Stadiums

Some very well built and state-of-the-art stadiums await soccer world cup fans in South Africa. A few existing stadia have been refurbished and a few have been built up entirely new. 

Cape Town

Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa. Cape Town is unquestionably South Africa's most beautiful city, lying on a peninsula and overlooked by the formidable sight of Table Mountain. There are things to do everywhere, from watersports to wine-tasting down in Stellenbosch and surrounds, to hiking, to just plain lazing on the beach. Wine-tasting in Stellenbosch and surrounds is a must for those who like a tipple, there's no end of local companies willing to whizz you all around in minibuses for a day on the grape juice. It is the tourist mecca of South Africa, with a warm Mediterranean climate, fabulous picturesque beaches, all manner of tourist attractions and fresh air brought to it regularly by a south-easterly breeze known as the Cape Doctor. It is also the most user-friendly city, one that is far safer to walk around than the others and also compressed into a walkable space, and it is by far the easiest city on the eye.

Green Point Stadium

Green Point Stadium is one of the two semi-final venues for the FIFA World Cup. It has an exterior that is covered with noise-reducing cladding has a capacity of 70,000 and is scheduled for completion in December 2009. The Green Point Common, on which the new 2010 stadium is being built, was originally much larger than what now remains, and included most of the land between the sea and Signal Hill, stretching from the city centre towards Sea Point.
 

Johannesburg

Johannesburg, the capital of Gauteng province, is the largest city in the country; and is nicknamed Egoli (place of Gold). Indeed, mine dumps are never far away, rubbing shoulders with the fruits of its labour - shiny modern skyscrapers intermingled with 19th century architecture, Indian bazaars & African muti shops (where traditional healers dispense advice & traditional medicine). Johannesburg is the largest city in the world not situated on a lake, navigable river or by the coast (the only reason that it was born was because of gold). It is home to Africa's tallest building, the Carlton Centre.

Soccer City

One of the most artistic and awe-inspiring football venues on the African continent, the newly-reconstructed Soccer City Stadium will host the first and final matches of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa. The stadium is widely regarded as the heart of football in South Africa as it has hosted many important matches through history.

Ellis Park Stadium

Ellis Park Stadium is located in the centre of Johannesburg and has hosted many epic sporting events including the final of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup between Brazil and the United States. The ground was given a significant face-lift before the Confederations Cup finals and now seats 62,000 fans, increasing its capacity by almost nine per cent from the previous 57,000.

Durban

Durban is situated in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, on the east coast of the South Africa. The city is set on Natal Bay and benefits from year-round warm waters making it one of South Africa's top vacation spots. Durban is also one of Africa's busiest and most important ports. Durban's "Golden Mile is a string of beaches protected from sharks by nets. It is a prime surfing territory but there's room for swimmers and body-surfers too. Durban has a huge Indian population, descendents of laborers brought in by the British to work in the sugarcane fields during the latter 19th century (one of which was a young Mohandas Gandhi). The Indian street market is a bustling interesting place with mosques and temples as well as plenty of shops and delicious food.

Moses Mabhida Stadium

Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban will host one of the semi-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It is newly built. The ground epitomises the architectural innovation on display in South Africa and takes its design inspiration from the South African flag, with its grand arch representing the unity of this sport-loving nation. The two legs of the arch on the southern side of the stadium come together to form a single footing on the northern side, symbolising the new unity of a once-divided country. From this vantage point, visitors can experience spectacular panoramic views of the nearby shoreline and the city. The roof is attached to the arch by 95mm-diameter steel cables. Each seat of the stadium is spacious and comfortable, providing a clear line of sight to the pitch.

Bloemfontein

Located at the traveller's crossroads of South Africa, Bloemfontein has offered a well earned rest to many a weary road-tripper. As the largest city in the Free State Province and a focal point for most of the overland transport systems in the country, many travellers end up spending a night or two in Bloemfontein - literally meaning 'flower fountain'. The Oliewenhuis Art Gallery has an impressive collection of South African sculptures and paintings. Second Avenue in the Westdene suburb has become the major hang out spot, and restaurants and nightspots line the street (the area is also safe to walk around at night). After a day or two in Bloemfontein you'll be more than ready to hit the open road in search of bigger South African adventures.
 

Free State Stadium

Home to some of the country's most fanatical group of supporters, the Free State Stadium is likely to be the centre of attention during the FIFA World Cup. The Free State Stadium was upgraded from a capacity of 38,000 to 45,000 during the refurbishments. The stadium has hosted numerous major soccer matches.
 

Nelspruit

Nelspruit has been called the gateway to Mpumalanga and the Kruger Nationl Park. With its sub-tropical climate and abundant sunshine and lush covered hills and valleys it forms the ideal base to explore Mpumalanga from. Nelspruit is the trading centre for the surrounding fruit growing area of Mpumalanga. Fertile soils and subtropical climate provide perfect conditions for the production of citrus and tropical fruits, mainly mango, banana, avocado, macadamia and pecan nuts. The lowveld botanical gardens just outside of the town boasts a rare collection of plant species and the first man-made rain forests.

