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Category: South Africa

  • Best World Cup Soccer Merchandise

    With the much anticipated 2010 Soccer World Cup less than a month away, merchandise is flying off the shelves, so you should make sure you get the best items available to support your favorite team and as memorabilia of your trip to South Africa for this historic event.

    With the vast number of options you have, it will be rather hard to just pick a few items, so you should find out more about the ultimate keepsakes. First of all, a huge accessory that people are buying in support of the soccer, are mirror socks for their cars. This is great to be seen out and about with your country’s flag proudly sticking out the sides of your car. They are also small and convenient to take home with you, as well as being very useful, not like other items which will just get thrown at the back of your closet. When you go to the shops in South Africa, you can be sure that each aisle, and in fact, most products are decorated with soccer images, and supporting the World Cup in some way or another. You can purchase huge soccer ball toys, soccer ball chocolates, soccer ball inspired braais (enclosed barbeque grills), soccer ball shaped drinking glasses, hats, flags, fold up chairs, cooler bags, and clothing galore, all "soccerised." It’s a lot to take in, so what you have to be aware of is where to buy the merchandise and which are the best items to choose. Now, of course you will want to get a piece of clothing to remind you of the World Cup and it is great because you can wear it over and over. Hoodies, jerseys, scarves, and t-shirts are all popular options. Stores in South Africa like Sportsman’s Warehouse, a nationwide chain store, will stock tons of great World Cup gear, but a lot of the most affordable merchandise will be sold by street vendors. You can find them on just about every street and intersection in each town. You can also find some great merchandise including keyrings, balls, hats, and much more at the local markets. Every day of the week, in Cape Town, you can find just what you are looking for at Greenmarket Square. On Sundays, you can take a drive down to Muizenberg to the Muizenberg Market at Sunrise Beach. In Johannesburg you can visit the Bruma Lake Flea Market, which is the largest market in the area, with others including the Rooftop Market every Sunday, and the Newtown Market Africa across from the Market Theatre. Durban offers an array of markets that you can choose to purchase your Soccer World Cup merchandise from. The Umkhumbane Flea Market is relatively new, but a big hit, while the Amphitheater Flea Market still being the most popular situated along the Durban Beachfront each Sunday. [caption id="attachment_3780" align="alignright" width="275" caption="Find the Best World Cup Gear"]Find the Best World Cup Gear[/caption] These three cities also boast the international airports in South Africa and when arriving, you can be sure that World Cup 2010 fever will greet you – and perhaps a Diski dancer or two! You could probably get all your World Cup attire and memorabilia just at the airport, but what fun would that be, right? Visiting the heart of each city and getting to know the people is what will make your trip much more interesting. Don’t forget that the fan parks will also sell tons of merchandise, as well as at the stadiums on each match day. If you are a bit strapped for cash, you can always bargain with the vendors at the intersections who are all selling World Cup merchandise already. You just have to watch out for the fake merchandise which has already started appearing, with Johannesburg police seizing $1.7 million worth of fake t-shirts, thought to have come from China. Once you are all set with your official World Cup 2010 t-shirts, jerseys, car mirror socks, keyrings, scarves, gloves, and of course the legendary vuvuzelas, you will be ready to have the time of your life and get some great mementos to take back home with you.

  • Learn the Diski Dance for South Africa World Cup

    With the Soccer World Cup coming to the African continent for the first time, South Africa is going to get soccer fans at home and abroad moving and grooving to the Diski Dance!

