World Cup 2010 - More Info
What's the weather like?
The World Cup will be held in the southern hemisphere winter, but it's warm here in Africa. Johannesburg will be dry, with sunny days and fairly chilly nights. Rustenburg, Pretoria and Nelspruit will be warmer, but Bloemfontein will be cold. Polokwane in the north will be dry and hot, warmer than most European summers.
Durban will be pleasant and warm, with some humidity - and the deliciously balmy Indian Ocean to swim in. And while Cape Town is magnificent in good weather - and it can have good weather in winter - in June the city is generally cold, wet and windy, and its ocean virtually frozen.
How will I get to the matches?
Okay, South African public transport is not up to the standard of New York or London, but as most of us don't own cars we make a plan. If you're adventurous you could take a minibus taxi, by far the most popular form of public transport. At the moment the national fleet is a bit of a wreck, but by 2010 a massive recapitalisation plan, currently underway, is likely to have replaced the old vehicles with larger and safer small buses.
Most of the host cities have Metrorail train and Metro bus systems, and there are numerous meter cab companies. Otherwise, you can rent a car or use your hotel's courtesy transport.
What's the beer like?
Cold and delicious. South Africans generally drink bottled beer, although most pubs offer a range of draughts. The major producer is South African Breweries, now a huge multinational doing business across the world. Lager is probably the favourite, followed by pilsener. In and around the stadiums, though, you'll only be able to drink beer produced by Budweiser, an official Fifa sponsor.
What currency does South Africa use?
South Africa's unit of currency is the rand, which is divided into 100 cents. Coins come in denominations of 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, R1, R2 and R5, and notes in denominations of R10, R20, R50, R100 and R200. With a favourable exchange rate for many international currencies, you'll find South Africa a very inexpensive destination.
