Welcome to the Accepted Student Information page. Navigate the tabs below for everything you need to know before your epic adventure in Cape Town, South Africa.
To navigate back to your portal for payments, forms and due dates, click the My Account button above.
BEFORE you go to your account, be sure you LOGIN by clicking the LOGIN button at the top right of your screen.
Stay Informed
Here are the Top 3 things you need to be working on to prepare for your summer abroad.
- Passport – make sure your passport is ready for travel
- Applying for a passport for the first time? Watch this quick overview.
- Decide if you would like to participate in the Garden Route
- Book your flight
- Groupme coming Spring 2024!
- When you join, post an introduction with your name, school and hometown! If you’re looking for a flight buddy and/or a roommate, share that as well so you can connect with others looking for the same!
- Please note: If you have specific questions about your program, please send them to LeadAbroad staff directly at info@LeadAbroad.com. Program questions posted in GroupMe may get missed by staff members.
- Follow us on Instagram and search the tags #LeadAbroadLife and @LeadAbroad.
Preparing to Travel
Important dates for DIRECT Cape Town Session 1:
- Thursday, May 9: Students depart the U.S. for Cape Town
- Friday, May 10: Students arrive into Cape Town, first day of program
- Friday, May 17: Students depart for (optional) 3-day Garden Route (return on Sunday, May 19)
- Wednesday, May 22: DIRECT Cape Town ends, students depart for U.S. or begin (optional) 4-day Garden Route
- Saturday, May 25: (optional) 4-day Garden Route ends, students depart for U.S.
➡️ Arrival Window: May 10 from 5:00-6:00pm
Group shuttle to the hotel after arrival:
- All students arriving on flights arriving between 5:00-6:00pm will be on the group shuttle.
- If you are scheduled to arrive on May 10th before the group lands, you can wait at the airport for the group shuttle or pay for your own transfer to the hotel. LeadAbroad will assist you in arranging this transportation with LeadAbroad’s trusted transportation partner.
Group shuttle to the airport for departure back to U.S.:
- If you are not staying for the (optional) 4-day Garden Route extension and will depart Cape Town on May 22nd, LeadAbroad will provide a shuttle to the airport for flights departing at 10pm or later.
- After the (optional) 4-day Garden Route concludes on May 25th participants will be transported to the airport and arrive between 7:00-8:00pm. Your flight should depart Cape Town at 10pm or later. If you book an earlier flight, you will not make it to the airport in time.
Recommended Itinerary:
Students NOT traveling on (optional) 4-day Garden Route AFTER the program
LeadAbroad recommends aligning your flights on the following itinerary. Whether you live near ATL and can drive to the airport, or if you need to connect from your hometown airport, we strongly suggest flying on our recommended flight. For more information about how LeadAbroad selects our recommended flights, please click here.
Depart: May 9, 2024 (arrives next day)
Return: May 22, 2024
Atlanta (ATL) on Delta
| Travel Date | Route | Airline & Flight # | Departure Time | Arrival Time |
| Depart: May 9 | ATL-CPT | DL 210 | 8:50 PM | 5:50pm (May 10) |
| Return: May 22 | CPT-AMS-ATL | Flight 1 (CPT-AMS): DL 9486 | 11:15 PM | 10:45am (May 23) |
| Flight 2 (AMS-ATL): DL 75 | 12:50 PM | 4:05pm (May 23) |
➡️ Watch this quick video on tips on how to connect with the recommended flight from your hometown.
➡️ We highly encourage booking a Delta Airline connecting flight (if necessary) and to ensure the flights are all under one reservation (NOT separate tickets). This will reduce the challenges associated with delayed flights, lost luggage and other unforeseen travel issues.
➡️ LeadAbroad will post all flights prior to departure so students can connect with others on their flight.
Recommended Itinerary:
Students staying and traveling on (optional) 4-day Garden Route AFTER the program
*Important Note: For students planning to attend the Garden Route 4-day extension, please wait to book your flight until your spot on the Garden Route is confirmed.
