Frequently Asked Questions

“IS THERE INTERNET AVAILABLE?”

THE FARM HAS WI-FI AND DSTV. YOU WILL NOT FIND FREE WI-FI IN PUBLIC PLACES LIKE YOU DO OVERSEAS. THE AIRPORTS OFFER A SMALL AMOUNT OF FREE WI-FI BUT, YOU HAVE TO SIGN UP (WHICH SOMETIMES REQUIRES A PIN BEING SENT TO YOUR PHONE) SEE THE QUESTION BELOW ABOUT USING A CELL PHONE OR CONTACT YOUR CARRIER ABOUT INTERNATIONAL PLANS.

“CAN I USE MY CELL PHONE?”

DEPENDING ON THE LENGTH OF YOUR STAY, YOU MIGHT WANT TO PICK UP A SOUTH AFRICAN SIM CARD. WE RECOMMEND USING MTN FOR A CARRIER AS THE FARM IS LOCATED IN A VALLEY, WHICH MAKES CELL SERVICE WEAK, AND THEY HAVE A MTN BOOSTER TO INCREASE SERVICE. THERE ARE MTN SHOPS LOCATED IN BOTH JO’BURG AND DURBAN AIRPORTS (WHERE MOST OF THE INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS LAYOVER) AND THEY WILL SET UP THE SIM CARD IN YOUR CURRENT CELL PHONE (AS LONG AS IT HAS A REMOVEABLE SIM) AIRTIME AND DATA CAN BE PURCHASED IN LOCAL SHOPS TO RECHARGE AS NEEDED.

“WHAT IS THE SOUTH AFRICAN CURRENCY? WHAT ABOUT BRINGING/DRAWING CASH?”

SOUTH AFRICA USES THE RAND. THE CURRENT EXCHANGE RATES ARE 1USD=R13.89, 1AUD=R9.91, 1EUR=R15.89, 1GBP=R17.72 ONLY USE THESE NUMBERS AS AN ESTIMATE, AS THE RATE CHANGES ALMOST DAILY. THERE ARE CURRENCY CONVERSION APPS AVAILABLE FOR SMARTPHONES THAT ARE VERY USEFUL.

THE LOCAL SUPERMARKET HAS ATMS AVAILABLE WHERE BOTH MASTERCARD AND VISA BANK CARDS CAN DRAW CASH. CURRENTLY, THE ATMS CHARGE R50 FOR TRANSACTIONS NOT WITHIN THEIR BANK. CHECK WITH YOUR BANK ABOUT INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTION FEES. MOST RESTAURANTS/PUBS ACCEPT VISA AND MASTERCARD.

“WHERE WILL I STAY? WHAT ARE THE LIVING ARRANGEMENTS?”

THE FARM IS LOCATED IN OUTSIDE OF EAST LONDON, IN CINTSA, ON THE EASTERN CAPE IN SOUTH AFRICA. VOLUNTEERS STAY IN A FLAT, ADJACENT TO THE FARMHOUSE. THE FLAT HAS TWO BEDROOMS FOR VOLUNTEERS, WITH A KITCHEN (FRIDGE, MICROWAVE, KETTLE), DINING TABLE, BATHROOM WITH A SHOWER AND TOILET, SEPARATE TOILET, AND A LOUNGE. THERE ARE TYPICALLY TWO TO FOUR VOLUNTEERS AT A TIME. 

“WHAT ACTIVITIES ARE AVAILABLE OUTSIDE OF THE FARM?”

THERE ARE MANY ACTIVITIES IN CINTSA INCLUDING A GAME RESERVE, BREWERY, SURF LESSONS, JUST TO NAME A FEW. PACKAGES WILL BE COMING SOON TO ADD TO YOUR STAY.

“WHAT HAPPENS IF I GET HURT OR SICK DURING MY STAY?”

HAVING A TRAVEL HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN IS REQUIRED FOR THE LENGTH OF THE PROJECT. THE PLANS AREN’T VERY EXPENSIVE AND COVER ANY EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT.  THERE IS THE LINK TO WORLD NOMADS ON THE ESSENTIAL INFO PAGE.  THERE IS A LOCAL DOCTOR FOR ANY MINOR ISSUES AND A CHEMIST LOCATED NEARBY.