Cape Town 2010 WC Fan Guide

Photo: Lance Groenewald, GoTravel24 User.

Cape Town is certainly one of South Africa’s most outstanding tourist attractions with its breathtaking coastlines, the iconic Table Mountain and surround Winelands region of note. We’d even be as bold to say the Mother City could easily hold its own against world favourites such as Rio, California or Ibetha.

The city’s centre is a cosmopolitan buzz of business and pleasure, with an abundance of history to discover in the many museums. The nightlife will give even the most die-hard party animal a run for their money.

Following is some useful information for those lucky enough to have a ticket for one of the 2010 World Cup matches set to be played at the Cape Town Stadium. Thankfully, there’s always the fan parks.

Protea Hotel North Wharf 

Protea Hotels North Wharf is a brand-new addition to the Protea Hotels portfolio in Cape Town.

Arabella Western Cape Hotel & Spa 

• Day tripping:  There are a number of activities to enjoy while staying in the Mother City. Sample some seafood delights in Hout Bay or across the Peninsula you'll find False Bay with many fishing town gem's such as Kalk Bay and Simon's Town which is also home to SA's naval base. A Day trip in the Winelands is not without its merits, be sure to stop in at Spier or visit Franschhoek for some interesting cuisine and decadent chocolate indulgence. 

• Night owls: When it comes to nightlife, most would agree Long Street is the place to be when visiting the Mother City. From cigar lounges such as Kennedy's to rump-shaking dance floors of Chrome every street corner has a potential party waiting to happen. Other place of note include Hemisphere which has  breathtaking view of the city harbor or head out to the Northern Suburbs for a band culture and pub vibe second to none. Stardust with live entertainment.

• Eat at: Choosing an eatery in Cape Town is not difficult, in fact you'd wish you had more than three sittings to accommodate the many delightful cafes and restaurants dotted through the city and surrounding areas. Test the Chocolate chili Steak at the Bombay Bicycle Club in Kloof, or head to the long-standing fine dining restaurant Aubergine just off Dunkley Square. Out in the Southern Suburbs you can sample some light cuisine with a distinctive Dutch influence at Fork in Wynberg.

• Top attractions: Explore Table Mountain and its surrounding Cape Floral Kingdom. Your fitness level shouldn't be of any concern either. If you're looking for a leisurely way to experience this iconic attraction then the Cable Car is definitely your first choice. Otherwise opt for one of the many hiking trails either via Constantia or Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. This will allow you to experience the beauty of the city’s fynbos first hand. A visit to the Waterfront is a shopper's delight or for the kids, why not try out the aquarium.

Stadium: Formerly known as the Green Point Stadium, the newly revamped and renamed Cape Town stadium can be found on the doorstep of the Waterfront just off Somerset Road in Green Point. Capacity seating is able to accommodate 66 005 fans.
 

For the fans: Grand Parade, with a capacity of 28 000, will be the main Cape Town fan park for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Other public viewing areas are:
• Athlone Civic (with a capacity of 2000)
• Bellville Velodrome (with a capacity of 8000)
• Swartklip Sport Complex (with a capacity of 2000)
• Oliver Tambo, Khayelitsha (with a capacity of 7000)

Fixtures in Cape Town:

• 11 June - 20:30 Group A  Uruguay - France 
• 14 June - 20:30 Group F  Italy - Paraguay 
• 18 June - 20:30 Group C  England - Algeria 
• 21 June - 13:30 Group G  Portugal - Korea DPR 
• 24 June - 20:30 Group E  Cameroon - Netherlands 
• 29 June - 20:30 Round of 16  1H - 2G 
• 03 July - 16:00 Quarter-finals  W52 - W51 
• 06 July - 20:30 Semi-finals  W58 - W57