On this page you’ll find more information about the Cape Town trip, such as practical information, locations and a detailed program overview. In between the project working sessions, we’ve planned several activities. There’s also time to explore the city your preferred way.
UvA Business School Study Trip 2026
Cape Town, January 18-24
Welcome to Cape Town!
Starting tips
Travelling from the airport to the hotel takes about 20 minutes by taxi (approx. €8-10). Here’s a Google Maps link and the address:
AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront
Click for Google Maps
Address: Dockrail Rd, Foreshore, Cape Town, 8001, Zuid-Afrika
Temperatures can get quite high this time of year in Cape Town, and there’s several outdoor activities planned (for example Langa on Tuesday, and Robben Island on Wednesday). We recommend checking the weather forecast at the beginning of the day, and bringing for example:
- A bottle of water
- Sunscreen
- A cap or something to cover your head
Contacts on-site
In addition to the UvA team:
- Jens Martin, Burcu Küçükkeles, Charlene Dijksteel, Nana Kwarteng,
your contacts on-site will be Elise Könings and Jesse Falk from travel facilitator Cognicum. They will be posted with us at the AC hotel, to answer your practical and activity-related questions.
Elise Könings
Jesse Falk
The program
Below, you’ll find the most recent version of the program overview for Cape Town. Please note that this overview is being optimized along the way to the trip.
Various times
Arrival to Cape Town
From 15:00 onwards
Check-in opens at the AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront
07:00-08:30 | AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront
Breakfast
09:00-10:00 | AC Hotel, room: Port Starboard
Program overview, by Burcu Küçükkeles (UvA ABS)
10:00-10:45 | AC Hotel, room: Port Starboard
An overview of South Africa, by Ralph Hamann (part 1)
10:45-11:00 | AC Hotel, room: Port Starboard
Coffee break
11:00-12:00 | AC Hotel, room: Port Starboard
An overview of South Africa, by Ralph Hamann (part 2)
12:15-13:30 | AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront
Lunch with the group
14:00-16:30 | AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront
Integration and project work, by Burcu Küçükkeles (UvA)
17:00-17:20
Transfer to opening drinks
17:30-19:30 | Radisson RED Rooftop
Opening drinks
Evening
At own arrangement
07:00-08:00 | AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront
Breakfast
08:15 | AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront
Meet-up at the lobby
☀️ Tip: It’s gonna be warm, bring a bottle of water, sunscreen and/or a hat. ☀️
08:30-09:00 | AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront
Transfer to Langa
09:00-11:30 | Langa Township
Township visit
11:30 -12:00
Transfer to lunch location
12:00-13:30 | CABO Beach
Group lunch
13:30 – 14:00
Transfer to Innovation City
14:00 – 16:00 | Innovation City
Company visit
14:00 – 14:45 Informal roundtable-style discussion / Q&A
+ What it’s like to build a startup in South Africa
+ The local business & startup environment
+ Personal founder journeys and lessons
14:45 – 15:30 Guided tour of Innovation City
+Overview of member startups, spaces, and community
15:30 – 16:00 Informal networking, student discussion time, and wrap-up
16:30 – 16:45
Transfer back to the hotel
Evening
On own arrangement
06:45 – 07:30 | AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront
Breakfast
07:45 | AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront lobby
Meet-up (tip: be on time, the boat for Robben Island does not wait)
☀️ Tip: It’s gonna be warm, bring a bottle of water, sunscreen and/or a hat. ☀️
08:00 – 08:20
Transfer to Nelson Mandela Gateway
08:30
Check-in for Robben Island
Reminder: bring a digital copy of your passport/ID
09:00 – 09:30
Ferry to Robben Island
09:30 – 12:30
Visit to Robben Island
Note: We will be back on shore approx. 12:30
Afternoon
Free time
Evening
At own arrangement
07:00-08:00 | AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront
Breakfast
08:30-09:00 | AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront
Transfer to SMIT Salvage/AMSOL
09:00 – 11:30 | SMIT Salvage/AMSOL
Company visit
Initerary:
09:00 Arrival at AMSol
09:00 Arrival at AMSol
09:15 Introduction by Richard Robertson (General Manager South-Africa, SMIT Salvage)
09:45 In-depth session on AMSOL and business in South-Africa by Peet Reyneke (CFO, AMSOL)
10:30 Warehouse tour
11:00 If it’s present in the dockyard, we will be having a look at one of the tugs/vessels of AMSOL, by Siphokazi Mbaba (Marine Manager, AMSOL)
11:45 End of visit, return to AC Hotel for group lunch
11:45 – 12:15
Transfer back to AC Hotel
12:15 – 13:30 | AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront
Group lunch
14:00 – 17:00 | AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront
Debrief of company visit & project work
Evening
At own arrangement
07:30-08:30 | AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront
Breakfast
08:45 – 09:30 | AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront
Transfer to Groot Constantia
10:00 – 15:00 | Groot Constantia
Day program at the winery
+ Opening keynote by Groot Constantia
+ Tour of the production facilities
+ Wine tasting
+ Group lunch
+ Closing remarks and wrap-up of the program
15:00 – 15:30
Transfer to the hotel, time to freshen up
17:45 – 18:00 | AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront
Transfer to the closing dinner
18:15-21:30 | Spyced
Closing dinner with starting activity
No dresscode
21:45
Transfer back to the hotel
Tip: Transfer is optional, for those who’d like to return to the hotel timely.
Until 11:00 | AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront
Check-out
Various times
Departure from Cape Town International Airport
Key locations
And where to find them
Accommodation
AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront
The hotel for this study trip is the AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront. This four star hotel has all the commoddities needed, as well as capacity for several classes during the week.
Address
Dockrail Rd, Foreshore, Cape Town, 8001, Zuid-Afrika
Google Maps
Check-in/check-out times
Check-in: From 15:00 onwards (Sunday Jan 18th)
Check-out: Before 12:00 (Saturday Jan 24th)
