2010 transport plans on track in Joburg

Johannesburg - The City of Johannesburg unveiled a comprehensive transport plan aimed at encouraging local and international soccer fans to use public transport during the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament.
The City's executive mayor, Amos Masondo, said they were on track and ready to host the World Cup.
"The City is ready to welcome all spectators and visitors and we want to encourage everyone to use public transport," he said.
Masondo made it clear that no private vehicles would be allowed within the stadium precincts.
He said people with valid, official tickets for matches would be admitted to the immediate surrounding areas.
"These areas will only be accessible for designated public transport, emergency and VIP vehicles displaying a special permit," he said.
According to the plan, Metrorail will be transporting fans to their event and ordinary commuter service. On match days, extra trains will be provided to run from the Westgate Transport Hub to Soccer City.
Match ticket holders will board trains free to the games.
Metrobuses will run on match days from the Sandton Transport Hub to Westgate Transport Hub.
These buses will run every 10 minutes and will stop at various routes while still in the Sandton area to pick up fans.
The buses will be picking up fans along the route in the Sandton area.
However, there are three fare options for these services, which are R20 one way to the Westgate Transport Hub; R40 return from the Westgate Transport Hub and R50 return to the Westgate Transport Hub including the Rea Vaya ticket.
These tickets can be purchased cash on the buses.
Sibongile Mazibuko, from the City's 2010 FIFA World Cup unit said the Gautrain will be running from OR Tambo to Sandton station every day.
She said fans will be able to catch the easy transport option from the airport to Sandton where they can connect to the Sandton Metrobus Transport Service to Westgate.
Mazibuko said the trip from OR Tambo to Sandton with the Gautrain will take 15 minutes.
"There will be bus services running from the OR Tambo International to Sandton on a daily basis, as well as from the OR Tambo International to Westgate on match days.
"Gautrain will also run services from OR Tambo to Sandton. There will also be a service running from Lanseria Airport to Sandton and back," she said.
Johannesburg is the only host city that will provide two match venues, Coca-Cola Park and Soccer City and will also host a total of 15 matches, including the opening and final matches.
Masondo said he was looking forward to traveling to the games safely and in style using public transport.
"We are confident that everything will go well. Together we will deliver the best-ever World Cup experience," he said. [src: BuaNews / Nthambeleni Gabara]

2010 World Cup™ info guide >>
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FIFA Fan Fests in South Africa during the 2010 World Cup

Soweto FIFA Fan Fest™
Location: Elkah Stadium, Rockville township, Soweto
Capacity: 40,000 people
Transport: Thokoza Park station of the city’s new Bus Rapid Transit system
Opening dates: All match-playing days of FIFA World Cup™
Opening hours: 10:00 to late
Accommodation in Johannesburg »

Sandton FIFA Fan Fest™
Location: InnesFree Park, close to both Alexandra township and the Sandton Central Business District
Capacity: 20,000 people
Transport: Gautrain & Bus Rapid Transit system
Opening dates: All match-playing days of FIFA World Cup™
Opening hours: 10:00 to late
Accommodation in Johannesburg »

Cape Town FIFA Fan Fest™
Location: Grand Parade, Cape Town CBD
Capacity: 20,000 people
Transport: make use of Cape Town public transport system
Opening dates: All match-playing days of FIFA World Cup™
Opening hours: 11:00 to 23:00
more info (live bands, programme etc.)
Accommodation in Cape Town »


View FIFA Fan Fests in South Africa in a larger map

Tshwane/Pretoria FIFA Fan Fest™
Location: Centurion Cricket Ground just outside the city’s central business district
Capacity: 30,000 people
Transport:
Opening dates: All match-playing days of FIFA World Cup™
Opening hours: 10:00 to late
Accommodation in Pretoria »

Durban FIFA Fan Fest™
Location: New Beach, 3.5km from the stadium
Capacity: 25,000 people
Transport: make use of Durban's public transport system
Opening dates: All match-playing days of FIFA World Cup™
Opening hours: 10:00 to late
AAccommodation in Durban »

Mangaung/Bloemfontein FIFA Fan Fest™
Location: Mangaung Outdoor Sports Centre, Rocklands township
Capacity: 20,000
Transport: 15-minute drive from the centre of the city
Opening dates: All match-playing days of FIFA World Cup™
Opening hours: 10:00 to late
Accommodation in Bloemfontein »

Nelspruit FIFA Fan Fest™
Location: Bergvlam High School, just outside the Nelspruit city centre
Capacity: 30,000 people
Transport: Ample parking spaces will be available within walking distance of the event, with the city providing alternative transport arrangements
Opening dates: All match-playing days of FIFA World Cup™
Opening hours: 10:00 to late
Accommodation in Nelspruit »
Kruger National Park tours ex Nelspruit »

Nelson Mandela Bay / Port Elizabeth FIFA Fan Fest™
Location: St Georges Park
Capacity: 25,000 people
Transport: shuttle buses and secure parking areas within walking distance from the venue
Opening dates: All match-playing days of FIFA World Cup™
Opening hours: 10:00 to late
Accommodation in Port Elizabeth »

