Looking for Part 1? Click HERE!

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Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein (Free State Province)

Home to the Bloemfontein Celtic football team, the Free State Stadium  hosted a surprising US victory over Spain in the latest Confederations Cup semi-final!

Gross Capacity: 48 000.

World Cup Groups Concerned: A, B, E, F, & H.

• Safari Activities:

- Gariep Dam Nature Reserve. Largest springbok population in the country! Also features mountain zebra as well as various antelope species.

- Golden Gate Highlands National Park. Home to the red hartebeest and the bearded vulture (lammergeier).

- Seekoeivlei Nature Reserve. A birdwatcher’s paradise, and listed as “Wetlands of International Importance”.

- Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve. Antelope species include the Oribi, Grey Rhebuck and Mountain Reedbuck. Bird specimens such as the bald ibis, the bearded and Cape vultures are also found here.

- Tussen die Riviere Game Reserve. Reputedly supports more game than any other sanctuary in the Free State.

- Willem Pretorius Game Reserve. Great variety of game and bird species, and well-preserved ruin of a prehistoric settlement (Leghoya people).

Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth (Eastern Cape Province)

Nelson Mandela Bay  is the first football-dedicated stadium of the city and surrounding areas. Hosts the match for third place and a quarter-final!

Gross Capacity: 48 000.

World Cup Groups Concerned: B, C, D, G & H.

• Where to Go:

- Addo Elephant National Park. Saved the last 11 survivors of the Eastern Cape elephants  that now proliferate together with buffalo, black rhino, hippo and 185 species of birds.

- Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve. 58 mammal species and 293 bird species.

- Dwesa, Cwebe, and Hluleka Nature Reserves. A blend of forest, open grasslands and beautiful coastline beaches with incredible lagoons and trails.

- Karoo Nature Reserve. Located in the Valley of Desolation, and characterised by dolomite pinnacles and domes.

- Mountain Zebra National Park. Protects the last Cape Mountain zebra whose population now stands at +/- 300!

- Mpongo Game Reserve. Over 40 species of large game and prolific birdlife!

- Thomas Baines Nature Reserve. Wildlife includes Cape buffalo, white rhino, antelope and over 170 bird species.

- Tsitsikamma National Park, in the heart of the Garden Route. Incredible hiking trails!

- Tsolwana Game Reserve. Dramatic landscape home to springbok, impala, black wildebeest, red hartebeest, bontebok and white rhino.

- Wilderness National Park. Important wetland and paradise for birdlovers: 79 listed waterbirds!

Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg (North West Province)

The Royal Bafokeng Stadium is named after the Bafokeng people who live in the area.

Gross Capacity: 42 000.

World Cup Groups Concerned: A, C, D, E & F.

• Safari Highlights:

- Borakalalo National Park, the place “where people relax”!

- Botsalano Game Reserve. Renowned for its successful white rhino breeding program!

- Madikwe Game Reserve, the fifth largest reserve in South Africa with well over 10 000 animals!

- Pilanesberg National Park. Big Five area only two hours away  from Johannesburg. Very pleasant, and stunning scenery!

- Rustenburg Nature Reserve. Home to 13 antelope species and predators like the leopard or caracal (seldom seen).

Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit (Mpumalanga Province)

The stadium  gets its name from the word “Mbombela”, which in siSwati means “many people together in a small place”.

Gross Capacity: 46 000.

World Cup Groups Concerned: D, F, G & H.

• Best Safaris in the Area:

- Kruger National Park. Covers nearly 2 million hectares, and is by far South Africa’s most precious and abundant wildlife preserve ! Not to be missed!

- Loskop Dam Nature Reserve. Features 3 of the Big Five such as the buffalo, white rhino and leopard.

- Mahushe Shongwe Game Reserve. Especially popular for birdwatchers!

- Mount Sheba Nature Reserve. One of Mpumalanga’s top bird-lovers destinations!

- Mthethomusha Game Reserve. Owned by the Mpakeni Community, it is home to interesting San Bushmen rock art paintings.

- Sabi Sands Game Reserve. A true African paradise, including numerous prestigious private concessions such as Exeter, Indube, Inyati, Londolozi , Mala Mala  and Sabi Sabi!

- Songimvelo Game Reserve. Over 20 species of herbivores have been reintroduced to the reserve!

- Timbavati Game Reserve. Home of the magnificent white lion! Also enjoy extraordinary bush programmes, such as the unique Ecotraining Course.

Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane (Limpopo Province)

Named after a local hero who fought against the Apartheid regime, the Peter Mokaba Stadium  is a brand new facility inspired by the Baobab tree!

