When someone makes the decision to seek help for addiction, cost should not be the reason they don’t. Yet in the United Kingdom, Europe, and the United States, private residential rehabilitation costs between £10,000 and £40,000 per month. For many people, that price is simply prohibitive.
South Africa — and Cape Town specifically — offers another way.
At Cherrywood House, we provide boutique, clinical-grade private rehabilitation at a small fraction of the cost of comparable facilities in Europe or North America. Our international clients receive the same exceptional level of care, in a setting that most South African facilities can’t match, at a cost that makes excellent treatment genuinely accessible.
The South Africa Advantage
Cost Without Compromise
The exchange rate advantage is significant. For a European or North American client, South African treatment costs often represent 70–80% savings compared to equivalent-quality facilities in their home country — even accounting for return flights and accommodation.
This is not because of lower quality. It is because South Africa’s operating costs, staff costs, and property costs are lower relative to purchasing power in stronger currencies. The clinical standard is equivalent to the best private facilities anywhere in the world.
A World-Class Location
Cape Town is consistently ranked among the world’s most beautiful cities. For international clients, this creates a treatment environment that is conducive to recovery in a way that a grey hospital building in winter simply cannot match:
- Mountain trails within reach of the facility
- Clean ocean air
- Year-round moderate climate
- Natural beauty that supports psychological healing
- A sense of distance from the environment associated with past use (which is therapeutic in its own right)
Distance from Your Using Environment
One of the clinical arguments for travelling to treatment is the benefit of removing yourself from the social circles, locations, and emotional triggers associated with your addiction. An international client at Cherrywood House is genuinely distanced from their normal environment — the bar, the dealer, the social group that facilitates use, the workplace stressor.
This distance gives the therapeutic process a cleaner foundation to build on.
What Cherrywood House Provides for International Clients
Clinical Excellence
Our treatment programme is evidence-based and clinician-led. We do not vary the quality or content of our programme for international clients. Every person receives:
- Personalised treatment plan based on comprehensive assessment
- Individual therapy (CBT, DBT, trauma-focused approaches)
- Daily group therapy
- Medical management if detox is required
- Family support components (virtually if family are abroad)
- 12-month free aftercare (including remote aftercare for international clients)
Concierge Support
For international clients, we provide additional logistical support:
- Airport transfer arrangements on arrival
- Medication guidance — helping ensure any ongoing medications are available and legally imported
- Communication support — helping maintain appropriate contact with family and employers during treatment
- Aftercare planning — coordinating with professionals in the client’s home country for post-treatment support
Privacy and Discretion
Cherrywood House’s boutique model and location in the privacy of Constantia makes it an ideal choice for individuals who need absolute discretion about their treatment — public figures, executives, professionals, and anyone for whom privacy is a priority.
Our maximum of 17 clients means there is no large group of strangers. The environment is quiet, residential, and confidential.
Language
Our team communicates in English. We also have staff who speak Afrikaans and several other languages. For clients who are more comfortable in other languages, we can accommodate this discussion at the planning stage.
What the Practical Process Looks Like
Step 1: Initial Contact
Call or email us from wherever you are. Our first conversation is confidential and pressure-free. We will discuss your situation, answer your questions, and help you understand whether Cherrywood House is the right fit.
Step 2: Intake Assessment
Before travel is finalised, we complete an intake assessment. This helps us prepare appropriately for your arrival — particularly if medical detox will be needed.
Step 3: Travel Arrangements
We do not handle flights, but we provide: – Full joining instructions – Guidance on what to bring and what to leave behind – Airport transfer coordination – Visa information if relevant
Step 4: Arrival and Admission
On arrival you are met at the facility by our care team. The admission process is calm and welcoming. You are not met with a clipboard — you are met with a warm, human welcome.
Step 5: Treatment
Your treatment programme begins immediately after the medical assessment on day one. From this point, the process is exactly as described in our residential programme guide.
Step 6: Aftercare and Return
Your aftercare plan includes options for ongoing remote support after you return home. We work with your home-country treatment providers and support networks to create a seamless transition.
Who Comes to Cherrywood House Internationally?
Our international clients include: – Expats living in South Africa who want local treatment – People from the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, and other European countries seeking affordable, high-quality treatment – Professionals and executives who require absolute discretion – People seeking treatment away from a social environment where their addiction has taken root
We have experience with the specific needs and concerns of international clients, and we make the process as straightforward as possible.
FAQ: International Clients at Cherrywood House
Does Cherrywood House have experience with international clients? Yes. We have treated clients from Europe, North America, and other parts of Africa. We have a Dutch phone line (+31(0)20 808 3758) specifically for clients from the Netherlands.
How do I arrange treatment from abroad? Contact us by phone or email. We will guide you through the process from initial enquiry through to arrival.
What is the cost of treatment at Cherrywood House? Costs are discussed confidentially on enquiry. In comparison to European private treatment, most international clients find South African treatment represents exceptional value.
Can I continue working remotely during treatment? Limited work contact may be possible in some circumstances — this is discussed individually. The recommendation is always to treat the treatment period as a protected space for recovery.
Does Cherrywood House provide aftercare for international clients? Yes. Our 12-month aftercare programme includes remote aftercare sessions for clients who have returned abroad.
Cherrywood House welcomes international clients to Cape Town for world-class private addiction treatment. Call us at +27 79 714 1966, email info@cherrywoodhouse.com, or for clients from the Netherlands: +31(0)20 808 3758.
Need confidential, professional support? Speak with Cherrywood House about the right next step.