    This dance was inspired by the way that soccer is played in Africa taking bits and pieces from street soccer that kids play and incorporating some interesting, uniquely African dance styles. Diski dancing is something that everyone is encouraged to learn before heading to South Africa for the World Cup and various adverts are being played internationally on TV networks including CNN, BBC, Skysport, and Eurosport so that everyone can learn the moves. If you learn it well enough you should think about jobs in dance when you return home! The passionate spirit of the entire Africa continent will exude with Diski dancing and it is expected that Diski dancing will be done during the opening ceremony, at matches, at the fan parks, and even in the streets. The rhythm of the African people is something that visitors will not forget any time soon, and as the advert slogan says, "Come and feel it!" Where there is dancing, one has to have music, and one of the iconic South African instruments representing soccer is the vuvuzela. This trumpet like instrument is one of the unique items that South African soccer fans want to share with the rest of the world. You can get them just about anywhere – at the stadiums, from shops and convenient stores, service stations, and of course from the local street vendors. The vuvuzela is also called a lepatata and is about a meter in length, usually made from plastic. The origin of these instruments is disputed, but it is believed that it stems from African heritage where kudu horns were blown to call tribes to meet. Other folklore attached to it is that the noise kills the enemies, which is why they are blown frantically at the end of a game. In 2007 Capetonian, Adam Carnegie started making vuvuzelas out of kelp. He never dreamed that one day his environmentally friendly idea would be such a big hit. It is being supported by the Western Cape provincial government and will be promoted as an economical and environmental World Cup legacy. The vuvuzelas are made from dried kelp collected off the many beaches around the Cape and painted in bright colors. The initiative headed by Carnegie from the Kelp Environmental Learning Project (KELP) has grown dramatically in the last few months, and by the time the World Cup starts, they are hoping that every soccer fan will have one. Find more about 2010 World Cup merchandise in our other post. Along with the vuvuzelas, another item to be worn is a miner's style of helmet called a makarapa. These are normally outlandish and colorful to add to the festivities of the match days. This item was first used in 1979 introduced by Alfred Baloyi after he saw soccer fan get hit on the head with a bottle thrown from the stands above. He painted it and designed it to honor his favorite team, the Kaiser Chiefs and soon everyone wanted their own special helmets. Soon these embellished helmets became amazing works of art with designs that stand up and include horns, bells, bicycle hooters, plastic, and more.
    Some are even made to be 3 feet tall. Today, you can spot the legendary Baloyi in the crowd with his handmade judge's gown, after he was nicknamed "The Magistrate" due to his "sentencing" of the helmets to his style and design ideas. Another thing you will need to know when you attend the soccer World Cup matches in South Africa, is what laduma (pronounced laa-doo-mah!) means. This you will hear is shouted by fans whenever a goal is scored, and literally translated from Zulu laduma means "it thunders". This saying was first used in soccer matches years ago and has always been a part of the local South African soccer scene. There are even TV shows, companies, songs, and websites named Laduma to honor this truly South African soccer reference. With just these few cultural aspects that South African soccer has adopted, the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup is set to be the most unique World Cup in history and is promising fans an exciting event to be remembered forever. As the popular media campaign states, it will be "Once in a lifetime."

  • Pretoria and Gauteng Hotels for the 2010 Soccer World Cup

    The North West Province of South Africa is home to the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in the city of Rustenburg. Two additional seating rows were included increasing the overall capacity to 42 thousand. The stadium is going to host first and second round soccer World Cup matches including matches between England and the USA, Mexico and Uruguay, and various others.


    There are lots of World Cup accommodation options in this area, including hotels, guest houses, bed and breakfasts, lodges, as well as self catering homes. Some of the best options for accommodation in Rustenburg are Sparkling Waters Hotel and Spa, Blue Hills Guest House, Bakubung Bush Lodge, and Birdsong B&B among others. The area is close to some interesting attractions such as the Magaliesberg Nature Reserve, Mountain Sanctuary Park, as well as the famous Magalies Meander. A bit further outside the town you can also visit the Cradle of Humankind heritage site and take a hot air balloon ride over this magnificent archeological area. If you love nature then this is one of the best places to stay. Other cities where you can find great accommodation include Pilanesburg, Potchefstroom, and Mafikeng. Looking at restaurants and bars that you can visit during your stay in Rustenburg some of the most popular establishments include the Dros which is a famous South African restaurant and wine cellar, Mugg & Bean, a great coffee house also located all over the rest of the country, and Lolla’s Pizzeria and Sports Pub. Other fun places to visit when you stay in this area should include the Lost City with its enchanting palace and water world, and for wanting to explore the environment, the Kalahari Desert awaits, as well as the Hartebeespoort Dam, where you can walk with the elephants, do a snake course, and take various hot air balloon rides. As you travel into the Gauteng Province you can once again find great accommodation options and things to do in the capital of Pretoria, otherwise known as Tswane. Here, Loftus Versfeld is the stadium used, which is famous in the world of South African Rugby. For the World Cup it will host various first round matches including South Africa versus Uruguay, USA versus Algeria, and Chile versus Spain. It has the capacity for 45 thousand spectators and is located in a perfect position within the city so that you do not have to travel far to go sightseeing. Attractions include the Union Buildings, the Pretoria Art Museum, and the Voortrekker Monument where you can go horse riding. For nature lovers Pretoria is home to the Butterfly Garden, and the Austin Robert Bird Sanctuary. When looking for the perfect place to get a bite to eat you can go to Ristorante Ritrovo where they host dinner concerts and at The Performer you can also get a show along with a great meal. O’ Galito, and Josephine’s Tea Room are also favorites, but for more sports minded people you will find that Traders Sports Bar, Champions Sports Bar, Cheeky Monkey, Chilli’s, Cool Runnings, Lizzards Lounge, and many others are just what you are looking for.[caption id="attachment_3613" align="alignright" width="275" caption="Hotels for the 2010 World Cup"]Hotels for the 2010 World Cup[/caption] Staying in Pretoria you will find that the best suburbs include Centurion, Arcadia, and Hatfield. Some options for your stay include the Villas Luxury Suite Hotel, Melvin Residence Guest House, Grosvenor Gardens, Pippin Lofts, Africa House, Acacia Lodge Centurion, and Dunkelly just to name a few. If you stay here for a week or so you must take advantage of the various activities and sights in the area including paintball, golf, The Barnyard Theatre, The Fried Contemporary Gallery, Hatfield Plaza, Brooklyn Mall, the South African Airforce Museum, Science and Technology Museum, and Transvaal Museum of Natural History. In close proximity to Johannesburg, Pretoria will also be an ideal place to base yourself for many of the World Cup matches taking place at Soccer City and Ellis Park.

