FAQs

Question

WEDDING QUESTIONS

Answer

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Question

How do I book accommodation?

Answer

Rooms at Du Kloof Lodge for Friday night (1 May) and Saturday night (2 May) are currently reserved for our wedding guests so you will not be able to book through the website (that is why the website says there are no rooms available). To book accommodation: 1. Visit Du Kloof Lodge website (https://duklooflodge.co.za/) and compare rooms to see what type of accommodation you'd like to book (Luxury Room, Classic Room, Deck Room, Courtyard Room, Executive House, Cellar Room, Cellar Chalet, Mountain Pod) different rooms can accommodate 1-8 people. 2. Call the hotel or use their website's contact page to make your reservation - be sure to tell them you are part of the Kelly-de Kock wedding or they will not process your request! 3. Please book your reservation without breakfast. For guests staying Friday night, there is a restaurant on site for Saturday morning, and on Sunday morning breakfast will be provided. Rooms are available on a first come, first serve basis. We have been told that Du Kloof regularly runs promotions so prices are always changing, and they said they typically offer pensioner discounts if you enquire about one. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out to Jacques or Caitlin, we are happy to help.

Question

What is the dress code?

Answer

Cocktail attire is recommended, however please note the ceremony will be held outside on a grass lawn (weather permitting) so dress accordingly. Weather in the Cape of Storms is constantly changing so it might be hot, it might be cold, or it might be both over the span of a couple hours!

Question

Do I need to bring a gift?

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Your presence is gift enough. All we want is to spend a weekend celebrating with our "mense" (our people), your attendance is the greatest gift we could ask for.

Question

Can I bring my kids?

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We love your littles! But unfortunately, due to space restrictions, we can only accommodate children from the bridal party. Thank you for your understanding.

Question

Wedding Weekend Timeline of Events

Answer

Friday 1 May: 14:00 - Check in starts for guests staying at the Lodge 17:00-22:00 - Welcome Braai at Du Kloof Lodge - EVERYONE is invited, food and drink will be provided. Saturday 2 May 10:00 - Cricket on the lawn for anyone who'd like to play (no experience necessary!) 14:00 - Check in time for guests staying at the lodge 15:00 - The ceremony will start promptly at 3pm, please plan to arrive at Du Kloof by 14:30 to have enough time to get out to the ceremony location and find your seat. 15:30-17:30 - Canapés by the river 17:30-23:30 - Dinner reception - bring your dancing shoes and get ready to teach these Americans how to langarm! 123:30 - After party moves to the bar - last person standing gets to kiss the baboon! Sunday 10:00 - Check out time (the lodge is happy to hold your bags for you while you enjoy the premises) 10:00-12:00 - Totsiens Brunch 11:00-15:00 - For anyone who would like to stick around, Du Kloof hosts a Live Music Sunday every week featuring various local musicians

Question

TRAVELING TO CAPE TOWN

Answer

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Question

Is Cape Town safe?

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Cape Town is a stunning destination, but it is also home to extreme income disparity. Like any large city, it requires vigilance. While tourist areas are generally safe, petty theft (e.g. pickpocketing, smash & grabs) can occur in busy areas, so we recommend keeping valuables secure and avoiding displaying expensive items (e.g. walking around with your phone out). Despite Caitlin's deep and abiding love for Golden Arrow, public transportation is not recommended for visitors - Uber is the best option and widely available. If you're driving, keep your gas tank full and please stick to main highways and tourist routes, as GPS apps sometimes suggest shortcuts through neighborhoods that are not safe for visitors. When in doubt, please ask us or other locals for guidance. We want everyone to have the most enjoyable time possible, and following a few general guidelines will help ensure your stay is full of only the best Cape Town has to offer (aka don't end up like Michaela spending your first night out in Cape Town at the police station!): - Stick to busy, main tourism areas - any questions about neighborhoods just ask Jacques & Caitlin - Keep your gas tank full and use main highways, double check travel routes if you are traveling outside of Cape Town (30+ minutes) - Never hike alone - Do not walk alone at night - Keep valuables out of sight (avoid walking with your phone out, leave expensive jewelry at home, do not leave any valuables or bags on display in your car - even while driving) - Keep windows and doors locked at night, if your accommodation has security gates use them. We don't mean to sound alarming, but Cape Town locks up tight at night so open doors/windows become very obvious invitations if not covered by security gates. As long as you approach the city with respect and use your common sense you are unlikely to encounter any trouble - for more tips & tricks just ask Ned about his time in the Bronx!

Question

Do I need malaria pills or vaccines to visit Cape Town?

Answer

You can check CDC's recommendations for travel to South Africa here: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/south-africa Malaria: You do not need anti-malarial medication to travel to Cape Town. Cape Town is malaria free, however malaria may be present in other parts of South Africa (e.g. Kruger) if you plan on traveling to other regions. Yellow Fever: You do not need a yellow fever vaccine to travel to South Africa from the United States. (Note: If you have an airport layover longer than 12 hours in a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission it may be required.) Other Vaccines: As long as you are up to date on routine shots, you most likely do not need any travel vaccines. Hep A, Hep B, and Typhoid are recommended by the CDC, if it has been a long time since you were vaccinated a travel booster may be recommended.

Question

What flights should I book?

Answer

You will want to fly into Cape Town International Airport (CPT). Nonstop flights are available from Newark on United, currently running around $1400 for basic economy. This price has remained stable since the tickets became available, we honestly do not know why they haven't dropped, they usually fluctuate widely. United has been completely unhelpful and the group rate they offered was higher than what you can find online for the same flights. You can also fly directly from IAD, ATL, JFK and other airports, however one stop flights are more cost effective - Turkish Airlines and Kenya Airways have a few good options available. Other common layovers for this route include Paris (CDG), Amsterdam (AMS), Istanbul (IST), and London (LHR). Caitlin is happy to help with flights if you have any questions. Once at the airport, we recommend hiring an Uber to get to your accommodation. If you stay at a hotel they can arrange an airport pickup for you. We do not recommend accepting a ride from anyone who approaches you at the airport claiming to be a taxi or Uber driver.

Question

Do I need a visa to visit South Africa?

Answer

US passport holders do not need a visa to visit South Africa as a tourist. Your passport must be valid for at least 30 days after your planned exit from South Africa and it must contain at least 2 consecutive blank pages.

Question

Do I need an international cell phone plan?

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As long as your phone is not locked, you can easily buy a local sim card at the airport to get a local South African number and data. We recommend MTN or Vodacom.

Question

Do I need travel insurance?

Answer

We do recommend traveling with insurance that will cover any emergency medical treatment. While free medical care is publicly available to everyone in South Africa, the quality of care varies. Private hospitals are excellent but they can be costly. Travel insurance may be included by your regular provider (it's worth checking), but if not we recommend a travel insurance provider such as World Nomads (https://www.worldnomads.com/).