Where is the congress being held?

The 2nd All African Horticultural Congress will be held at Skukuza Restcamp which is within South Africa's famous Kruger National Park. The Park is situated on the eastern side of the country with Mozambique to its east and Swaziland to the south.

How do I get there?

Approximate Road Travel Data

• Drive from Johannesburg 5 hours on national highway roads (450kms)
• Drive from KMIA (Nelspruit) 1 hour on tarred roads (80kms)

Air Travel Date

• Fly Johannesburg to KMIA (Nelspruit) 1 hour, then transfer by road to skukuza
• Fly at additional cost directly to Skukuza

Skukuza is easily accessible by road or by air. The conference venue is less than 100kms from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) and is also serviced by Skukuza Airport. Coming from Johannesburg the venue is around 450km on a good national highway (N4). The nearest major city is Nelspruit, Mbombela. The closest entrance to the park is Paul Kruger Gate which is a short drive from Skukuza Restcamp. Please note that access to Skukuza is dependent on the opening times of the park gates which approximately follow the times of sunrise and sunset.

What is the duration of the congress?

The Congress is 5 days running from the 16th January to the 20th January 2011 (see registration for more details)

Arrival on the 15th of January (welcome function)
Departure on the 21st of January - with the gala dinner being on the 20th of January

What is the cost of registration?

Early bird registration                                     R 3990.00 per person

Late registration                                             R 4785.00 per person

Student registration                                        R 1500.00 per person

Daily registration                                            R 600.00 per person

Accompanying person registration                 R 1950.00 per person

What is included in the registration fee?

• A copy of the symposium proceedings that will be published as a volume of Acta Horticulturae
• Congress package (bag, badge, programme etc)
• Congress certificate
• Welcome function on the 15th January
• Morning and afternoon teas & coffee breaks
• Lunch during the conference
• Mid conference Techincal tour (includes lunch)

How can I make payment for the registration fee and accommodation?

• Direct bank transfer (EFT)
• Credit Card Payment

What is the cut off date for accommodation bookings & full payment?

• We are dealing with the Kruger National Park, a very popular park in South Africa. Unfortunately, we can not hold accommodation without full payment. Please note that full payment is needed to secure your booking
• Full payment for accommodation is due - 15th November 2011

Do I need a visa to visit South Africa?

If you are traveling on a foreign passport please check with your relevant embassy or contact us if you are unsure. The following link may be used as a guideline to assist you.

http://www.home-affairs.gov.za/Counties%20Exempy%20from%20SA%20Visaa.html


VERY IMPORTANT VISA INFORMATION
When planning to attend the AAHC 2012 Congress in South Africa, the following must be taken into account when applying for a visa

- you must have an international return ticket to South Africa
- you must pay your regsitration fee and accommodation in full
- proof of payment must be sent through to us via email or fax
- once recieved we will issue you with a 'letter' of invitation, which you will need in order to get your visa
- to enter South Africa you will need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you are travelling from a high-risk yellow fever country

What should I bring?

• Appropriate clothing for summer (January in Kruger is sometimes hot and thunderstorms)are common in the afternoons
• Camera
• Extra camera batteries and storage space
• Bird book, if you are interested in birds
• Binoculars
• Mosquito spray
• Sun hat
• Sun block
• Swimming costume
• South African Rands (there is an ATM at the camp & credit cards are accepted)

Do I need to worry about Malaria?

Please consult your travel clinic before your trip to South Africa. The Kruger Park is considered a medium risk area, so for those who are concerned - please take precautions. You can get a prescription for prophylactics from your Doctor. Malaria risk can also be reduced by spraying yourself with mosquito repellent and wearing long pants and long sleeve shirts in the evenings.

What are the difference in accommodation types?

Skukuza rest camp is set on the banks of the Sabie River. The accommodation at Skukuza camp is best described as basic and comfortable. Ranging from budget to luxury.

- Camp sites (on request)

- Standard room

The standard rooms are very basic. Round-walled, single-room African style units with thatched roofs, 2 or 3 beds per unit. They are equipped with en-suite bathrooms with either a shower or a bath. Some of the units have air-conditioning where as others have only fans. The kitchenettes vary: some of the rooms have hot plates and sinks, while other only have sinks & some have neither. In this case there will be a communal kitchen block where guests share facilities. Cutlery and crockery can be provided and hired from reception.

- Luxury room with & without a view

The luxury units are 1 bedroom units with an en-suite bathroom. The units each have a double bed, quality decor, air-conditioning and television offering limited DSTV channels. Some of these units boast a river view (see costs for price difference).

You have a choice of luxury units with a riverside view and kitchen, or semi-luxury units without a river view and with a communal kitchen. The bungalows along the river frontage have a more modern design with glass sliding doors.

- Hotel (on request)

The hotel is situated outside the gates of the Kruger National Park. This means that there will be a 45 min transfer from the hotel to the camp in both the mornings and evenings. Each transfer will be provided at an extra cost and will leave at set times from functions. We suggest you take advantage of the Kruger Park's accommodation, although we will be happy to arrange a hotel stay for you on request.

What food options are there, other than the planned events?

There are plenty of meal options at Skukuza. Of course there will be the congress function/events each evening. A great way to socialize and network. For those on a tight budget you can always self cater in your chalets, it is very easy and affordable to buy groceries from the camp grocery store. There is also an affordable restaurant in camp called the Wooden Banana Cafe. Serving light 'pub grub' at a very reasonable price. If you are looking for something a bit more upmaket, you can always try the Waterberry Restaurant which serves a fantastic buffet in the evenings.

Waterberry restaurant
(07:00 – 10:00, 12:00 – 14:30, 18:00 – 21:00)

Full breakfast includes cereals, yoghurt, fruit salad, muffins, croissants, bacon, eggs, sausage, mushrooms, tea, coffee and fruit juice at R100 per person.

A la carte menu includes Soups, salads, poultry and meat dishes as well as dessert. Prices range from R25 – R125

Wooden Banana cafeteria
(07:00 – 07:30)

Set breakfast from R16 – R35
Salads from  R25 – R55
Pies, Chicken kebabs, fish & chips, grills, etc from R35 – R100
Pizzas from  R45 – R75
Sandwiches, toasted sandwiches, burgers and tramezzinis from R17 – R70
Desserts under R25

Sanparks shop

This shop sells curios/maps/books/etc but also stocks snacks (crisps, biltong, nuts, sweets, etc), bread, cold meats,  canned foods, fresh and frozen meats, some fresh fruit and vegetables as well as charcoal/wood – for those wanting to prepare their own meals or have a braai (barbecue). There is also a range of bottled water, cool-drinks, beers, liqueurs and spirits.

If I want to plan a pre or post trip to South Africa or its surrounding countries, who do I contact?

Please don't hesitate to contact us at Going Africa Conferencing via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

OR if you have any other questions please give us a call on +27 (0)83 285 0505

We will happily put together a pre or post trip, which can be planned around the conference. We tailor-make trips to your suit your specifications.