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Wednesday, May 5th, 2010 | Posted by Editor - Blog News Service

Travel Guide – FIFA World Cup 2010 – South Africa

Travel Guide:World Cup 2010

Travel Guide:World Cup 2010

The 2010 World Cup Soccer (football) event is taking place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July. Find out how to buy tickets; where the World Cup Stadiums are and how to get there; what World Cup tours are on offer; how to get to South Africa and more.

Tickets for the World Cup are on sale now, but getting a ticket is complicated. There are 5 distinct “Ticket Sales Phases”. The period from 20 February 2009 to 7 April 2010 is divided into 4 separate Ticket Sales Phases during which ticket applications are processed. If tickets are oversubscribed, your application will get put into a lottery and drawn at random. If tickets are available, you will qualify on a first come first served basis. FIFA notifies you a few months after each phase ends, as so whether you actually got a ticket or not.

The final Ticket Sales Phase is the “Last Minute Sales Phase” and will take place from 15 April to 11 July.

It’s best to check FIFA’s web site for all these ticketing details and how to apply online. A handy FAQ section will help you figure out how many tickets you can apply for, if you can buy tickets in South Africa, etc.

To make things easier for you, there are official tour companies that have had to go through a special lottery system to get tickets. They are listed on page two and offer 2010 World Cup packages that include match tickets, accommodations and flights.

What Teams are playing in the World Cup?

32 teams qualified to play in the World Cup. Teams have been split into 8 groups and they will play each team in their group during the first round of the tournament, known as “the Group stage”. Here they are:

Group A – South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay and France
Group B – Argentina, Nigeria, Korea Republic and Greece
Group C – England, USA, Algeria and Slovenia
Group D – Germany, Australia, Serbia and Ghana
Group E – Netherlands, Denmark, Japan and Cameroon
Group F – Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia
Group G – Brazil, Korea DPR, Cote d’Ivoire and Portugal
Group H – Spain, Switzerland, Honduras and Chile

When to book flights to South Africa
Currently 2 airlines offer direct flights to South Africa from the US, Delta and South African Airways. Several European airlines fly direct to South Africa from London (BA and Virgin Atlantic), Amsterdam (KLM), Frankfurt (Lufthansa), and Paris (Air France).

You can also fly via the Middle East, through Dubai (Emirates); from Hong Kong (Cathay Pacific); Varig flies direct to South Africa from Brazil and Qantas flies from Sydney.

If you get a package tour together then this will usually include a flight and that way you should be able to guarantee yourself a seat.

If you’re really stuck getting a flight into South Africa, try flights to Windhoek in Namibia (via Frankfurt) or Gaborone in Botswana (via London), both of these cities are a bus ride away from either Cape Town or Johannesburg. You can also try flying in to Nairobi (Kenya) and catching a regional flight down from there on Kenya Airways or South African Airways.

For more regional possibilities, check out my African Airlines pages for ideas.

Where Will the Matches Take Place?
The 2010 World Cup will play out in ten stadiums across South Africa (see map). Many are currently under construction in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg (2 stadiums), Mangaung/Bloemfontein, Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth, “>Nelspruit, Polokwane, Rustenburg, and Tshwane/Pretoria.

Look for accommodation and flights into Johannesburg if you want to see matches in Johannesburg, Rustenburg, Pretoria and Nelspruit. These are all situated in the north of South Africa and the stadiums won’t be more than a 3 hour drive away. Polokwane (Pietersburg) is about 5 hours from Johannesburg and is considered one of the safest towns in South Africa. Click here for information about getting to and from Johannesburg’s international Airport.

Bloemfontein is in the middle of the country and will host several matches in the Free State Stadium. Bloemfontein is a small city of approximately 370,000 people and the judicial capital of South Africa.

Durban lies on the warm Indian Ocean coast, it has fantastic beaches, excellent surfing, lots of culture and a good nightlife.

Cape Town, one of the world’s most beautiful cities is on the southern tip of the country where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet. You can fly directly into Cape Town from several European destinations… read more

Port Elizabeth lies in between Cape Town and Durban on the coast in a region called the Eastern Cape. This is a popular tourist area and there are lots of domestic flights available. A perfect place from which to explore the popular Garden Route.

Getting Around to Matches
All the towns and cities that will host World Cup matches have airports close by. South Africa’s domestic carriers include:

* South African Express offers 13 South African domestic flights.
* Airlink offers mainly domestic flights within South Arica but is starting to branch out regionally as well.
* Kulula is a low-cost airline operating domestically as well as regionally. Routes include Cape Town, Durban, George, Harare and Lusaka.
* Mango Airlines launched in December 2006 and flies to several destinations within South Africa including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria and Bloemfontein.
* Venture Air offers scheduled domestic destinations and charter services. Scheduled flights include Kruger, Cape Town, Plettenberg, Johannesburg and more.
* 1Time offers low-cost flights within South Africa and to Zanzibar.

