2026, if you want to join the welcome dinner. We’ll share more specific details about when and where to meet for dinner a few days before the Trip start date. If you arrive later than 4:30 pm and are unable to join the welcome dinner, your Tour Host will be in touch with you to make sure you have all the information you need to join the group the next morning.
Departure Information: April 25, 2026
There are no scheduled activities today and you are free to depart at any time. On the morning of April 25, you can have breakfast at the hotel before you check out and then you will continue on your own journey, either to the airport or further exploring South Africa. If you would like to arrange an airport departure transfer (additional fee), please be sure to indicate this on your Arrival and Departure Form. We will be in touch after we receive this to discuss your transfer request.
Gentle reminder to please fill out the Arrival and Departure Form so we can monitor your arrival.
HOTEL
iGadi House
1 Faure Street Gardens Cape Town 8001
+27 72 841 2241.
About the iGadi House Hotel in Cape Town
Check in + Check out: Check in time is 2:00pm. If you arrive earlier than this you can leave your luggage with the front desk until check in time. Check out time is 11:00am. All guests will need to be checked out of their room no later than 11:00am on April 25, 2026. If your flight is later in the day you can store luggage with the front desk until departure.
Location + Getting Around: Located in the ‘Gardens’ neighbourhood and on the doorstep of the vibrant Kloof Street, with its eclectic mix of art galleries, local fashion boutiques, fine eateries, trendy cafes and cocktail bars. Uber is a good way to get around Cape Town, you can book your own rides easily from the app. Be sure to have an active and up to date app and account before you travel to South Africa. Please do not walk alone at night in Cape Town.
Room Setup: Ace Camps Travel takes over all 10 rooms of iGadi Hotel during our stay, so it will be private to our group. Beds in South Africa may be considerably firmer than you are used to. Guests booked in shared rooms, each guest will have a twin bed.
Food: Breakfast is served at iGadi each morning, however there is no daytime restaurant on site. The hotel staff can recommend some restaurants that deliver food to the hotel, or you can use delivery services such as Uber eats to have food delivered if needed. (Install the app on your phone).
Additional Considerations for guests in Shared Rooms:
If you are a light to moderately light sleeper we encourage you to bring ear plugs, a sleep mask, and install a white noise app on your phone with earphones to assist in your personal slumber.
Amenities:
Hair Dryer
Air Conditioning
Wifi
Shampoo, Conditioner + Soap in each bathroom
Each room has a kettle + small fridge.
Additional room amenities available upon request include earbuds and cotton wool pads. They do not provide toothbrushes and toothpaste - please be sure to bring your own.
Tap water is safe to drink in Cape Town. You can use this to refill your reusable water bottles. One bottle of water will be provided in each room. Additional bottled water is also available for purchase on site.
Laundry service is available, a price list is available in each room.
HEALTH
Illness (including COVID)
Our goal is for each of our guests to enjoy the amazing trip we’ve put together. To ensure that happens, we make the health and safety of the group as our top priority. Please keep in mind while traveling with a group, you may need to take additional precautions.
In the days leading up to and during your Ace Camps Travel Trip, thoroughly washing your hands, wearing a KN95 mask if you feel ill or if you display symptoms of illness, and keeping a safe distance from others who exhibit signs of illness are small, but impactful, things you can do to keep the trip safe for everyone. Please make sure you bring KN95 masks, hand sanitizer, and a few COVID tests on the trip in case you or those around you start to have symptoms of an illness.
During the trip, if you feel unwell, please alert your Ace Camps Travel Host immediately, wear a mask, and keep a safe distance from others until we know more about your situation. If you exhibit signs of, or test positive for an illness, you should be prepared to follow the advice of local health authorities as well as the Ace Camps Travel Host to ensure the health and safety of the entire group. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, viral nature of your illness, and where we are staying, there may be a need to mask, distance, self isolate, or remove yourself completely from the trip which will be determined by the Ace Camps Travel Host with the best interests of the group health and safety as the main priority.
Per the Ace Camps Travel Terms and Conditions, you are responsible for any additional costs if, due to illness, including COVID, you have to leave a trip early as determined by a health care provider or the Ace Camps Travel Host. This is one of the many reasons we require you to purchase travel insurance.
