The conference takes place at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, of South Africa.

Rhodes University was established in 1904 and has a strong tradition of excellent research and teaching.  The University is situated in the small university town of Grahamstown in the heart of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.  There are several outstanding (and malaria-free) game reserves in the region, along with miles of golden beaches, and many other tourist attractions.  Delegates to the conference will receive a warmly South African welcome, and may wish to extend their visit to enjoy the many opportunities offered by a trip to South Africa in springtime.

Local Information

• You can find the latest weather forecast for Grahamstown at the South African Weather Service website.
• South Africa uses the Rand currency.  The exchange rate is often volatile, but currently is approximately €1=R10; £1=R12; and US$1=R8.  Most stores accept common credit cards (Visa and Mastercard) for payments.
• Voltage is 220V.
• English is the common language for almost all South Africans.
• South African cell phone services all use the international GSM standard, and international roaming services are provided for visitors.  The international dialling code for South Africa is +27.

Transportation

South Africa is well-served by many international airlines with flights into both Johannesburg (JNB) and Cape Town (CPT), from both of which airports there are regular flights to Port Elizabeth (PLZ), the closest airport to Grahamstown.  Shuttle services to and from Port Elizabeth airport will be arranged for the PPPJ 2012 conference.

Delegates with a little more time on their hands might like to consider driving from Cape Town to Grahamstown (or vice versa) along the beautiful Garden Route.  The distance is a total of approximately 900km (540 miles), and can be driven in a day, but a few days are needed to do justice to the areas of great natural beauty through which the road travels.

Accommodation

We plan to include accommodation in a University student residence in the conference fee.  This will include a single room, with shared bathroom facilities, on a bed-and-breakfast basis.