Polokwane FIFA Fan Fest™
Location: Polokwane Cricket Club, close to CBD
Capacity: 30,000 people
Transport: park/ride facilities and shuttle buses
Opening dates: All match-playing days of FIFA World Cup™
Opening hours: Group phase 12:00 to 00:00, Round of 16 and Quarter Finals:14:00 to 00:00, Semi Finals and Final: 18:00 to 00:00
Accommodation in Polokwane »

Rustenburg FIFA Fan Fest™
Location: Fields College, short disctance from city centre
Capacity: 20,000 people
Transport: Both parking and alternative transport arrangements will be in place
Opening dates: All match-playing days of FIFA World Cup™
Opening hours: 10:00 to late
Accommodation in Rustenburg » 

2010 World Cup™ info guide >>
match schedule & accommodation bookings >>
flights to South Africa >>

accommodation & tours in South Africa >>

South Africa: Rift Valley Fever outbreak - WHO is warning tourists to take precautions

Due to the recent Rift Valley Fever outbreak in South Africa the World Health Organisation (WHO) is warning people travelling to South Africa about the risk of contracting the desease.
The Rift Valley fever outbreak (Free State, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Western Cape, & North West Province) has currently (05 May 2010) infected around 170 people and led to deaths of at least 15 people. WHO is not advising any travel restrictions for South Africa, but it is warning tourists to take precautions. Travellers in South Africa are being advised to avoid contact with raw animal products and to cover up against mosquitoes which may carry the viral disease.

WHO advises no international travel restriction to or from South Africa. However, WHO recommends that visitors to South Africa, especially those intending to visit farms and/or game reserves, avoid coming into contact with animal tissues or blood, avoid drinking unpasteurized or uncooked milk or eating raw meat. All travellers should take appropriate precautions against mosquito bites (use of mosquito nets, insect repellents). Travel medicine professionals and travel medicine services should be aware of the current RVF situation in South Africa in order to provide advice and care accordingly. [src.]

WHO update from 12 May 2010:
[...] WHO advises no international travel restriction to or from South Africa. However, WHO recommends that visitors to South Africa, especially those intending to visit farms and/or game reserves, avoid coming into contact with animal tissues or blood, avoid drinking unpasteurized or uncooked milk or eating raw meat.[...] [src.]

Win a trip to South Africa to attend the 2010 World Cup

Just follow these 4 steps to joining the biggest party of 2010:

1. Go to the website: www.southafrica.net/2010
2. Click on "JoinTheWorldParty" button
3. Fill in the entry form, upload your image and vote for your country
4. Tell all your friends to enter as they could be joining you if you win

The competition starts on the 4th December 2009 and will run until the 11th May 2010, whereafter the winners will be chosen on 14th May 2010.

2010 World Cup™ info guide >>
match schedule & accommodation bookings >>
flights to South Africa >>

accommodation & tours in South Africa >>

An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain!

The brain of an Ostrich is not only smaller than one of its eyes, but also very small in proportion to the size of the actual bird. Their eyes normaly measure about 5cm and are largest of any land animal. In comparison, the average human eye is about 2.4cm in diameter. Vision is very important in all birds and large eyes allow them to see more of their environment (avoiding predators, searching for prey, flying/running quickly).

btw - More than 65% of the world’s ostriches are being found in South Africa and South Africa also accounts for 90% of ostrich products in the world. Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape is known to be the "Ostrich Capital of the World".

accommodation in Oudtshoorn >>

Oudtshoorn day tour >>

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Kruger National Park Calendar - June

Weather:

• days usually warm, sometimes hot
• generally wind free
• cold evenings
• rarely rain falls

Temperatures:

• between 9°C - 26°C (Fahrenheit: e.g. 28°C = [(28x9)]/5 + 32 = 82.4°F)
• visit travelcomments.com/webcams_sa.htm and follow daily game drives via webcam to check the weather & how the landscape is changing during the year

Landscape:

• most pans and vleis dry up
• bush thins out
• grasslands begin receding
• umbrella acacia pods twirl out

Animal Activity:

• large elephant populations in northern Kruger
• animals concentrate around reliable water sources
• predators very active around reliable water sources

Kruger National Park info guide >>
Kruger National Park tours >>
accommodation in the Kruger NP area >>

online car hire >>

Mosquitoes Prefer blood of Beer Drinkers

According to a recent study made in Burkina Faso, mosquitoes are prefering the blood of beer drinkers over the blood of water drinkers. In the study researchers exposed mosquitoes to body odors from both water drinkers and beer drinkers and found out that beer drinker's whole body odour (breath and skin emanations) is a strong stimulus to gauge human attractiveness to mosquitoes.

Body odours of volunteers who consumed beer increased mosquito activation (proportion of mosquitoes engaging in take-off and up-wind flight) and orientation (proportion of mosquitoes flying towards volunteers' odours). The level of exhaled carbon dioxide and body temperature had no effect on human attractiveness to mosquitoes. Despite individual volunteer variation, beer consumption consistently increased attractiveness to mosquitoes. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These results suggest that beer consumption is a risk factor for malaria and needs to be integrated into public health policies for the design of control measures. [src.]

Malaria Advice: Travel Precautions to Take! >>