Travelling to South Africa for the World Cup

I plan to travel to South Africa for sightseeing and to enjoy the World Cup next month. However, I don't have time to do much research on my destination before I get there. I would love it if Travellive could dig up some information about the host country for me. Best regards,

(Duc Viet, Le Chan District, Hai Phong City)

Dear Duc Viet,

In 2004, the Republic of South Africa became the first nation in the African continent to get a chance to host a World Cup: the 2010 world cup. This country has now become an inviting destination for international football fans and tourists. Travellive hopes the following information will be helpful for you in planning your trip.

Climate

The World Cup is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 11. This celebration falls in the winter season of this Southern Hemisphere nation. Temperatures at night can fall to below 0°Celsius and it is advisable to take warm clothes and a scarf with you.

Language

The Republic of South Africa takes pride in its diverse culture which has inspired the name the “Rainbow nation”. There are 11 official languages in including  English and Afrikaans (original Dutch language). Almost all local people can speak English, so if you have the ability to communicate in English you don't have to worry about the language barrier.

The culture of tipping

This culture is increasing in many nations including the Republic of South Africa. The official currency of this nation is the Rand. For airport and hotel carrier staff, you should leave 10-15 Rand/person depending on the amount of baggage. For waiters or waitresses in restaurants and for drivers, it is common to leave 10% of the total of the bill. At parking spaces, you can leave 5 Rand for staff to take care of your car.

Healthcare

You should buy travel insurance before your departure which covers healthcare rights in a foreign country (check beforehand the conditions and reimbursal limits). In some parts of South Africa there is a high risk of being infected with malaria so it is advisible to take some anti-malaria medicine with you. Another prevention for malaria is to wear long trousers at night to prevent mosquitoes. You can drink water from the tap, but it’s safer to bottled water at hotels.

Transportation

Public transportation in South Africa is extremely unreliable and unsafe for foreign tourists, with the exception of Cape Town city. Therefore, if you intend to go a long distance, you should catch a taxi for your safety. Schedule your trip in advance to ensure you won't miss any of the football matches.

Be careful!

According to some statistics, the rate of criminal activity in this nation has dramatically decreased since 2004. However, you should also be careful:

-         Don’t go alone late at night to deserted areas.

-         Be careful with your belongings. Don’t have precious items like jewellery on display, wear your handbag or camera on your shoulder and keep your mobile and purse out of sight.

-         Don't take rides from strangers or carry baggage for a strange person.

-         Security is really tight at the airport, so you should leave sharp metal items such as hair-pins and nail scissors in checked baggage to time at the check-in.

Watch World Cup while travelling

Though this is the very first time an African nation has hosted the World Cup, the country is already familiar to international tourists for a number of reasons. In addition to watching football matches, you will also have a chance to explore incredible tourist destinations like the city of Cape Town; its most recognised feature being Table Mountain which stands 1,086m above sea level. Another landmark is Victoria & Alfred, the shopping centre named after the King and Queen of the UK which stands near Cape Town’s harbour. In Johannesburg, the most prosperous city of South Africa and the destination of World Cup’s final game, there are many other must-see sites such as the Apartheid museum where evidence of past racial discrimination and the South African uprising against the Apartheid regime has been preserved, and theCarlton central tower which pierces the skyline at 223m high. South Africa also has many world heritage sites recognised by UNESCO including Drakensberg park, the cape of Good Hope, and Robben island where politician Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, and which has now become a tourist museum.

You should contact tourmakers to learn more about itineraries and other notable tourist sites. We wish you a very safe and inspiring trip.