Renting a car is a good option if you’re planning to attend matches in different cities. South Africa’s roads are among the best on the continent and there are many car rental options to choose from. Read more…

Taxis, Minibus Taxis, coaches, and regular buses will be plying the routes from hotels to stadiums. Thousands of extra vehicles will be in place during the event.
Fan Parks
If you can’t afford a ticket but want to soak up the atmosphere, grab a Vuvuzela and head to one of the 10 fan parks are being planned for. The locations of these fan parks are not official, but here’s a list of parks that would make obvious contenders.

World Cup Tours

FIFA 2010 Official Tours
Official 2010 FIFA World Cup packages and tour operators are listed below. Of course the easiest way to guarantee yourself a flight, match ticket and hotel room is to get a World Cup package through a tour operator. Tour operators have had to apply through FIFA and those listed below have been guaranteed match tickets. Click here for more information on Team USA World Cup tours.

Tour operators are guaranteed tickets to their respective country’s matches as well as some semi-final and final tickets. So if you are Australian for example and you book a package, if Australia doesn’t qualify, some operators will offer you a refund. If you just want to attend the World Cup and don’t care about what country you’re watching, it may be less competitive to check out the Australian tour companies. There seems to be many of them relative to their population size and their enthusiasm for soccer!

f you want to watch Team USA in the 2010 Soccer World Cup, you should look into buying a package now. The World Cup will take place in South Africa from June 11 – July 11. The matches will be played out in 10 stadiums across South Africa, a country almost double the size of Texas. There are three official FIFA designated tour companies that have World Cup tickets to Team USA matches. They are: Destination Southern Africa, Cartan Tours and Great Atlantic Travel.

Team USA will play England (in Rustenburg on June 12), Slovenia (in Johannesburg on 18 June) and Algeria (in Pretoria on 23 June) in the first round of the World Cup tournament. For tickets only to these matches, apply on FIFA’s web site by January 13th, 2010.

The Benefits of Going With a Tour Operator

Tour operators have official match tickets, deals with the airlines, and blocked hotel accommodations. With over half a million visitors expected to be in South Africa during the 2010 World Cup, the hotel situation will be tricky. Domestic flights will also fill up quickly, and you’ll need to fly in order to get from one stadium to another to follow your team. International flights will also be extremely difficult to purchase for a reasonable fare, although Emirates still has seats available for under $2400.

Tour companies like Destination Southern Africa has guaranteed seats on South African Airlines for dates throughout the World Cup tournament. The price for a roundtrip airfare to fly direct from NY or Washington DC starts at $2482, excluding taxes (add about $500 to that). Other designated tour operators will also have deals with airlines you can take advantage of. The prices will be higher than normal (they’re usually around $1200), but SAA’s fares for World Cup dates are now over $4000.00.

Can I Use Air Miles?

Tour operators will sell match tickets and accommodations, even if you use miles for your flight. However, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to use your miles during the World Cup.
Can I Get Match Tickets for Other Teams?

The US designated 2010 World Cup tour operators can only sell tickets for Team USA. The good news is they do of course have some tickets for the Quarter Final, Semi Final, and Final matches just in case the US makes it that far. If you have bought a ticket for the semi-final through a US operator, and the US doesn’t make it, you still get to go to the game.

The general rule for the latter stages of the tournament with regards to team tickets is you get to see the team in the same group as the US if the US don’t make it. Business VIP Match tickets are also available from the official FIFA-endorsed tour operators. These tickets allow the customer to specify the venue and date. So, while you may not know who is playing, it makes it much easier to plan your trip to South Africa in advance. These tickets are more expensive than a team ticket, but a good deal if you are not too worried about which team is playing.

I Got Match Tickets Through FIFA — Can I still Book A Tour?

Yes, tour operators can still find you accommodation and flights if you already have match tickets.
Can I Purchase Just a Match Ticket from a Tour Operator?

Tour operators have to sell a package along with a match ticket, they can’t just sell the match ticket on its own, for that you have to apply direct with FIFA.

What Does a Basic Tour Look Like?
The most basic tour offered includes the international flight, 1 match ticket, 5 nights accommodation in Johannesburg (from where you can access 5 stadiums within an easy day drive), a sightseeing tour for a day or so and transfers to and from matches. These start at around $3500, but do not include all costs since the transfers may fluctuate depending on the draw. Other basic options will include a stay in both Cape Town and Johannesburg. You will have to factor in a domestic flight, since these two cities are about 900 miles apart. Click here for a map of where the stadiums are located in South Africa.

