Ten gorgeous World Cup stadiums in South Africa
Now that the World Cup is here, everyone's getting in on the excitement.
We can't help but share some lovely photos of the ten newly-built
stadiums that will be hosting the World Cup in South Africa. And we
wonder how they built TEN stadiums while we struggle with our ill-fated,
long delayed Sports Hub.
First up is the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein/Manguang. The design
looks pretty traditional and only two group matches will be played here.
This lovely 'arch and sail' stadium is the Durban Stadium. Spain will
play against Switzerland here, along with the Brazil vs Portugal match.
This is the Ellis Park Stadium, another stadium in their capital
Johannesburg. Five matches will be played here, one of them the quarter
finals. Argentina, Nigeria, Brazil, North Korea, Slovakia and Italy will
be playing here.
This space-age stadium is none other than the Green Point Stadium in the
famous city of Cape Town. This stadium will play host to a couple of
matches, notably the quarter finals and the semi-finals. Uruguay,
France, Portugal, North Korea, Cameroon and Netherlands will be playing
here.
This trippy, zebra striped stadium is Mbombela Stadium in Neslpruit.
Only two matches will be played here.
Polokwane hosts two games in this stadium, the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
This stadium that looks like a bunch of floating balloons is the Port
Elizabeth Stadium in Nelson Mandela Bay. Its one of the more important
stadiums as it'll be hosting the quarter final and third place matches.
This is the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in the old capital of Pretoria.
Three matches will be played here.
This is the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg. Also three matches
will be played here.
Last but not least is the stadium of stadiums, the aptly named Soccer
City Stadium in Johannesburg. The opening match between South Africa and
Mexico will be played here, and of course the World Cup final as well.
So...
what will you be betting on tonight?
if you are keen to come to Cape Town and see the green point stadium for yourself check out this Cape Town Guest House
Tourist Information
Visa Requirements:
Every person seeking to enter South
Africa must be in possession of a valid passport for travel to South
Africa and, where necessary, a visa. Enquiries can be directed to South
African diplomatic representatives abroad or the Department of Home
Affairs in Pretoria. Visitors who intend traveling to South Africa's
neighboring countries and back into South Africa are advised to apply
for multiple entry visas. In terms of existing arrangements, passport
holders of certain countries are exempt from visa requirements. Tourists
must satisfy immigration officers that they have the means to support
themselves during their stay, and that they are in possession of return
or onward air tickets. They must also have valid international health
certificates
Immunisations:
No international immunization is needed
when entering South Africa.
The only inoculation requirement is a yellow fever vaccination
certificate from travelers over one year of age entering South Africa
within six days of leaving an infected country. Visitors who travel
through or disembark in these areas are advised to be inoculated against
the disease before visiting South Africa.
Malaria:
This disease is to the larger extent
under control in South Africa. Regions that are affected are the
Northern Province and Mpumalanga, northern Natal and Zululand.The risk
of contracting the disease is negligible provided that you take the
standard precautions. Malaria tablets, a good insect repellent
particularly in the evening, long-sleeved shirts and mosquito coils are
advisable precautions.
Phoning:
If you wish to make a call overseas, you
must first dial 09, which is South Africa's international access code.
You then dial the country code, area code of the city or region and the
number of the person you wish to call. For example, if you make a call
to Sydney, Australia, telephone number 456 1234 you must dial 09 61 2
456 1234.
Electricity:
220/230 volts AC at 50 cycles per second.
Three pronged plugs are universal, so take an adapter. Most hotel rooms
have 110 volt outlets for electric shavers and small appliances.
Currency:
One Rand (R) = 100 cents (c). Notes issued
R200, R100, R50, R20, R10; coins R5, R2, R1, 50c 20c, 10c, 5c, 2c, &
1c. Currency exchange rates are available at banks and published daily
in the press.
Postal Service:
Open Mon - Fri 08h00 - 16h30
& Sat 08h00 - 12h00. Mail may be addressed to you Post Restante. The
main post offices have special counters for this purpose. Postage stamps
are widely available (e.g. at some cafes and branches of the Central News
Agency - CNA).
Tipping:
Tipping is expected in South
Africa. A guideline for visitors is the following: Porters R2 per item,
taxis 10%, waiters & waitresses in restaurants 10 - 15%.
Traveller's Cheques:
Most international traveler's
checks are accepted provided they are in an acceptable currency and may
be cashed at most banks. Many hotels and shops also provide this service.
VAT Refunds:
Foreign tourists visiting South Africa can
have their value-added tax (VAT) refunded provided the value of the items
purchased exceeds R250. VAT is refunded on departure at the point of
departure.
