What to do, where to stay, where the games are being played and which ones to watch.

By Joseph Jones with contributors Vanessa Macpherson, Shelley Woode-Smith, Wendy Lötter, Angie Whatmore, Lara Sage, Verne Maree and Rebecca Bisset.
Issue 92 - March 2010

South Africa – at a glance
Though it has its fair share of problems, one thing South Africa has got right is customer service. We’ve visited the country in recent months and the enthusiasm and optimism about the World Cup – the first to be hosted by an African nation – is contagious. Go for the football, but don't miss out on gorgeous game parks, fantastic vineyards and a vibrant cultural scene. The energy at the games should be incredible.

Getting there
A number of airlines fly from Singapore to South Africa, most of them to Johannesburg; Singapore Airlines flies direct. Air Emirates flies to Durban via Dubai. Check with your travel agent or online. Be aware that fares have rocketed for flights during June.

Distances between the main centres tend to be great: 1,800km by road from Cape Town to Durban, for example. For domestic flights, there’s South African Airways (SAA), South African Express, Airlink or Comair, or the budget airlines Kulula.com, 1time and Mango. Again, prices are higher for June.

Dangers and annoyances
Use common sense. Don’t wear flashy jewellery or wave an expensive camera around. Don’t walk alone, and do stick to well-lit main streets at night. If threatened, hand over what is demanded.

Transport
South Africa has invested heavily in improving the transport links to and from stadiums. While hiring a car makes sense if you want to do some sightseeing, don’t try to drive to the venues, as parking will be problematic. National roads are generally excellent and well-maintained.

Accommodation
We’ve provided recommendations of some great places to stay, though be aware that bookings will be hard to secure for the period of the World Cup itself. For assistance, visit the websites of the tourism boards from the respective regions – details are listed at the end of our round-up.

Websites

For accommodation and other travel arrangements, especially tailor-made safaris in South Africa and neighbouring countries:

Africa Bound Safaris www.africaboundsafaris.com
Asia to Africa Safaris www.atoasafaris.com
The General Safari Company www.gensaf.co.za