Durban, World Cup 2010, South Africa

The World Cup in South Africa 2010

Durban

Durban is a vibrant young city situated on the north-eastern shoreline of South Africa, in the KwaZulu-Natal Province. It faces out towards the Indian Ocean and boasts a sub-tropical climate and over 320 days of sunshine per year.

This climate has seen the 'Golden Mile' of beaches increase to around 6 km (over 3.5 miles), and this area is sure to be packed with fans during the tournament.

The World Cup in Durban

Whilst Durban is probably better known for rugby and cricket, the city will play a significant part in the the World Cup.

The new 70,000 capacity Senzangakhona stadium will host 6 first-round matches, one second-round and one semi-final match (the other semi-final will take place in Cape Town).

The beachfront is the most likely location for the main Fan Park in Durban and will prove to be a great setting for the big screens which proved such a success during Germany 06.

British fans will also love the food in this city with over 1 million people of Indian descent!

Football, sun and curry - perfect!

Durban Match Schedule

Date	Stadium	Type	Team 1		Team 2
13 June, 20:30	Durban	Group D	Germany	vs	Australia
16 June, 16:00	Durban	Group H	Spain	vs	Switzerland
19 June, 13:30	Durban	Group E	Netherlands	vs	Japan
22 June, 20:30	Durban	Group B	Nigeria	vs	South Korea
25 June, 16:00	Durban	Group G	Portugal	vs	Brazil
28 June, 16:00	Durban	Round of 16 (5)	Winner Group E	vs	2nd Group F
7 July, 20:30	Durban	Semi Final (II)	Winner QF B	vs	Winner QF D

Visiting Durban During The World Cup

Durban is a major year-round holiday destination for South Africans, and as a result does have plenty of hotel space. Having said this, experience during the 2009 British Lions Tour suggests that this will come under pressure during the World Cup, and accommodation could be hard to come by and more expensive than many fans might expect.

It is very unlikely that most fans will be able to get their first choice of accommodation, although we will always do our best!

Between Games

Whilst there is certainly plenty to do in Durban itself, as you move away from the city you can start to get a feel for some of the true richness of South Africa.

We would recommend a minimum of an overnightstay stay for The Battlefields and 2 or 3 nights for the other detinations - each are very large areas with a huge amount to do and explore.

Coastal fishing near St Lucia Only a three hour drive up the coast from Durban is the Greater St. Lucia Wetlands Park. It is the largest estuarine system in Africa , encompassing 13 protected areas. It is a World Heritage site and is home to a large amount of bird species.

In stark contrast to this is the Drakensberg mountains, three hour's to the north west of Durban. The scenery is breathtakingly beautiful, and nature lovers will enjoy the many hiking and walking trails available for all levels of ability. There are easier walks through lush meadows and across clear streams, or more strenuous hikes up and across rugged mountain terrain. In addition there are countless other activities including horse riding, fly-fishing, and art-courses to be enjoyed.

Tours around The Battlefields (about three hours due north of Durban) offer an incredible insight into the bloody and fiercely-fought history history of South Africa. No matter how uninterested you think you are in history, these tours will captivate and move you.

Any Chance of A Safari?

Durban has several nearby reserves varying from a self-drive safari with basic accommodation through to private reserves offering game-drives combined with the most luxurious lodges with breathtaking views.

On safari at Phina. The Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, about 3 hours north of Durban, offers excellent self-drive game viewing opportunities for fans watching games at the new Senzangakhona stadium, and the many safari lodges in the newarby private game reserves give you the classic safari experience of morning and evening game drives with an experienced guide, bush walks, and often exceptional accommodation.

The safari lodges in the private game reserves of the region all offer a fully inclusive safari. Most include in their rates all meals, 2 game drives per day in 4x4 vehicles, and an optional guided bush walk each day. Some will also include all drinks as well.