VAT of 14% is levied on nearly all goods
and services. Foreign tourists may claim back VAT paid on items that will
be taken out of the country. Original tax invoices, foreign passport, plus
all the items on which a refund is claimed, must be presented at the VAT
refund administration office or an appointed RSA customs and excise
official on departure, and the total VAT on these items will be refunded.
Visitors will be requested to fill out a VAT Refund Control Sheet (VAT
255). Where a visitor does not export all the goods specified on a
particular tax invoice, only the value of the goods and the tax paid on
such goods exported must be declared on this form.
Driving:
Drive on the left and give way to traffic approaching from the right. The
general speed limit is 120km/h on open roads and 60km/h in urban areas.
Source: South Africa Tourist Information
What Cape Town has to Offer
Cape Town is a bustling city with enough attractions to keep you going for weeks. Cape Town has every thing, scenic outings to Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, beaches such as Clifton and Camps Bay, shopping for curios at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront and so much more. Here are some details about some of the main attractions that Cape Town has to offer.
Table Mountain is a
good start on any trip to Cape Town; it dominates the skyline and is an
absolutely beautiful site that every one who visits the city can’t wait
to see. The upper part of the mountain consists of Ordovician quartzite
sandstone, which is highly resistant to erosion and forms
characteristic steep grey crags. Below the sandstone is a layer of
basal shale, which erodes easily. The base of the mountain is made up
of heavily altered Precambrian Malmesbury shale, as well as Cape
Granite. The basement rocks are not as opposed to weathering as the
rocky crops you see at the top of the mountain.
Table Mountain is home to some 1500 species of plants and fauna,
that is more that can be found on the British Isles and so is an
essential place for plant lovers to visit.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens are also great for plant lovers with over 9000 plants grow in the gardens and you can walk through the 528 hectares that make up Kirstenbosch. There are several restaurants and cafes as well as a Garden Centre where you can purchase bulbs, shrubs and souvenirs.
Robben Island is the famous prison where Nelson Mandela was held along with alleged political criminals as well as other criminals. The Island offers a boat trip and bus tour of the Island, which provides an insight into how life on this Island must have been when it was run as a prison.
Victoria and Alfred Waterfront is a busy tourist centre, with guided hop on, hop off bus tours of the city offered each day. There are many shops and restaurants which offer all sorts of curios and almost every kind of food you can think of. Boat trips to Robben Island also depart from the V&A each day dependant on weather, be warned that when the wind blows in Cape Town, it really blows.
The Castle of Good Hope is also worth a visit as there are many maps and artefacts to view throughout the castle. There are often concerts held within the Castle round. Look closely at some of the paintings in the Castle and you will see that it used to sit on the sea shore! The whole are between the Castle south westwards to the sea has been reclaimed, Strand Street in the city makes approximately where the sea shore used to be.
The District Six museum offers a shocking insight into the days of Apartheid in South Africa, and don’t go there short of time, as there is so much to see and read that you will need a good few hours in this museum.
Although Cape Town has a whole lot more to offer, these are just a few of the main attractions that you should definitely include in your visit to Cape Town.
Visit Explore South Africa to view information about Cape Town and find out more about what the mother city has to offer.
Source: Ezine Articles
Green Point Accommodation
| If you are travelling to South Africa check out car rental South Africa |
A Visitors Guide to Cape Town South Africa
For those people who are looking for a trip of a lifetime; consider Cape Town, South Africa. It is a truly gorgeous place and one that you will not see on an average vacation.
Think about where Cape Town is located. There is a barrier of mountains that separates Cape Town from the other parts of South Africa. It is also a city of contrasts, old oak trees, streets made from cobblestones, and buildings built in a British-Georgian style. In the valleys, grapes are grown as well as wheat and fruit.
The city has an interesting history and a wonderful blend of people both culturally and racially. If you are interested in this aspect of Cape Town you should visit the South African Museum where you will get a glimpse into the various cultures of the area. This museum is the oldest one in South Africa. You can find the South African Museum in Cape Towns Company Gardens at the top of Adderley Street. This is the place to see many exhibits depicting much of the natural and cultural history of South Africa. There is also a planetarium on the grounds.
The Dutch East India Company has a fascinating history and this was the group of people who designed the Cape Town Companys Gardens. These folks established the Company Gardens so that the sailors who were traveling to the East would have a place to stop and take care of any health problems they incurred during the first part of the journey. There are also amazing buildings in the Gardens including a museum and the Anglican St. Georges Cathedral.