LeadAbroad recommends aligning your flights on the following itinerary. Whether you live near ATL and can drive to the airport, or if you need to connect from your hometown airport, we strongly suggest flying on our recommended flight. For more information about how LeadAbroad selects our recommended flights, please click here.
Depart: May 9, 2024 (arrives next day)
Return: May 25, 2024
Atlanta (ATL)
| Travel Date | Route | Airline & Flight # | Departure Time | Arrival Time |
| Depart: May 9 | ATL-CPT | DL 210 | 8:50 PM | 5:50pm (May 10) |
| Return: May 25 | CPT-AMS-ATL | Flight 1: (CPT-AMS) DL 9486 | 11:15 PM | 10:45am (May 26) |
| Flight 2: (AMS-ATL) DL 75 | 12:50 PM | 4:05pm (May 26) |
➡️ We highly encourage booking a Delta Airline connecting flight (if necessary) and to ensure the flights are all under one reservation (NOT separate tickets). This will reduce the challenges associated with delayed flights, lost luggage and other unforeseen travel issues.
➡️ LeadAbroad will post all flights prior to departure so students can connect with others on their flight.
➡️ On May 25th, after the 4-day Garden Route concludes, participants will be transported to the airport and arrive between 7:00-8:00pm. Your flight should depart Cape Town at 10pm or later. If you book an earlier flight, you will not make it to the airport in time.
Need more information about the Garden Route add-on trip? The Garden Route is a 3 or 4 day add-on experience that will take students along the coast for some of the most epic African adventures like safari, walking with elephants and cage diving with sharks.
Click here for more information about the Garden Route.
➡️ Purchase your Garden Route in your student portal to reserve your spot.
➡️ The Garden Route has limited capacity and spots are first come, first serve.
➡️ If you have a few extra days, the 4-day Garden Route is highly recommended to ensure you don’t miss anything in Cape Town.
Program Specific Orientation
- DIRECT Cape Town Orientation I: Coming Spring 2024
- DIRECT Cape Town Orientation II: Coming Spring 2024
- Please note: Country-specific policies referenced in orientation may change based on changing government laws, health guidelines, current health environment or LeadAbroad rules designed to keep students safe. It is important to read all of LeadAbroad’s emails thoroughly to stay informed on the most updated policies, procedures and requirements.
**Your orientation is not complete until you submit the Pre-Departure Form & Orientation: Program-Specific Form (available closer to departure) in your portal. Please submit this form to verify you’ve completed all orientations.
Click here to view a sample Cape Town packing list!
Updated packing list coming Spring 2024!
The most important thing to remember when packing for Cape Town is that we will be there in fall and moving into winter. The weather in Cape Town in May and June is very similar to that of weather in the southern U.S. October and November. You have some clear beautiful days and then some cold and rainy ones.
Most apartments have washing machines. If your apartment does not, you can use one of your neighbors or you can send your laundry off which is about $12-$15 for per load.
*PRO TIP: Check out our Instagram and view our Cape Town Highlight to get a better sense of what students typically wear!
In-Country Details
While in Cape Town, you will stay in beachside apartments at the Lagoon Beach Hotel. Each two-bedroom apartment will house 4 students of the same gender. The apartments are well located with plenty of amenities including restaurants, a gym and a spa at the hotel. The apartments are in Milnerton, just outside of Cape Town. Below is the address and website for your home in Cape Town.
Accommodation set up:
- 4 twin beds per apartment
- Kitchen
- Living space
Lagoon Beach Hotel
1 Lagoon Gate Drive
Milnerton, Cape Town, South Africa 7441
Roommates are emailed to students approximately 2-4 weeks before departure
To request a roommate, please submit the Housing Form (available in January) in your online portal by the posted due date. Forms submitted after the due date may not be reviewed. Once roommates are posted, we cannot make any changes. If you’ve already submitted your roommate form but wish to make a change to your request before the form due date, please email info@LeadAbroad.com ASAP.
Click here for a sample DIRECT Cape Town Session itinerary
Official Itineraries coming Spring 2024!
Please note: this itinerary is subject to change at any point before or during the program. Closer to departure, we will send you instructions on downloading the Trip Plans app so you have real-time access to the schedule.