The town’s academic history has its roots in the early nineteenth century when the Stellenbosch Gymnasium, the forerunner of today’s internationally renowned centre for education, Stellenbosch University, was established (see Stellenbosch University’s website: www.sun.ac.za). The University and the town blend charmingly, making it a unique and fascinating place to live and visit.
Being a tourist centre, Stellenbosch offers a very wide range of accommodation options, from low cost backpacker establishments to very exclusive boutique hotels. For more information, please see http://www.booking.com or http://www.stellenbosch.travel/stay-us. Using Google Maps is also a good way to find accommodation options close to the conference venue at the Wallenberg centre/STIAS. Because the town is popular with tourists, and spring is the beginning of the busy tourist season, it is recommended that delegates try to book early!
See below a selected list (not exhaustive) of hotels and guesthouses that are within easy and pleasant walking distance of the conference venue. Please note that conference delegates can get special rates at some of these establishments if they book through the University: please contact Mrs Poppie Gordon to assist you in this regard.
GUESTHOUSE | Walking distance from venue | Webpage |
River Manor | 12 minutes | |
Life & Leisure (3 self-catering venues) | 8 minutes |
|
Avenues Guest Lodge | 10 minutes | |
Beauclair Guesthouse | 8 minutes | |
Bonne Esperance Guesthouse | 7 minutes | |
Caledon Villa Guesthouse | 7 minutes | |
Fijnbos Villa Guesthouse | 7 minutes | |
House of House Guesthouse | 5 minutes | |
Summerwood Guest house | 5 minutes | |
Labri Manor | 5 minutes | |
Roosenwijn Guesthouse | 7 minutes | |
Rustenbosch Guesthouse | 5 minutes | |
Ryneveld Country Lodge | 15 minutes | |
Evergreen Lodge | 9 minutes | |
Villa Grande Guesthouse | 7 minutes |
HOTELS | Walking distance from venue | Webpage |
Lanzerac | 20 minutes | |
d'Oude Werf | 15 minutes |
|
Eendracht Hotel | 15 minutes | |
Stellenbosch Hotel | 10 minutes |
AIRBNB OPTIONS
Another option for accomodation that is often less expensive, but provides great flexibility, is to look at AIRBNB accomodation in the Stellenbosch area.
STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY ACCOMMODATION
Stellenbosch University also has self catering flats available. Please visit the webpage for the rates and photo gallery. For more information and bookings, please contact Zenobia Davids (zenobiadavids@sun.ac.za) or telephone 0027-21-808 2895.
FURTHER AFIELD
For travellers who will have motor transport and able to stay further afield, other excellent accomodation options 10 - 20 minutes drive from Stellenbosch can be found to the South (e.g. the Marriott hotel at Kleine Zalze or in Dorp street) or even in the nearby town of Somerset West (e.g. The Lord Charles Hotel).
Description of local culture and tourist attractions in the vicinity of the conference site
Cape Town, the Boland region and Cape peninsula offers an endless variety of opportunities. The unsurpassed scenery with views over vineyards, mountains and orchards, offers excellent photographic opportunities. The mild weather and fascinating geological setting is ideal for wine-growing and the region has amassed many international awards over the years. South Africa has produced wine for more than 300 years. The first Touristic Wine Route was established in 1971 and comprised 17 cellars; today the Stellenbosch Wine Routes boasts more than 200 members. Stellenbosch is only a 20 minute drive from the beautiful beaches along False Bay. Driving east takes the visitor along one of the most beautiful coastal drives in the world, eventually reaching Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa. The magnificent city of Cape Town, in the other direction, an international tourist Mecca, is only a 45 minute drive from Stellenbosch.
Getting to Stellenbosch
Cape Town International Airport (http://www.acsa.co.za/airports/cape-town-international) is only 42 km from Stellenbosch, and easily reached by major national roads. Several airlines fly directly from Europe and Asia to Cape Town (although this varies out of season). Airlines from Europe and other destinations also connect easily with Cape Town via O.R Tambo International airport (Johannesburg) or through large international hubs like Dubai and Singapore. If you fly via Johannesburg, be aware you will need to clear customs there, and connect to Cape Town on a domestic flight.
Airport shuttle and taxi services:
It is easy to arrange to travel from the airport using a variety of pre-booked, reliable shuttle services (we can recommend Helderberg Shuttle or Bettina shuttle). Also see the Cape Town airport website for more information or feel free to contact one of the conference OC. If you need help making bookings, one of the OC can help! You may also want to consider Uber, which is a common and quick alternative in Cape Town and Stellenbosch.
Car rental
Cars can be easily and reasonably rented from the airport: Road conditions in South Africa are good and visitors are permitted to drive on international licenses (as long as an English translation is available, where applicable). All of the major international car rental companies, and a host of low costs alternatives, have outlets at Cape Town airport including Avis, Hertz, Thrifty, Europcar, Bidvest and 4 Seasons car rental. The drive to Stellenbosch will take between 40 minutes and 1 hour, depending on traffic or route chosen. Note that cars are right-hand-drive in South Africa (i.e. people drive on the left side of the road).
The conference venue at STIAS
The conference will be hosted at the Wallenberg centre (WRC) located on the campus of the University of Stellenbosch. This venue provides a unique and perfect setting for conferences. Formally opened on 15 November 2007, the WRC at Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) provides modern, multipurpose venues with state-of-the art equipment for up to 300 conference guests at a time as well as breakaway rooms. The building’s sound proof Auditorium offers an optimal situation for concentrated and undisturbed work, while its communal areas encourage optimal interaction for exchanging viewpoints and perspectives and to stimulate new thought. Efficient air conditioning helps to make the building comfortable during all seasons, but the emphasis is on low energy-consumption and low maintenance, with liberal use of double-glazing and solar heating. A particular advantage of this location is the ease with which delegates can safely walk from a variety of excellent accommodation, and also enjoy the delightful tourist town of Stellenbosch (see below) and the University campus (see http://stias.ac.za/catering_unlimited/venues_CU.html.) The route between down-town and tourist parts of Stellenbosch and STIAS is constantly patrolled by campus security and is part of the so-called "green" (high safety) route.
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