When
Wednesday 23rd June 2010
3.00pm (GMT) - local time in South Africa 4.00pm
Where
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Another of the newly constructed stadiums with a capacity of 48,000, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium will play host to a total of 8 matches throughout the World Cup Finals. Nelson Mandela Bay stadium sits right on the edge of the North Shore Lake, in close proximity to the eastern coastline. Port Elizabeth airport lies only 5 miles to the south. Key fixtures are the last 16 on June 26th, one of the quarter finals on July 2nd and the play off for third place on July 10th with 8 fixtures in total.
Getting There
Hopefully by the time England play Slovenia they will have had two outstanding victories and be topping Group C! Cape Town to Port Elizabeth is 750km or 470miles and takes approximately 8 or 9 hours by car. It sounds gruelling but don't be put off by the distance. The journey to England's third game passes along South Africa's famous Garden Route. Hailed as one of the most picturesque roads in the world, the Garden Route passes golden beaches (Brenton Beach, Little Brak Beach, Robberg Beach, Victoria Bay Beach), mountains sweeping down to the coast and a range of giant ferns and forests populated by reams of wildlife. However if you want to focus on the football and skip the Garden Route completely, the flight from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth will take just 1hr 10mins.
Distances and driving times from Port Elizabeth:
Cape Town 750km or 466 miles. Approx 8 hrs.
Johannesburg 1060km or 660 miles. Approx 11 hrs.
Durban 950km or 590 miles. Approx 10 hrs.
June Climate in Port Elizabeth:
Average high 19 degrees
Average low 7 degrees
Rainfall average 1 cm
Daylight Hours 10
Things to see and do around Port Elizabeth
The coastal city of Port Elizabeth is one of the largest cities in South Africa, and lies 750km east of Cape Town. Famous for its impressive coastline, popular with fishermen, surfers and other extreme sports enthusiasts. Port Elizabeth has a range of shopping complexes and museums for you to browse. After a day's shopping and sightseeing, why not head to the famous Boardwalk Casino and Entertainment complex- a beachfront entertainment venue with shops, restaurants and games area - and relax after a day of exploration. Port Elizabeth is famous for its beaches - including Algoa Bay, King's Beach and Humewood Beach and with a temperate climate it offers you the chance to swim, surf and scuba dive all year round.
Whether you're looking to catch a tan in between football matches or explore the depths during a scuba trip, the beaches of Port Elizabeth provide the opportunity to relax by the water after watching a match. If you prefer to stay dry, there are a number of game viewing areas to explore on the outskirts of Port Elizabeth - including the Kragga Kamma Game Park - these parks are about an hours journey outside of the city and provide a great opportunity to view the Big Five (Buffalo, Elephant, Rhino, Lion and Leopard) that the region is famous for. Due to the variety of terrain around the region, there is the opportunity to partake in a range of activities - including mountain biking, hiking and 4x4 trails.There are a number of reserves in the region - including Addo Elephant Park and the Zuurberg National Park, giving you the chance to take a safari excursion and explore the plains and the wide variety of fauna which call it home.