  • World Cup Tours Along the East Coast of South Africa

    Travelling down the East Coast of South Africa you will come to fabulous cities including Durban, East London, and Port Elizabeth making touring during the 2010 Fifa World Cup a fun filled experience.

    Starting in Durban, the newly built Moses Mabhida Stadium has the capacity for 70,000 soccer fans and consists of an indoor arena, sport institute, sporting museum, and a new transmodal transportation station. Durban is an exciting and multi-cultural city with plenty to offer tourists. You can enjoy the city life along the coast and visit UShaka Marine World, as well as the Sibaya Casino and Entertainment Kingdom. Durban World Cup accommodation options include guest houses, hotels, and various other self catering or B and B accommodation in the nearby towns and suburbs. Morningside is one of the best locations in Durban offering Upton Hall hotel, and also the Riverside Hotel and Spa in Durban North. Whilst in this area it is the perfect opportunity to visit the Valley of A Thousand Hills where the Zululand Phezulu Open Air Cultural Center is located, and the famous Umhlanga Rocks for a relaxed weekend. For the best family and sports bar dining options and clubs you should visit Havana Grill, Yossis Café, Club 54, Moyo, Fusion World Food Café, Hemingway’s, and Olive and Oil. Other attractions include visiting Mini Town, checking out the Beer Route, going to the Botanical Garden, riding on a Rickshaw, Croc Park. Moving south you will come to the so called Windy City of Port Elizabeth or PE. The new stadium called Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is able to hold 44 thousand people with the ability for 4000 temporary seats during the World Cup. The roof was specially designed to withstand the high winds of the area and the entire stadium complex cost 2.1 Billion Rands (approximately $284 million). It is conveniently located close to the major road links and accommodation which makes this perfect for the players and visitors alike. For some excellent accommodation you can look at suburbs like Summerstrand where you will find Bayside Guest House, Beacon Lodge, or The Beach Hotel. Favorite sports bars and restaurants in the area include Riverside Sports Bar, The Blinking Owl, Nosh, Raasoie The Kitchen of India, The Coachman, and of course Squires Legendary Grills. Some "musts" on your visit to PE include going bungee jumping off the Bloukrantz Bridge, and the NuKaKamma Canoe Trail where you can see tons of birdlife and wildlife as you paddle to the overnight camp in Cannonville. [caption id="attachment_3545" align="alignright" width="275" caption="South Africa World Cup Trip"]South Africa World Cup Trip[/caption] With these and other fantastic places along the East Coast of the country you will be able to enjoy a week long or even longer vacation in this area alone. On your way from Durban to Port Elizabeth, you will come to the quite city of East London. Here you can also enjoy some relaxing shopping and dining experiences, and after a long day you can go to Kaisers beach for sundowners, which is a popular pastime. The East Coast of South Africa has plenty to offer and travelling to the North or the South, you will be sure to have a splendid time whilst you also catch the specific World Cup matches that you have planned. One of the best ideas if you want to tour is to hire a car for the family so that you can explore at your own pace. Make sure that you plan your itinerary to include some special places like Mpongo Private Game Reserve, or the Addo Elephant Park, as well as Lake St Lucia. You can also go on a tour of the settlements and townships in each of these cities and take home small mementos including wire artwork, special shack paintings, sculptures and beadwork made by the locals. When you book your flights to visit South Africa, the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu Natal Provinces provide some of the most exciting attractions and interesting cultural sights in the country. You can enjoy the busy city life, the peaceful coastline, the quite towns, and refreshing inland areas that make South Africa a very special place to visit. With the World Cup fast approaching you should look at the match schedule to see when your favorite teams are playing at the Nelson Mandela or Moses Mabhida stadiums and plan your tour accordingly.