While you are in the area you may want to visit the office of South Africas State President and the Houses of Parliament. The most famous hotel in Cape Town is the Mount Nelson and it is located at the southernmost point of Government Avenue. This hotel has a very special and formal afternoon tea and was built in a beautiful colonial style. You will be able to see Table Mountain from the hotel, too.
On Adderly Street you can walk toward the harbor and see the oldest church in South Africa, Groote Kerk. Be sure to take a look at the ornately carved pulpit. Here you can view the statues of Jan van Riebeeck and his wife, Maria. Close to these attractions is the Castle of Good Hope which is the oldest surviving intact structure in South Africa.
You may want to search out Greenmarket Square which is the heart of the old city. There are flea market stalls, shoppers and buskers galore. The Old Town House is a beautiful baroque building that dates back to 1761 and holds the Michaelis Collection of Dutch and Flemish art. There are also Victorian buildings that house pawnshops and boutiques.
There are many museums and galleries in Cape Town. Most of them operate under the umbrella of Iziko Museums of Cape Town. The museums offer diverse exhibitions in lovely settings. You can even tour a collection of old city houses that have been restored.
Destination Cape Town
Perched between the ocean and the mountain, with a national park as its heart, there is nowhere like Cape Town. Cape Town, the "Mother City", is the oldest city in South Africa and has a cultural heritage spanning more than 300 years.
The unique topography of the region makes it easy to orientate oneself as long as you remember that with Table Mountain behind you and Robben Island before you, you are facing north, looking across Table Bay and up the west coast of Africa.
It
is in Cape Town that the Rainbow Nation really covers the spectrum.
Between beautiful Cape Dutch homesteads, traditional dancers with
painted faces performing in the streets, the smell of spicy Malay
cooking and the taste of a well-made wine, this city will fill your
senses.
The bells of St George's Cathedral alternate with the plaintive tones of the muezzin calling the faithful to prayer. Visitors give a startled jump, and Capetonians calmly glance at their watches, when the noon gun booms above the city - a relic from the days of sail when sea captains had to check their chronometers.
It has the top five national attractions in South Africa, all of which should appear on every visitor’s itinerary all year round. These include a visit up Table Mountain, either by cable car or manually climbing up routes of varying degrees of difficulty; and the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, internationally acclaimed as one of the great botanical gardens of the world.
The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, one of the city's main tourist attractions, offers the visitor a unique shopping and holiday experience on a scenic working harbour. Currently undergoing expansion, the complex features shops, restaurants, launch areas for short cruises and a variety of entertainment for those who flock through it by day and night.
Looking further offshore, visitors can take a boat ride to Robben Island, the former home of Nelson Mandela and several other political prisoners who fought against the apartheid government. Visitors to the island are taken on a tour of the old prison complex, as well as to a museum on the island.
You will never be bored in Cape Town. Table Mountain offers some of the best climbing in the world, and it's right here in the city. The surfing is fantastic; the diving is cold but good. You could go mountain biking, or go sea kayaking - you may see whales or penguins.
A great thing to do on a full moon summer's night is to walk up Lion's Head before dark, watch the sun set on one hand and the full moon rise on the other and then walk down in the silvery light.
If the wind is right, you could fly off Lion's Head with a qualified tandem paraglider pilot, and land on the beach in time for sundowners. You'll never be bored.
If all this sounds too gung ho for you, don't worry. You can shop till you drop at Cavendish, Canal Walk or the Waterfront. There is lots of live music, art exhibitions, museums, plays and even opera, ballet or symphony concerts on all year round.
The city has also recently developed tourism routes such as the Cape care route, which showcases sustainable development by taking tourists to destinations including a community-based bicycle workshop and a community weaving centre, and the Southern Line tourist train route between Cape Town and Simon's Town.
Cape Town is also probably the most popular backpackers
destination anywhere, with more hostels than any other city worldwide.
It's also the home of the backpackers special, the Baz Bus.
Source: http://www.southafrica.info
Cape Town Accommodation
Come And Meet The Biggest Land Mammal - Elephant Walks
Elephant walks are the easiest and most personal way for you to meet these most magnificent of creatures. These land mammals may be the biggest on the planet but after walking with them you will come away with a new respect for their intelligence, beauty and power.
While for many, elephants may seem like mythical creatures, in South Africa you have the opportunity of meeting one face-to-face and discovering more about these magnificent creatures.
The options for walking with elephants are pretty big and stretch from walking safari's where you might get to see elephants on foot, but from afar, to elephant sanctuary experiences, where you can get up close and touch and elephant and even ride on one.
