Spotlight on...South Africa

As mentioned in the FIFA World Cup 2010 article this year’s hosts are South Africa, we have therefore created a World Cup Special ‘Spotlight on…South Africa!’

FIFA announced the 10 South African venues in 2006 – five of which are brand new stadiums. Five of the existing stadiums have been redeveloped. We have integrated some information on this into this article, just to keep a little bit of a World Cup theme!

The diverse scenery in South Africa is unbelievable, with vast plains, beautiful vineyards, golden beaches, rolling mountains and deserts. The cities are all so different, with Cape Town being a cosmopolitan city, the bustling Johannesburg – one of the largest cities in South Africa and Durban a beautiful seaside resort. The arrival of the FIFA World Cup will only enhance this country’s appeal. Many of the country’s transportation links have been improved, including the arrival of the Gautrain, South Africa’s first high speed train travelling at 160 km/h (100 mph), this takes only 15 minutes to travel from Oliver Tambo International Airport to the heart of Johannesburg. The trip normally would take an average of one hour. A good way to alleviate any unnecessary holiday stress!

Cape Town

The breathtaking Table Mountain

A stylish and varied city located on the Western Cape. This is one of the most popular tourist destinations, mainly due to the diversity of the city. The scenery is second to none, with an iconic Table Mountain slap bang in the centre, creating the natural amphitheatre area – City Bowl. There are many beaches in Cape Town, with each one providing a different setting, and atmosphere. The sea water temperatures range quite dramatically – with the Atlantic Coast having quite cold water due to the currents, and the False Bay water can be 10°C warmer.

The cultural atmosphere is unforgettable – Cape Town defiantly provides solid proof towards South Africa being a rainbow nation. Phenomenal art galleries and quaint little shops selling quirky crafts add to the city’s charm. Historic buildings stand tall and add to the beauty and culture of this magnificent city. Cape Town has the highest density of Cape Dutch style architecture in the world, which combines the architectural styles of the Netherlands, Germany and France.

Cape Town has built a new stadium for the World Cup, It is located 500m from the Atlantic Ocean, with the Table Mountain as a backdrop. The stadium’s capacity is 70,000.

Johannesburg

The Johannesburg skyline at night

This is the largest city in South Africa. The architecture is vast with an array of Victorian and Edwardian, mixed with concrete, chrome and glass buildings. Johannesburg is home to some of Africa’s tallest buildings, such as Sentech Tower, and most of the International organisations, such as IBM. Unlike Cape Town, many of the older buildings are being replaced with new modern, purpose built ones. Johannesburg is the main home of South Africa’s commercial, industrial and financial business. The city’s wealth is however unevenly distributed. This adds to the unique, vibrant feel of the city. You can find street sellers making the most of the traffic lights changing to red – a perfect opportunity to sell goods to cars! I think this will become more prevalent during the World Cup!

Johannesburg will have two stadiums in the world cup – Soccer City and Ellis Park. Soccer City will host the opening match and the final, and can hold over 94,000. This should hopefully provide the perfect atmosphere for the games.

Durban

The Moses Mabhida

Durban is situated on the east coast of Africa in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The warm temperatures, and golden beaches provide a perfect holiday location. Along the beach is a huge promenade – home to many restaurants, shops and parks and funfairs. The sea is enticingly blue all year round. Although much of Durban is characterised by British colonial architecture, there is actually a pleasant mix of cultures. There is a huge Indian population in Durban, this adds to the variety and charm of the city; with delicious food, bustling bazaars, beautiful mosques and temples. Tourists can also take rides on Zulu rickshaws. Zulu and English are the most common languages in Durban.

A new stadium in Durban has been purposely built, called the Moses Mabhida, named after a former General Secretary of the South African Communist Party. It has been designed as a first class sporting facility with a capacity of about 70,000.

Kruger Park

One of the 'Big Five'inhabitants of Kruger Park

Although this is not football related, you cannot miss this world famous National Park out! There are 299 mammal species in South Africa, with 2 of these being critically endangered (the De Winton's Golden Mole and Riverine Rabbit) and 11 of these endangered.

This 2 million hectares park features 6 ecosystems. It is rated as the ultimate safari experience. The atmosphere and unpredictability of the surrounding wilderness is surely a memory to treasure. There is so much to do – game drives, bush walks, foot safaris to name a few. This park holds more species of mammals than any other game reserve in Africa, with the ‘Big Five’ (Lions, Elephants, Buffalo, Leopard, Rhinoceros) adding to the magic and creating such a fascinating experience.

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