Venue & Travel

Conference location

Education That Pays For Itself 2008, a unique international conference on financially sustainable education, will take place in Karatara, South Africa.
Karatara is the home town of this year’s conference host, Eden Campus - a business school for disadvantaged youth, and a leading Southern African exponent of Education That Pays For Itself.
It is located just a few miles off the world famous Garden Route , near George and is situated within the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains. The vibrant Eden Campus’ example of applying the principles of Education That Pays For Itself, makes it an ideal location.

Accommodation & meals

There is a wide variation of comfortable accommodation available in the Knysna/Sedgefield area near Eden Campus to fit required budgets. This ranges from simple bed and breakfast establishments to 7 star accommodation.  There are also self catering apartments both as a country delegation or a family all in one house.

Spaces will be allocated on a first-come-first served basis, with preference given where advance payment for the conference has been made. Rates vary from R150 (US$20) per person per night to around R5000 (US$700) per night per person (full board and lodging).

Please indicate on your registration form your preferred choice of accommodation. All accommodation should be booked via the conference helpdesk.

There will be a transport meeting point for all delegates to be taken to the conference in Karatara.

All meals mentioned in the conference program are included in the registration fee. Breakfast will normally be included in the price of your accommodation. Where this is not the case, and those in self-catering accommodation will need to make their own arrangements.

Should you have any particular dietary requirements please ensure you mention these on your registration form.

Travel to the Conference - Flight Options

A wide range of international airline fly to Cape Town and Johannesburg airports in South Africa. For participants with limited time, the quickest way to reach Karatara is by taking an internal flight from either Cape Town and Johannesburg to the town of George. There are seven flights to George from Johannesburg and four from Cape Town every day.

Johannesburg - George: The main airlines operating between Johannesburg - George are 1Time, South African Airways and Kulula. 1Time’s flight prices start from R629 one way and may be cheaper closer around November. Kulula’s flight prices start from R429 one way.

Cape Town – George : The main airline operating between Cape Town – George is South African Airways.
South African Airways prices range from R467 – R1425 (saver, classic, select) one way.

For additional information on flight schedules and prices, and to book your flights, please visit the websites below:
ITime: www.1time.co.za
Kulula: www.kulula.com
South African Airways: www.flysaa.com

NOTE: There are no weekend flights from other African countries to South Africa. If possible delegates flying from (or via) other African countries should ideally aim to arrive on Monday 17th November in order to arrange pick ups from the airport.

Transport will be arranged to take delegates from George Airport to their respective accommodation and will be covered within the conference fee.

A map is also available at the airport of the route from George to Sedgefield/Karatara for those wanting to rent vehicles and drive along the pleasant Garden Route on their own to their accommodation.

All transport to/from hotels during the three days of the conference will be provided by minibus and will be covered within the conference fee.

Travel to the Conference - Driving from Cape Town

For participants with more time wanting to enjoy some of the fine scenery and tourism options available in South Africa, driving to the conference can offer an attractive option.

Some advice from our local hosts....

• The journey from Cape Town to the Knysna/Sedgefield area - where the conference venue and accommodation is - takes approximately 4 hours but could take longer depending on whether you stray from the main motorway or not.  We suggest that if you do want to drive you should follow the main route but allow yourself the time to experience the beauty of the coastal drive.
• On the map (right) of the route from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, Sedgefield is about midway. If you wanted to do more of a coastal trip then you would drive towards the coast and along it but make sure to get back on the N2 again closer to Sedgefield.  If you take the coastal trip, it will be at least an hour or two longer than the straight motorway journey.  On the coastal trip you will pass the following towns along the coast:  Hermanus, Gansbaai, Cape Agulhas, Arniston, Witsand, Mossel Bay, George and Wilderness before reaching Sedgefield

Recommended Stops from Cape Town to Sedgefield

• Gordon’s Bay
• Gordon’s Bay is a sheltered picturesque bay.  It has bungalows, camping areas and caravan parks, and fishing trips can be arranged at the harbour.
  
  
• Hermanus
• Hermanus is famous as a seaside resort and for fishing, both from shore and boats.  A place worth visiting is the Old Harbour Museum, which reflects the history of the town.  Lovers of the outdoors flock to the Klein River Lagoon noted for its boating and water sports facilities
  
• Gansbaai
• Facilities for visitors include a tidal swimming pool, hotel, caravan park and campsites.  Nearby are Die Kelders (the cellars), where an underground river has eroded a series of caves beneath the cliff, forming deep, silent pools.
  
