If you're thinking about following England at the World Cup 2010 in South Africa you've come to the right place. Whether you're hoping to get tickets to watch the matches or even if you just want to be there for the experience and to soak in the unique atmosophere - we've got all the information you need to know.
Flights to South Africa
There are three carriers offering non stop flights from the UK to South Africa. All operate from London's Heathrow airport - British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and South African Airways to Johannesburg (for Pretoria) and Cape Town. All three airlines have added capacity for the World Cup period. Alternatively you can consider Emirates who offer flights to Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban via their hub in Dubai with daily connections from London, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle and Glasgow. You can also fly into South Africa with a number of European carriers such as Lufthansa, Air France, KLM and TAP via their European hubs.
There are no charter services from the UK.
Less obvious connections can be made in African cities such as Cairo, Nairobi, Lusaka, Entebbe, Gabarone, Windhoek, Dar es Salaam, Harare, Maputo and even the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius.
The key thing to note here is that prices are already topping the £1000 mark, especially for dates around the opening and closing of the tournament, so using price comparison services to view as many options as possible is key to checking prices. Flights are already heavily booked especially with groups from the official tour operators, however seats will be released once sales settle. Do not expect these seats to be available for long and do not expect prices to drop significantly.
One thing that price comparison cannot offer is connections with separate airlines via African arrival points. For example, you can look for flights into cities such as Lusaka and Maputo and then take onward flights with local carriers, South African Airways or one of the low cost airlines in South Africa, such as British Airways (Comair), 1time, Mango and Kulula.
Other alternatives to flying in are taking an adventure trip overland from other African countries. This is not as easy as it sounds as the road and rail infrastructure bears no comparison to the UK so it is not for the faint hearted. However Namibia, Mozambique and Botswana are all fairly safe options. Zimbabwe will probably be the one country you would think twice about journeying through. Wider African trips can be sourced with starts in Kenya, travelling down the East Coast via Tanzania and Mozambique. Flights into any of these countries are offered from the UK or via other European hubs.
You can also base yourself in somewhere like Mauritius and fly in for matches (around a four hour flight). You'll need deep pockets to keep this up throughout the tournament though.
Official Tours
The official tour operators endorsed by FIFA are as follows;
Thomas Cook Sport
http://www.thomascooksport.com/Football/2010-FIFA-World-Cup-TM?ac=tsm041209
Emirates Tours (Emirates are the official airline sponsor of the tournament)
http://www.emiratestours.co.uk/fifa/
Sportsworld (Thomson Sport)
http://www.thomsonsport.com/index.php?id=1217
Keith Prowse
http://www.keithprowse.co.uk/KP/FOOTBALL_FIFA2010.aspx
BAC Sport.
http://www.bacsport.co.uk/football/world-cup-2010
These offer individual and group based options including flights, transfers, tickets and accommodation for a range of needs. This can cover one match up to a package for the full tournament. These packages are already heavily sold and prices are steep. However you have the security of knowing all tickets are legitimate, your hotels are confirmed and flights are sourced. Plus you do not have the worry of arranging travel around South Africa, especially if you have to cover the long distance between the area around Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Hotels
South Africa has a huge range of hotels and many new beds have been added including cruise ships in Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. The standards vary from basic through to ultra luxury with even university residences being offered. You can even choose luxury game lodges in the safari parks, especially around Nelspruit and in Kruger. However much of the hotel space has already been taken up by official suppliers.
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/organisation/matchag/accommodation.html
and the prices have rocketed with practically no special offers on sale. Therefore you are looking at paying what is known as rack rate to secure accommodation.
You can look for private home rental through companies such as Interhome and villa rental agencies, especially in the Cape, Port Elizabeth and Durban areas, however prices are again on the high side. Use price comparison to find accommodation or go direct to the official FIFA appointed companies.
Getting around in South Africa
South Africa has an extensive flight network covering the following airports - Johannesburg, Lanseria, Bloemfontein, Cape Town, George, Port Elizabeth, East London, Nelspruit and Durban. These have services between them operated by South African Airways, British Airways (Comair), 1time, Mango and Kulula. Check their websites direct for schedules and fares. There are also a wide range of small airfields where you can charter small aircraft if you are feeling flush.
Car Hire is widely available although it is believed that much of the fleet has already been commandeered by FIFA. However using a price comparison service such as travelsupermarket.com will bring you the best prices available in the current market. You will need an international driving licence and it is wise to opt for a fully inclusive rate and to pay for a premium for excess reduction and insurance. Cars can be collected either at airports or downtown and will often be delivered to your hotel for minimal extra charge.
Bear in mind that many cities will have restrictions for vehicles around the football grounds so parking may be an issue.
South Africans drive on the left and there is a decent cross country road network, however do not under estimate distances - 800 miles between the Cape and Johannesburg. Speed limits are different - they are higher than the UK but be aware that sticking within them is important to avoid fines for speeding.
Traffic lights and junctions in general have different rules to the UK about giving way e.t.c. so ensure you read up before your set off onto the road. You also need to take extreme caution when driving around as the country has a reputation for carjacking, especially in the Durban and Johannesburg areas. Never leave any items on show in the car and ensure that all valuable are left in hotel safes as opposed to your vehicle. The Cape area is generally safe, however it is always best to drive with locked doors, leave the vehicle in a well lit and recognised area and do not leave any valuables on show in any way.
If driving long distances then ensure you have plenty of fuel and know where the next petrol stations are located.
Always travel with your driving documentation with you at all times and ensure you have full personal travel insurance to cover you in case of accidents.