  • Where to Stay in South Africa During the World Cup

    Soccer Fever in South Africa – Getting the Most Out of your Stay

    The FNB Soccer City awaits the millions of expected visitors that will ascend on Johannesburg to attend the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa.

    Table Mountain in Cape Town
    Table Mountain in Cape Town

    Come June 11th, visitors from all over the world will be ready to watch the kick-off as history is made. If you are hoping to be part of that history, you will want to find out more about where you can stay in Johannesburg as well as what you can do to make the most of your time there.

    Johannesburg is the City of Gold, or Egoli, and this means that is alive with the culture and vibrancy that you can expect from a large city. Arriving at OR Tambo Airport, you will be able to catch a private taxi or hire a car through Avis or Budget Car Hire to your hotel or B&B accommodation, from where you can sight see and get to the stadium to watch the opening ceremony and opening match between South Africa and Mexico. On the same day you can also be in beautiful Cape Town ready to attend the Group A match between Uruguay and France at Green Point Stadium.

    Both Johannesburg (Joburg) and Cape Town (the Mother City) have some of the best Soccer World Cup accommodation options and sight-seeing opportunities to offer tourists. With Johannesburg being a typical big city, you can expect to find the best and most affordable accommodation closer to the suburbs.

    Even schools are being transformed into backpacking accommodation for the duration of the World Cup, as schools are going to be on a 4 week break. Stylish accommodation for your family can be found in up market Sandton, Fourways, and Randburg among other suburbs. One of the top accommodation choices, not yet fully booked, is the Ellis Park Amani Apartments. These are stunning apartments in The Splice Riviera, a pretty leafy area in close proximity to Killarney, Sandton, and Rosebank. Here you can visit any of the main shopping malls including prestigious Sandton City, Hyde Park, Illovo, and Killarney Mall. The newly finished Gautrain will provide quick and easy transport to all the best tourist attractions and to the stadiums, with Ellis Park Stadium being only 10 minutes away. You can book a Soweto Tour, visit the Nelson Mandela Museum, as well as the Hector Pietersen Memorial. You can also visit the famous Gold Reef City Amusement park and go down into the actual gold mines. Some of the best places to eat at in Johannesburg include Mimmos, The Melville Grill, Moyo, and The Loft among others. In Cape Town, accommodation options range from prestigious hotels on the Atlantic Seaboard, to self catering units in the South Peninsula. Plenty of affordable options still exist and one of the best places to look for World Cup accommodation is Cape Sky Realtors, as they offer budget and luxury accommodation all over the Cape. Another idea is to book into the Table Bay Hotel, or one of the many other City Bowl accommodation options. In Cape Town, you cannot simply come for the soccer. You also have to make time to go on tours to the various wine regions of South Africa including Stellenbosch, Constantia, Paarl, and Franschhoek. You can also go up Table Mountain, wander through the V&A Waterfront, go on a ferry to Robben Island, and visit Cape Point Nature Reserve. In Cape Town, there are plenty of exciting restaurants that you should try including the Sushi Bar in Green Point near the stadium called Go Mama Go, as well as places like News Café, Green Dolphin, Quay Four, and Long Street Café.  A little further South in the eclectic village of Kalk Bay, you can experience interesting dining and stunning cocktails at Cape to Cuba, Polana, or the busy Brass Bell. The most popular restaurants that you can find just about anywhere in Jo’burg and Cape Town are the Ocean Basket, and Spur, which is a great place for the kids. The best thing to do when you get to your destination is to ask your hotel or B&B for a list of all the possible attraction, shopping and dining options nearby, and ask them to make reservations for you if you have some specific places in mind. Otherwise, great websites to use are Restaurants.co.za and Booking.com.

  • World Cup Soccer 2010 Trips

    Tickets are gonna go, so hurry, hurry, hurry. The 2010 World Cup qualifying matches are well underway and World Cup fans have their sights set on South Africa next June and July. Even though summer is just coming to a close, flights, hotels, and World Cup tickets are already getting harder and harder to find. Don’t wait until the last minute on this one folks – it’s time to get your tickets and get them now! FrugalMonkey’s full online destination guide has a complete section on travel in South Africa. From wine country, to things to do while you’re visiting, take some time to look over all the fun you can have when the matches are over and the beach is calling your name.  But seriously, go get your tickets. They can be purchased from FIFA.com.