  
• Pearly Beach
• Backed by dunes, Pearly Beach has a long expanse of shining sand and promises safe bathing and good angling.
  
  
• Agulhas
• The southern most tip of Africa – where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet.
  
• Struisbaai
• A curving 16km stretch of beach, safe bathing and good fishing
  
  
• De Hoop Nature Reserve
• The De Hoop coastline was proclaimed a marine reserve in 1986.  Make a point of visiting De Hoop vlei, home to more than 200 different types of birds (including a breeding colony of Cape vultures at nearby Potberg) and about 1400 plant species.
  
  
• Swellendam
• Locals claim they can tell the time from shadows cast by the “clock peaks” of the Langeberg that overlook this town of stately dwellings and oak-lined avenues.  Unrivalled in South Africa for the beauty of its architecture, the preservation of its historic buildings and its setting in what has been described as a natural paradise (on the edge of the Little Karoo) Swellendam is within easy reach of the Bontebok National Park, with its rare and beautiful Bonteboks, and other animal species including the endangered Cape mountain zebra.
  
• Stilbaai
• Situated at the mouth of the Kafferkuilsrivier, Stilbaai is a popular holiday resort.  Swimming is safe from the beach below the caravan park and from several others
  
  
• From Mossel Bay, the Garden Route begins.  For many South Africans, this is a piece of paradise.  Stretching from Mossel Bay to the Storm’s River Mouth, the Garden Route combines the best of Mother Nature with the best of first world creature comforts.  Many travellers hit the N2 and just drive through peering out the window occasionally.  We suggest that you stop somewhere interesting, get out and go exploring.  You will find mind-numbing indigenous forests sheltering in valleys, untamed beauty in the coastal fynbos and repose in the meandering rivers that lead down to wild expanses of unspoilt beaches.
• Mossel Bay offers holidaymakers a wide choice of activities.  Popular among the bathing spots are the natural pools at Die Poort and Die Bakke, and Santos Beach.  A launch offers trips from the harbour, sailing close to Seal Island, with its noisy population of some 2000 seals and countless gannets and cormorants.

Driving from George to Sedgefield/Karatara (map right)
The drive from George is very pretty.  You can stop along the way and take in the sites at certain viewing spots.  The drive is a little tricky as the road bends quite a bit and you climb and descend often.  Watch out for speed traps – you need to keep to the speed limit.  We would most likely meet you in Sedgefield rather than Karatara

Visa requirements

Visas are NOT required for nationals of the following countries for an intended stay of 90 days to gain a visitor’s permit: African Union Laissez; Passer; Andorra; Argentina; Australia; Austria; Belgium; Botswana; Brazil; Canada; Chile; Czech Republic; Denmark; Ecuador; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Iceland; Israel; Italy; Jamaica; Japan; Liechtenstein; Luxemburg; Malta; Netherlands; New Zealand; Norway; Paraguay; Portugal; Singapore; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland.

Visas are NOT required for nationals of the following countries for an intended stay of 30 days to gain a visitors’ permit: Antigua and Barbuda; Barbados; Belize; Benin; Bolivia; Cape Verde; Costa Rica; Cyprus; Gabon; Guyana; Hong Kong; Hungary; Jordan; Lesotho; Macau; Malaysia; Malawi; Maldives; Mauritius; Mozambique; Namibia; Peru; Poland; Seychelles; Slovak Republic; South Korea; Swaziland; Thailand; Turkey, Zambia; Zimbabwe.

Visas ARE required for nationals of the following countries to gain a visitor’s permit: Uruguay; Venezuela and United States of America.

Visas can be applied for through South African diplomatic or consular representative within the country of normal residence.

NOTE: Tariffs for South African visas are R425 or US$47.00 or €43.00 and take 10 days to process. Visas cannot be applied for at South African ports of entry.

For any more specific information please refer to South African Department for Home Affairs website.

If you need a letter confirming your registration, this can be provided; however it can only be issued after a delegate has registered for the conference and payment has been received. Letters of invitation can be obtained from the conference helpdesk.

Side Trips
Offered side trips (not included in the conference fee) include an Ocean Safari, leaving from Plettenberg Bay Central Beach Hopwood Centre or Game Watching at Addo Elephant Park - for more information, click here.

Discount Fee
A discount of 10% will be offered on figure of US$280 for advance online booking.

Enquiries
For any logistical or local enquiries related to the conference please email: helpdesk@teachamantofish.org.uk

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