Gross Capacity: 46 000.

World Cup Groups Concerned: A, B, C & F.

• Safari Areas of Interest:

- Blouberg Nature Reserve. World’s largest breeding colony of Cape vultures!

- Mabalingwe Game Reserve. Malaria-free reserve host to the big 5!

- Mapungubwe National Park. World Heritage Site!

- Marakele National Park. A ‘place of sanctuary’ in the Waterberg mountains!

- Selati Game Reserve. Known for its indigenous Sable antelope herds!

- Tilodi Wilderness. Over 300 bird species and a wide variety of game.

- Welgevonden Private Game Reserve. Get an exclusive, intimate experience of the African bushveld!

For Part 2, Click HERE!

Want to Learn More about African Safaris? Get my FREE Safari Tips 101 Ebook HERE!

Jambo rafiki!

The football fever is mounting high among soccer fans as we are slowly but surely approaching next year’s biggest sporting event: the FIFA World Cup 2010  (hosted for the first time on African soil yeah)!

Since a lot of you guys will be travelling to South Africa for the occasion, I thought I’d give you a list of some of the safari activities available around the major 2010 stadiums (and host cities).

Green Point Stadium, Cape Town (Western Cape)

One of the two semi-final  venues for the FIFA World Cup!

Gross Capacity: 70 000.

Groups Concerned: A, C, E, F, and G.

• Safari Activities:

- Aquila Game Reserve . Big 5 Safari & Malaria Free Area!

- Boulders Beach Penguin Colony, near Simon’s Town.

- Cape Point Ostrich Farm  (Cape Point Road).

- Clara Anna Fontein Game Reserve . Private game reserve and country lodge in the Durbanville wine valley, only 20 minutes from Cape Town city centre.

- De Hoop Nature Reserve . Contains seven ecosystems!

- Fairy Glen Game Reserve . Nearest African Big 5 Safari to Cape Town!

- Inverdoorn Game Reserve. An endlessly fascinating place!

- Rondevlei Nature Reserve . Hippos and birds on a wetland reserve!

- Sanbona Wildlife Reserve. Spa and Big Five in the Western Cape!

- Shark Cave Diving (Gansbaai) & Whale Safaris in Hermanus.

- Table Mountain National Park  (formerly Cape Peninsula National Park). South African jewel, international tourism icon and Natural World Heritage Site.

Durban Stadium, Durban (Kwa Zulu Natal)

Will host one of the semi-finals  of the 2010 FIFA World Cup!

Gross Capacity: 70 000.

Groups Concerned: B, D, E, G & H.

• Where to Go:

- Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve . Largest Black and White rhino concentration in the world!

- Ithala Game Reserve . A wildlife experience second to none!

- Ndumo Game Reserve . One of KZN’s finest game reserves!

- Royal Natal National Park . World Heritage Site & Horseback Safaris!

Ellis Park Stadium & Soccer City, Johannesburg (Gauteng)

Ellis Park , home of the 1995 Rugby final won by the South African Springboks. Will host one of the quarter-finals matches.

Soccer City , previously named the FNB Stadium, is inspired by the iconic African pot known as the calabash. Venue for the World Cup 2010 Final!

Gross Capacity: 61 000 and 94 700, respectively.

Groups Concerned: B, C, F, G & H (Ellis Park); A, B, D, E & G (Soccer City).

• Safari Highlights:

- The Lion Park . Terrific up close views and other exciting interactions with a large variety of predators and large herbivores indigenous to Africa!

- The Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve . Privately owned Gauteng game reserve, covering on average 1 200 hectares of land.

• General “Must-See” Attractions:

- Apartheid Museum .

- Constitution Hill .

- Cradle of Humankind .

Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria (Tshwane, Gauteng)

One of the oldest stadiums  in South Africa, and home to one of the country’s best rugby sides; the Blue Bulls!

Gross Capacity: 50 000.

Groups Concerned: A, C, D, E, & H.

• Best Safaris in the Area:

- Dinokeng. Viewed as the place where the world’s largest diamond was discovered.

- Roodeplaat Dam Nature Reserve . Rich with abundant fish, bird life and wildlife.

- Tswaing Nature Reserve . Place of a 220 000 year old crater, resulting from an impressive meteorite impact.

- Wonderboom Nature Reserve . Named after the wild fig “Wonderboom”.

• Other Areas of Interest:

- Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary.

- Hatfield Market.

- National Cultural History Museum.

- Pioneer Museum Silverton.

- National Zoological Gardens.

- Pretoria Botanical Garden .

- Transvaal Museum of Natural History .

- Union Buildings .