Can I Customize My Itinerary?
The 2010 World Cup tours are handy for pricing out itineraries, but you may want to customize your trip and add in a few of South Africa’s sights, epecially if you’re not necessarily a soccer fanatic, but would like the chance of seeing just one or two matches during a vacation in South Africa. If your trip is just about soccer and watching matches, you can book through any of the three designated tour operators. If you wish to enjoy a great vacation in South Africa as well as enjoying the World Cup, use Destination Southern Africa to customize your World Cup trip. They specialize in South African vacations and customizing your trip may even be cheaper than buying a set package.

When is the Best Time to Book My World Cup Tour?
The 2010 World Cup is one event where last-minute specials just won’t exist. The longer you wait, the more expensive it will get.

Any Early Bird Specials?
Destination Southern Africa is offering a 20-night South African itinerary for as low as $8880. That includes three first-round Team USA World Cup tickets, international airfare, accommodation in Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Durban. Contact them directly for details.

Destination Southern Africa also has a Quarter Final package that includes international and domestic airfare, match ticket, and 5 nights accommodation in Cape Town at a boutique hotel starting at $4950 per person.

Great Atlantic Travel has a first-round match, international airfare, and accommodation in Johannesburg for 6 nights starting at $3150 per person. This does not include domestic flights or ground transportation. Contact them directly for details.

In the UK

* Keith Prowse
* Thomas Cook Sport
* BAC Sport Limited

In the US

* Great Atlantic Travel
* Cartan Tours
* Destination Southern Africa

In Europe

* Thomas Cook Sport will have packages for fans coming from Sweden, Netherlands, Germany and France.
* OAD Reizen (Netherlands)
* Pass for Sport (France)
* Groupe Couleure (France)
* Dertour Gmbh and Co (Germany)
* Passion South Africa (Germany)
* Vieten Tours (Germany)
* Nickes.com (Sweden)
* Suseia Flash Travel (Belgium)

In Australia

* Total Sports Travel
* Premium Sports Tours
* Fanatics
* SportsNet Holidays
* Australian Sports Tours

In Russia

* Roza
* Sportinvestholding Ltd

In Mexico, South and Central America

* Mundo Reps (Argentina)
* Agaxtur Turismo (Brazil)
* Ambiental (Brazil)
* Stella Barros (Brazil)
* Pallas Operadora Turistica (Brazil)
* Viagens Marsans Internacional (Brazil)
* TAM Viagens (Brazil)
* Viajes Colon (Costa Rica)
* Super Travel (Mexico)
* Cuevas Viajes Sports (Mexico)
* Suratur (Colombia)
* Ossa y Asociados (Colombia)
* Mundotour (Chile)

In Japan

* Kinki Nippon Tourist Company
* Nishitetsu Travel
* JTB Travel

In China

* China Sports Industry

In South Africa

* Edu Sport Travel
* Thompsons Holidays
* Rennies Travel
* Fli Afrika

Every country in the world displays some diversity, but South Africa, stretching from the hippos in the Limpopo River to the penguins waddling on the Cape, takes some beating. It befits its position at the southern end of the world’s most epic continent, with more types of terrain than photographers can shake their zoom lens at. There’s the deserted Kalahari, Namakwa’s springtime symphony of wildflowers, iconic Table Mountain and Cape Point, Kruger National Park’s wildlife-stalked savannah (scene of the famous lion-buffalo-crocodile battle watched more than 40 million times on YouTube) and, running through the east of the country and into Lesotho, the Drakensberg. KwaZulu-Natal’s iSimangaliso Wetland Park alone has five distinct ecosystems, attracting both zebras and dolphins.

If you’re interested in another kind of wildlife, hit the nightclubs on Cape Town’s jumping Long St or sample African homebrew in a township shebeen (unlicensed bar). When it’s time to reflect on it all, do it over seafood on the Garden Route, curry in Durban’s Indian Area, a sizzling Cape Malay dish, or a braai (barbecue) in the wilderness – accompanied by a bottle of pinotage produced by the oldest wine industry outside Europe.

Of course, it’s impossible for travellers to South Africa to remain oblivious to the fact that, despite the rise of ‘black diamonds’ (middle-class black folk), racial inequality persists here. Black and coloured townships face problems such as a horrific HIV/AIDS rate and xenophobic tensions caused by economic refugees from nearby countries.

Nonetheless, South Africans are some of the most upbeat, welcoming and humorous folk you’ll encounter anywhere, from farmers in the rural north who tell you to drive safely on those dirt roads, to Khayelitsha kids who wish you molo (‘good morning’ in Xhosa). Another point of unity in the diverse country is that, in malls and minibus taxis, bush pubs and shebeens, two popular topics of conversation are the 2010 FIFA World Cup and recent political upheavals. Most people believe that hosting football’s mightiest tournament will be as great a moment for South Africa as its Rugby World Cup triumphs in 1995 and 2007.

And there’s still time for you to get over there and join the fun!

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