Bikes ‘n Wines &Bikes

Placement organization

Name of organization: Bikes ‘n Wines &Bikes
Town/city: Cape Town
Country: Zuid-Afrika
Website: http://www.bikesnwines.com/

Name of student: Bas de Bruyn

Specialist area: MT
Placement period: 2015-2016

Information about placement organization

Type of organization: Tour operator
Organization’s activities: Bikes ‘n Wines is an organisation that arranged guided cycling tours through the wine lands of Stellenbosch. During the tour the guests will be visiting different kinds of wine estates where they can taste the price winning wine of South Africa. During my time here as an intern I helped in the office to arrange the bookings for the guests, helped with the marketing and promotion and I helped guiding the tours.

&Bikes is an organisation that arranged guided cycling tours in Cape Town, rent out bicycles and has a cycle boutique shop and cafe part on 32 Loop Street in Cape Town Center. During my internship i’ve worked in the shop, selling tours, arranging bookings and renting out bicycles. But the best part was guiding city cycle tours in Cape Town.
Target group of the organization: All (young, adult, families and older)
Company culture: Bikes ‘n Wines and &Bikes are small companies runt by the same people. They are strict in what they want and the communication is almost only work related. They are friendly in treating the intern and helping you in the beginning of the internship. It is a informal company with a obvious hierarchy of 2 full time workers and owners and guides and an intern.
In terms of clothing , as an intern you need to be representative , but it may just look like in shorts and t- shit with closed shoes.
Number of employees: 3 full time + 5 Guides
Dress code: casual
Did the organization meet the agreements you made beforehand? Yes we did, but my internship assignment did we plan when I was in Cape Town.

Information about your placement

In which department(s) are you working? During my internship I worked at the office(shop) of Bikes ‘n Wines and &Bikes. Because it is a small company they don’t have different departments. I dealt with the marketing, with the bookings and with guiding the tours they are offering. For as well B’nW as &Bikes.
Brief description of your daily activities: During the day I have different tasks. If I have a day at the office I will answer all the incoming emails and arrange the new bookings that are coming through. If there are incoming phone calls I help the guests there to find the best tour for them. also I have to keep an eye on the social media stuff, so I had to post new pictures or tweets online so that everything is up to date again.
If I had a day of guiding I first meet the guests at Cape Town tourism and went with the guests to Stellenbosch by train. after an hour and a half we arrived at Stellenbosch, you will brief the guests and you will make everything ready for the tour, help the guests to find the perfect bicycle and start the tour. during the day you will visit different kinds of wine farms and you will have lunch during the day as well. at the end of the tour you will take the guests back to town again.
As well I did on foot marketing, sales visits at hostels, hotels and accommodations to inform them about the tours of both companies and explain what &Bikes is.
Brief description of your company assignment: I was writing a Tactical Marketing plan to increase the sales of &Bikes and the brand awareness. Including a SWOT analysis.
Comment briefly on your supervision by the organization: During my internship I learnt to work hard and do things on your own. not waiting till someone is saying what they want you to do, you have to come with your own ideas. Because it is a small company you are alone a lot and have to do things on your own(or only with the barista).
My supervison changed because of a change of supervisor. My first supervisor left the company because of communication problems at the company. The new supervisor left me perform my own tasks. You must be very flexible and independent for this internship.

Requirements for students on placement

What kind of personal skills are required for this placement? Socialbe, flexible, independent and stress-proof
Additional company requirements for this placement? MS Office
English: Intermediate
Spanish:
French:
German:
Italian:
Other languages:

The trip

Mode of transport to reach your destination: Airplane

Accommodation

How did you arrange your accommodation? 4exchange (dutch company helped me to find an apartment
How did you go to work every day? Bicycle

Visa / work permit / vaccinations

Do you need a visa? Yes, Intern visa or travelers visa with renewal.
Do you need a work permit? No
How did you arrange the necessary documents: Embassy of South Africa in The Hague
How much time did it take to arrange the necessary documents? 3 Months
Did you need certain vaccinations? Yes
How long in advance? 2 Months

Language course

Did you take a language course before you started your placement? No
Would you recommend to have a language course prior to this placement? –

The costs in euros

Travelling expenses (e.g. return ticket): € 600
Accommodation (monthly): € 250
Local transport (monthly): € –
General costs of living (monthly): € 200
Costs of visa: € 50
Costs of work permit: € –
What did the company pay for/to you? The company gave me a Financial compensation of R2000 (125 euro).

Culture

How did you prepare for the country’s culture?
I read about the history of South Africa, but you will learn more about the culture when you arrive here in Cape Town. You can’t compare Cape Town to the story’s people are telling in The Netherlands, you have to see it with your own eyes to really know that Cape Town is so much better. The people here are so nice and always willing to help you when necessary.
Did the culture of the country influence your performance during the placement in any way? YES!

Future students on placement

Future students are free to contact me for further information: Yes
My e-mail address: ciacomo@live.nl

Other information

Recommendations on what to do and what not to do: I would definitely recommend people to go to Cape Town to see the city for themselves. It is so beautiful and nothing compare to what people say. You will fall in love with the city, the people, the food, the weather, with everything. There is so much to do, you can not imagne or prepair, make a to do list to not forget to do one of the amazing things you can do!
Visit Mzanzi’s in Langa Township!
Leisure possibilities in the city/surroundings of where the placement took place: In Cape Town and surroundings there is to much to do. you can go surfing, swimming, cycling, skydiving, paragliding and hiking. And if you are in Cape Town, you definitely have to go and do the bungee jump from the highest bungee jump bridge in the world.

Media

Youtube link Youtube placement video link