Medications and Vaccines
You should consult with your doctor and a specialized travel doctor to determine if you need any vaccinations, prescriptions, or special considerations based on your medical history/conditions and based on the you’ll be traveling. For example, you may want to ask about a wide spectrum antibiotic in case of gastrointestinal or other infections.
If you are already taking prescription medication make sure you bring enough with you to cover your time in Cape Town and then some. When you pack, make certain you have all your required and important medication in your carry-on luggage.
We encourage you to travel with medications that can help you if you encounter health issues. Here are a few common concerns you may want to consider bringing medications for, though what you choose to travel with is up to you and/or you and your doctor
Motion sickness, if car or bus rides affects you as we have a few longer bus rides
Nausea, indigestion, or an upset stomach
Diarrhea/Dysentery
Constipation
Minor aches and pains
Minor and severe allergies
Cold/flu symptoms
Bug repellant/spray
Minor cuts and bruises
Stomach Issues
Stomach issues can occur when traveling and eating new types of cuisine. We strongly recommend bringing various medications to ensure if you have any issues, you are able to manage them and continue enjoying your trip.
Eye Glasses + Contact Lenses
If you wear eyeglasses, it is advisable to carry an extra pair on the trip. If you wear contact lenses, you may want to bring extra contacts and an extra pair of back-up regular glasses.
General Fitness
To take full advantage of your trip to Cape Town it is best to be in good health. Sightseeing can be tiring and several of our tours are walking tours, require standing for longer periods and walking on uneven ground. This trip to Cape Town involves some fairly long and active days.
Motion Sickness
On this trip we will travel by foot, taxi and bus. If you are prone to motion sickness, we recommend you make a plan to help ease your motion sickness as best as possible (whether this is medication or something else). It is not always possible to have a front-viewing window seat on group transport.
Water
Tap water is generally safe to consume in Cape Town. We encourage you to bring a refillable water bottle to use during the trip.
MONEY
Cash + Credit Cards
In Cape Town, South African Rand (ZAR) is the local currency, but Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted, making cards primary for most transactions.
We recommend you bring some South African (ZAR) Rand with you for your time in Cape Town. Some smaller restaurants, markets and shops may be cash only. Larger stores + restaurants will accept credit cards. You will also need some cash to cover alcoholic beverages, should you choose to order any, at restaurants when not included and any gratuities.
Gratuities
Tips and gratuities for your guides, group drivers, and group meals are taken care of by Ace Camps Travel. However, there is one place during your trip that you may choose to leave a tip if you choose to:
iGadi Hotel: At the end of your stay, if you choose to, you may leave a tip for housekeeping in your room.
Tipping standards in South Africa is usually 10% of the bill. Even though you’ll be able to leave a card tip sometimes, it’s better to tip in cash. This way, you’re ensuring that your server receives the tip in full. When you are out on your own, it is customary to tip all service providers such as drivers, servers, and porters.
SAFETY
While many areas of Cape Town are considered safe for travelers, it’s important to remember some areas have higher-than-average crime rates, particularly for scams and petty theft. It's important to remain aware of your belongings and aware of your surroundings. Here are a few specific safety considerations:
Do not walk alone after dark outside of our hotel property.
Use a rideshare app such as Uber to get around. (Stay away from Bolt and stick to Uber)
Do not use general taxis unless this is organized by a trusted hotel or tour guide.
We do not recommend using public transportation such as minibusses.
Avoid openly showing your valuables, such as phones, cameras, jewelry.
Given how much we use our phones for navigation or photos, we suggest using a phone lanyard so your phone can’t easily be grabbed out of your hand (and to avoid dropping it!).
Avoid carrying large handbags or backpacks, try to keep your daily carry bag small, zippered and cross body, worn towards the front.
Avoid political gatherings or protests, even if they seem peaceful.
Keep your valuables safe:
To avoid petty theft or pick pocketing, especially in crowded city centers and markets, leave any valuables you don’t need at home. Avoid wearing flashy watches or expensive jewelry. Wear a crossbody bag with a zipped compartment for your valuables and keep the bag towards the front of your body. If you need to have a backpack, wear it towards the front so someone can’t open it from behind you in a busy crowd.
Avoid unsolicited guides and ‘helpful locals’:
You might encounter a seemingly good Samaritan who is willing to give up their time to guide you to your hotel or wherever you’re going. This is most often a ploy to demand a large tip or take you to a shop where you will be expected to make purchases. These people are not registered guides and we suggest you avoid following them, avoid traveling with them, and avoid having them carry any of your personal belongings.
CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS
South Africa is an incredible place with rich culture and beautiful scenery. That said, sometimes it can look and feel very different from other Western countries and cultures. Here are a few tips to be mindful of as you travel around. While some parts of this country are incredibly modern, parts of South Africa are classified as a Developing Country. This means in certain towns and cities you may find the way locals manage transportation, garbage, poverty and even restrooms differs significantly from your home country. You may encounter infrequent crosswalks, varying levels of cleanliness or other surprising items. We find it's best to leave preconceived ideas and expectations at home and come with an open mind, ready to experience and appreciate the culture of South Africa.
Poverty is a reality in South Africa
You should be prepared to encounter beggars and hawkers. Although it may be difficult to resist, we suggest you do not hand out money, sweets or other goods to children on the streets.
Shopkeeper Culture
Some shopkeepers may be extremely proactive in soliciting your business. This could include calling out to you as you pass by, trying to entice you into their store with information about their goods, or reaching out to catch your attention. While some foreigners can find this unsettling, it is just part of the market culture.
WHAT TO BRING
Below are some suggestions, based on our experience. While Cape Town has many of the common resources you’re likely used to at home, specific comforts may be limited or non-existent, so please keep this in mind when you’re planning and packing. When packing, be aware that dress standards may be different. To be respectful and for your own comfort, we suggest modest clothing that covers your shoulders and knees.
General
PASSPORT and consider bringing a photocopy and/or passport photos. In the (hopefully!) unlikely event your passport gets lost or stolen, an extra set of passport photos can make it easier for you to get a replacement.
Travel plug adapters depending on the country you are traveling from. In South Africa, they use power sockets (outlets) of type D, M and N. iGadi Hotel primarily has type “D” outlets.
The standard voltage in South Africa (230 V) is much higher than the voltage level devices typically operate at in the United States (120 V). Be sure to bring a converter and/or that your devices are dual voltage compatible.If you are planning to shop, consider leaving space in your luggage or packing a spare duffle bag you can fill later.
Clothing
Layering pieces, including a light jacket, and scarf or shawl, for cool mornings and evenings, with warmer daytime temperatures.
Rain shell and/or small umbrella (rain showers are always a possibility!)
Comfortable, supportive walking shoes
Comfortable workshop clothing you don’t mind getting messy during your dyeing workshop
A zippered day pack and/or a small-ish bag you can safely carry around each day
Footwear
Please bring comfortable, supportive footwear you feel comfortable walking in for moderate distances and on a variety of terrain. This Ace Camp Travel trip includes walking tours where the ground may be uneven (rocky) or poorly maintained, could involve gravel, dirt and sand, and you may be on your feet for a few hours at a time.
Personal Items
Glasses and/or prescription sunglasses if needed
Earplugs (high quality foam or sleep focused noise dampening, such as Loop) if you are a light sleeper - our hotel is located in the middle of the city and there can be noise in the early morning hours.
Toiletries kit, including your own shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, if you are particular or there are certain brands you prefer to use while traveling
Sunscreen with SPF of 30 or higher, sunhat, sunglasses, and lip balm with sunscreen
High quality bug spray
Small packet of tissues - both for runny noses and time when we encounter restrooms with limited resources
Refillable water bottle
Hand sanitizer
Personal supply of COVID rapid tests
KN95 masks–in an effort to keep our group as safe as possible, you may be asked to wear a mask
Luggage
We suggest keeping important items in your carry-on in case your luggage gets lost en route to South Africa. We also suggest putting AirTags in your luggage so you can track their location, in the event they get lost in transit.
Weather
April in Cape Town marks the beginning of autumn, offering mild, pleasant weather with warm, sunny days and cooler evenings. Daily highs average around 22°C to 23°C (72°F - 73°F). Night time temperatures drop to an average low of 12°C to 14°C (54°F - 57°F). While still considered a drier month, rainfall begins to increase compared to summer, with an average of 50–82 mm over the month. A light raincoat or umbrella is recommended for occasional, short-lived showers.
THANK YOU AND SEE YOU SOON!
Thank you for taking the time to review this information, we hope these details help with your travel planning and prepare you for your time exploring South Africa. If you have questions between now and then, please continue to email us at hello@acecampstravel.com. See you in Cape Town!