But for an intimate encounter with an elephant, you cannot beat a visit to one of the three elephant sanctuaries in South Africa. These sanctuaries are dedicated to the preservation of the African Elephant and the education of the public on elephants and the issues that they face.
At the sanctuaries, many options exist for a short visit or an overnight stay. Here you can groom an elephant, ride one and spend time in a forest habitat with them observing their habits and ways.
These are of course animals in captivity that are habituated to humans. These elephants are cared for in every way to make sure that they are healthy and happy. While elephants are not an endangered species, they are considered to be at risk and programmes such as these help to educate people and preserve the species for future generations.
For a wilder elephant experience, a walking safari at one of South Africa's top game reserves is another option. Of course there will b no interaction with wild elephants, but you do get to see them roaming free in their natural habitat while in the care of an experienced guide.
So if you just want to see them as well as other wild life, or whether you want to touch and get to know them, there is an elephant experience in South African for you.Source: http://www.southafrica.net
Cape Town Bed and Breakfast
Greenpoint Guest House | Jambo
The city of Cape Town is one of the largest cities of South Africa. The city lies at the foot of Table Mt., and on the shore of Table Bay.
Located in the Western Cape Province, a port on the Atlantic Ocean, in the south-west corner of the country near the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Town is the most southern city in African continent. The city is a stone's throw from South Africa's world-famous Cape Winelands around Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek.
Cape Town was founded by the Dutch navigator Jan van Riebeeck for the Dutch East
India Company in the 17th century. The city was originally developed as a
victualling station for Dutch ships sailing to Eastern Africa, India, and
Asia.
Today’s Cape Town is the 3rd most populous city in South Africa.
It’s the part of the metropolitan municipality of the City of Cape Town. It is
the provincial capital of the Western Cape, as well as the legislative capital
of South Africa, where the National Parliament and many government offices are
located.
Cape Town is one of the most popular South African destinations
for tourism. The city is often regarded as one of the world's most beautiful
cities because of its geography features. The city is famous for its harbor,
natural setting in the Cape floral kingdom, Table Mountain, and Cape
Point.
Located at the northern end of the Cape Peninsula, the centre of
Cape Town offers exquisite mountainous setting. The city is beautifully hemmed
in mesmeric Table Mountain and Signal Hill that can be regarded as a low-lying
extension of the Table Mountain. Devil's Peak and Lion's Head, the beautiful
mountainous backdrops are just bewitching. Sometimes a thin strip of cloud forms
over the mountain, and it is affectionately termed as the “tablecloth” owing to
its appearance.
Cape Town is also famous for its beauteous beaches. The
beaches are very popular with tourists. The beaches on the Atlantic Coast have
very cold water as the water is mostly glacial melt from Antarctica however the
water at False Bay beaches is often warmer. There are numerous restaurants and
cafes on the beaches. Boulders Beach is the most famous beach in Cape Town. The
beach is for its colony of African penguins. Surfing is very popular activity on
beaches, and Cape Town hosts the Red Bull Big Wave Africa surfing competition
every year. Swimming, cricket, football, and rugby are some of the popular
sporting activities of the city.
Cape Town is also famous for its
beautiful buildings built in Cape Dutch style. The convergence of architectural
traditions of France, the Netherlands, and Germany, the Cape Dutch style
manifests in Constantia, the old government buildings in the Central Business
District, and along Long Street.
Whale watching is very popular amongst
tourists in Cape Town. Southern Right Whales can be found off the coast during
the breeding season (August to November) and Bryde's Whales can be seen any time
of the year. Whales can also be seen in False Bay.
Some of the extremely
popular areas of Cape Town include Camps Bay, Sea Point, V & A Waterfront,
Hout Bay, Rondebosch, Hermanus, Constantia, City Bowl, Somerset West and
Newlands. The Cape Winelands and in particular the towns of Stellenbosch, Paarl
and Franschhoek are popular day trips from the city for sightseeing and wine
tasting.
Cape Town enjoys a Mediterranean climate with well-defined
seasons. Winter season that lasts from May to August is extremely cold along
Atlantic Ocean fronts that receive heavy precipitation. The winters are cool
with an average minimum temperature of 7 °C (45 °F), and most of the city's
annual rainfall occurs in wintertime. Rainfalls in specific areas vary
dramatically due to the mountainous topography of the city. The suburb of
Newlands which is to the south of the city is the wettest place in South Africa.
Summer season that lasts from November to February is warm and dry; however the
temperature is mild, with an average maximum of 26 °C (79 °F).
Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com
