Dorms
- 4-8 guests · Available
- R2 380$150
- Maximum 3 guests · Available
- R2 680$168
- 1 guest · Available
- R3 335$210
AFRAS 2027 · Venue & Travel
Lapalala Wilderness School
An off-the-grid, rammed-earth school in the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve, on the banks of the Palala River in Limpopo.
The venue
A school built from the bushveld
Lapalala Wilderness School is about 50 km from the small town of Vaalwater in Limpopo, and about 3.5 hours by road from Johannesburg.
The venue is an award-winning, off-the-grid, eco-built educational facility. It is built from rammed earth and sits within the bushveld, so the whole stay is spent in nature. Accommodation ranges from private lodge-style rooms to shared dormitories, with one bathroom for every guest, available to delegates on a first-come basis.
The school falls within the UNESCO-declared Waterberg Biosphere Reserve. It lies in the southeast corner of the Big 5 Lapalala Wilderness Reserve, with a secure fence between the two properties so that it is safe to walk. The reserve has 73 small and large mammal species and 278 bird species on record. For arthropods, much remains to be discovered in this recognised biodiversity hotspot.
Collecting
Collect across 1,170 hectares
The venue is surrounded by bushveld savanna on the banks of the Palala River, under an unpolluted night sky. Delegates can move freely and collect specimens across the secure, fenced 1,170-hectare property.
- A Limpopo Province collecting permit will be available to all delegates.
- Delegates who would like to collect in other provinces should contact the colloquium organisers for details.
- Property
- 1,170 hectares, fenced
- River
- Palala River
- Permit
- Limpopo collecting permit for all delegates
- Recorded
- 73 mammal and 278 bird species
Facilities and activities
For the open day and the evenings
Some activities carry an extra cost. Ask the organisers for details.
- Free, strong WiFi in all central venue areas
- Swimming pool
- Bush walks
- A visit to a rock art site
- Obstacle course, for those joined by their families or who feel young at heart
- Game drives: one is included in registration, more at extra cost
- Hands-on outreach activities at a rural school, at extra cost to cover transport
Accommodation
Where you sleep
Every package covers five nights, 10 to 15 January 2027. Rooms are booked through registration, first come, first served.
VIP rooms by email
There are only a few VIP rooms, so they are booked by email. Write to conference@carlamani.com to check availability.
Sharing
If you have sharing preferences, give the names of the people you want to share with when you register, or contact the organisers for help.
Single rooms
- Single or couple · Fully booked
- R3 335$210
VIP rooms (standalone)
- Single or couple · Book by email
- R8 035$500
VIP rooms (shared cottage)
- Single or couple · Book by email
- R8 650$540
All fees
- All fees are quoted in South African Rand (ZAR). The US dollar amounts in brackets are approximate, at the exchange rate when the fees were set. Invoices are in ZAR.
- Fees include all local taxes and bank charges.
- Fees cover all meals, including a welcoming finger-food dinner, the colloquium dinner and themed dinners, a Big 5 safari game drive and a colloquium package.
- Fees apply equally to participating delegates and accompanying persons, thanks to the low, all-inclusive rates secured for the colloquium.
Getting there
Travel and transfers
Most international delegates arrive at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. The venue is about 3.5 hours away by road.
- Venue
- Lapalala Wilderness School, Waterberg, Limpopo
- Nearest town
- Vaalwater, about 50 km
- By road
- About 3.5 hours from Johannesburg
- Nearest hub
- O.R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg
- Airport shuttle
- Available on request from O.R. Tambo, at an extra fee. More information to follow.
Passports and visas
Before you travel
A special visa is not needed to attend a conference in South Africa, but the standard visa rules depend on your nationality. Check well in advance which of the three categories applies to you. A visa application can take about two months, so apply in good time.
-
Category 1
Visa-exempt
You receive an entry stamp at the port of entry.
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Category 2
e-Visa eligible
Apply online. You must have the visa confirmation before you leave.
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Category 3
Traditional visa required
Submit the documents to an embassy or visa processing centre, and have the visa in your passport before you leave.
Passports
You must have two blank pages next to each other in your passport to enter South Africa.
For help, contact the South African Department of Home Affairs on 0800 60 11 90 (toll free from South Africa).
Letters of invitation
Need a letter of invitation for your visa? Email the organisers at conference@carlamani.com with a copy of your passport photo page, because the letter includes those details. Allow three working days. Visa letters for accommodation may also be needed and take time.
Delegates who are not current members of AFRAS or the International Society of Arachnology (ISA) must provide proof of institutional affiliation or a student ID.
Request a letterHealth
Vaccinations and malaria
Check the recommended vaccinations for travel from your country, together with your visa requirements. The venue is in a low-risk malaria area (the light pink zone on the map linked below), but mosquito repellent is highly recommended.