  • Destinations for Soccer Lovers

    Although soccer has been the world’s most popular sport for decades it is certainly making a push toward the mainstream. Here in the United States, a bigger and bigger following is gathering behind local and MLS teams and it isn’t uncommon to see hoards of college students crowding bars to watch teams like Barcelona play the LA Galaxy. We suggest however, taking it one step further! Sure the front row bar seating is a fun way to experience the games, but why not see the action live? Check out two great vacations with travel guides provided by FrugalMonkey where you can get onto the field and only feet away from the world’s best players.


    Argentina

    If soccer is popular anywhere it is certainly a national obsession in Argentina. Through FrugalMonkey’s free online guide to travel in Argentina you can see Boca play River during the Super Classico and touch finger tips with the world famous, Lionel Messi. Most of the games take place in Buenos Aires, the Argentine capitol. Even if you can’t catch a game, you’ll be sure to see evidence of the country’s widespread obsession with paraphernalia and soccer playing teens scattered throughout. Check out where to stay in Buenos Aires, and pick between the crumbling architecture of the boutique hotels in San Telmo or the posh modern sky rises of Puerto Madero.

    South Africa

    If you’re any kind of soccer fan you already know that the 2010 World Cup is going off in South Africa next July. This gives soccer fans from around the world the perfect opportunity to see all the world’s teams compete toward one major distinction: the best team in the world. Don’t miss Spain battle Brazil, or Italy take on the US in what is aiming to be the biggest sporting even the world has seen yet. Of course you’ll be there, by utilizing FrugalMonkey’s online travel guide to South Africa.


  • South African Safari Deals

    We recently reported on South African wildlife safaris as an amazing vacation to take at any time of year. We’ve tracked down an amazing deal that provides a South African wildlife safari, hotel and airfare all for the low price of $2,839. If you book with South African Airways on their online vacation packages you can access the deal, which is an amazing savings for all that the package offers. If you’re not interested in a safari, check out some of the best hotels in South Africa. We list not only the best accommodations for cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg but also great lodging and wildlife excursion houses for the more adventurous, outdoorsy types. Enjoy!


  • Safari in South Africa

    As summer moves along we wanted to put together something of a dream vacation for all you eager travelers. We recently read that a larger and larger percentage of travelers are looking for vacation ideas and travel deals before even picking a location. In light of this, we decided to highlight a travel adventure of epic proportions. Get off the couch and get serious about this summer’s coolest vacation: a South African safari!

    The wildlife in South Africa is some of the most classically beautiful in the world. You can expect to see cheetahs, elephants, buffalo, lions and rhinos. What’s the best way to see all of these creatures up close and personal? You guessed it, a South African Safari! We did some searching and came across Africa Travel Inc. A company located in California that specializes in eco-friendly, safe, yet exciting South African safaris. Visit their site and rest easy knowing that a portion of their profits are directed toward helping South African wildlife, by donating to projects like Cheetah Outreach.


  • Wine Lovers Check Out These Great International Destinations

    Wine has always lent itself to travel. Visiting new places and enjoying the local flavors is a favorite among almost any traveler.

    You don't have to break the bank either, to enjoy incredible international wine tours and travel. Check out a couple of our FrugalMonkey destinations that are perfect for those who want to wet their whistle and enjoy some of the world's finest wines. Mendoza, Argentina is making a name for itself on the world wine scene. Just a few years ago Argentina was barely on the radar for producing fine wines and now it is fifth in the world for exports. Travelers enjoy visiting Argentina because of the exciting South American culture, gorgeous landscape and fine wines and steaks. Mendoza, located in Argentina's north is the perfect destination for travelers on a budget because Argentina is one of the most affordable countries that FrugalMonkey features. Because of the favorable exchange rate, travelers from any demographic can enjoy cheap flights and hotel accommodations while combing the country for South American adventures. Known for it's world-famous Malbec varieties, travelers are flocking to Mendoza year-round to enjoy this new and exciting red wine. Wine tours, outdoors activities and excellent food await any visitor. For more information on travel to Mendoza check out our profile on travel to Argentina. Another amazing wine-destination for travelers is South Africa. South African wines are nothing new to the country, who has been experiencing cultivation since the early 1700's. Now a much more mature wine culture has emerged and travelers can enjoy extraordinary flavors and vacations while visiting South African wine country. The dry and arid regions of the country provide the perfect climate for wine growth and the excellent weather and exotic landscapes make it a favorite among travelers. For a full profile on travel to South Africa including a number of details on booking a wine-focused vacation, be sure to check out our website. Don't forget that the World Cup is coming to South Africa next year, making it an excellent time to kill two birds with one travel stone. Keep that in mind when you're making travel plans.