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Tag: south africa world cup

  • 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.

  • 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.