Mbombela Stadium

The Mbombela Stadium is one of the newly-built stadia for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa and it takes its name from the local municipality which incorporates the city of Nelspruit. Mbombela is siSwati (one of the 11 official languages in South Africa) and literally means 'many people together in a small space.' The stadium, with a capacity of 46,000, is located in the city of Nelspruit in Mpumalanga Province. It is situated approximately seven kilometers from the city centre and 12 kilometers from the nearby Kruger-Mpumalanga Airport. The ground also enjoys a close proximity to various game parks, giving spectators the opportunity to see the wildlife during rest days

Polokwane

Polokwane - the former Pietersburg - is the capital of the Limpopo Province. It lies on the Sterkloop River and is the service and trading centre for the surrounding rural areas of the Limpopo Province. Polokwane's traffic links are excellent. The town lies halfway between Gauteng (300 km) and Zimbabwe (200 km) on the N1 freeway. A modern airport binds it into the airlink net of SAA (South African Airlines). One can relax in the municipal Polokwane Nature Reserve, a huge nature park of 3,200 hectares with a lot of game and rich birdlife. Another attraction is the Bakone Malapa Open-Air Museum, 9 kilometres south of the town centre. It is a "living museum", impressively demonstrating the history and culture of the Sotho people in the north.

Peter Mokaba Stadium

Named after one of the renowned sons of the struggle and emancipation of South Africa against the apartheid regime, the Peter Mokaba Stadium holds much  historical significance in South Africa. Peter Mokaba was born and bred in Polokwane and was renowned for his fighting spirit and for his inpirational leadership. The design of the  largely concrete structure  is inspired by the locally iconic Baobab tree, with the steel structure supporting the roof plane gathered together at each corner of the stadium and supported by giant ‘trunk' structures which accommodate vertical circulation ramps and service cores. The stadium was built next to the old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane in the Limpopo Province. The newly-built Peter Mokaba stadium is situated approximately 5km from the city centre, with a total seating capacity of 45,000.
 

Port Elizabeth

Port Elizabeth is South Africa’s second oldest city and also the commercial capital of the Eastern Cape. Known as the "Friendly City", Port Elizabeth is located on the south-eastern coast, 763 km east of Cape Town. A superb value-for-money holiday base, Port Elizabeth offers a diverse selection of attractions as a family-fun holiday destination including scenic nature trails, historic heritage, magnificent wildlife, cultural experiences and countless water sport activities. Algoa Bay's 40 km of breathtaking coastline boasts a perfect combination of warm water, protected beaches and is complemented by Port Elizabeth's wonderful climate, which has been rated as having the fourth best weather of any coastal city in the world. The area also supports the most diverse array of vegetation types in South Africa as five of the country's seven terrestrial biogeographic areas are represented in the Eastern Cape.
The Bay, which is a favoured draw-card for beach and watersport enthusiasts is fast becoming known as South Africa's watersport capital and offers activity throughout the year, especially wind-surfing and fishing. In fact, Algoa Bay is regarded as one of the best sailing venues in the world, while scuba diving is of world class quality with beautiful reefs, shipwrecks, fish and colourful coral species.

Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium

Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is a newly-built stadium for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium will host the match for third place , and a quarter-final amid a total of eight matches during the FIFA World Cup. The stadium has an eye-catching, unique roof-structure and a spectacular view, overlooking the North End Lake.

Pretoria

Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa.Pretoria has over the years had very diverse cultural influences and this is reflected in the architectural styles that can be found in the city. It ranges from British Colonial Architecture to Art Deco with a good mix of uniquely South African style mixed in. Pretoria is home to the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa as well as the Pretoria National Botanical Garden, one of the National Botanical Gardens in South Africa.

Loftus Versfeld Stadium

Loftus Versfeld Stadium, situated in Tshwane/ Pretoria, is one of the oldest stadiums in South Africa. The stadium has been used for major sporting events since 1903, and the first concrete structure, which could accommodate only 2,000 spectators, was built by the City Council of Pretoria in 1923.Since 1948 it has undergone perennial upgrades.

Rustenburg

Rustenburg being one of the oldest towns in the province is well established with many fine holiday resorts. The temperature is a good four or five degrees warmer than Gauteng.  It is a malaria-free and relatively crime-free area and is only a ninety minute drive from both Johannesburg and Pretoria. No wonder this region is a favourite getaway for Gauteng residents! Given the natural bushveld vegetation that covers the entire area and with the added attraction of the Magliesberg mountain range, this region has much to offer the ecotourists. It is a national game area with a number of fine game parks where it is still possible to capture the solitude and stillness associated with nature and the animal kingdom.
 

Royal Bafokeng Stadium

The Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace is one of the stadiums for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The stadium is named after the Bafokeng people who live in the area. The stadium is only a 25 minute drive to Sun City and 30 minutes to the Pilansberg. It is 12 kilometers from the Rustenburg city centre.