worldcup2010

Johannesburg

Ellis Park

Where are the games

Johannesburg is home to two of the World Cup stadiums and is the venue for the tournament opener and the final itself.

The newly-reconstructed Soccer City Stadium will kick the World Cup off while also staging the tournament's climax. In the city centre, historic Ellis Park has also had a facelift to play its own part in events.

Soccer City Stadium's design is inspired by the iconic African pot known as the calabash, and is only a short distance from football-crazy Soweto.

The original ground, which was known as the FNB Stadium is widely, regarded as the heart of football in South Africa while also hosting the first mass rally by Nelson Mandela after his release from prison in 1990.

Ellis Park is more well known as the fortress of South African rugby and was the site of the Springboks' first World Cup victory in 1995.

The ground was given a significant facelift before the Confederations Cup finals and now seats 62,000 fans, increasing its capacity by almost nine per cent from the previous 57,000.

Ellis Park was first built in 1928 but was demolished and rebuilt in 1982, again exclusively for rugby. It was named after JD Ellis, a Johannesburg city councilor who approved the use of the land for a stadium, setting aside a full 13 acres.

The largest piece of construction has been the new tier on the north stand which has increased the seating capacity to 62,000. With state-of-the-art media facilities, team whirlpools, top-class VIP areas for dignitaries, accessibility for disabled fans, a new pitch and a top-notch audio-visual setup to keep the fans informed during the game, no one will be left disappointed.

And the rest of the city?

The foundation stones of Johannesburg

'Jo'Burg' or Jozi as it is know by the locals, is the continent's economic capital. Despite the hustle and bustle of the city, Johannesburg is unexpectedly green and orientated towards outdoor living. It has a wealth of trees creating an 'urban forest', and many of the trees are located in the 2,328 parks.

The Tswana (that's one of South Africa's eleven official languages) name for Johannesburg is eGoli, place of gold, as the city was built on the wealth of the world's largest gold deposits which lie below it's surface. Johannesburg became a city in 1886, during the beginning of the Witwatersrand Gold Rush which attracted prospectors from around the world and giving the city an eclectic mix of cultures and influences.

The city became a political hotspot during the apartheid years with famous figures such as Nelson Mandela and OR Tambo (after whom the airport is named) leading the struggle from the South West township, otherwise known as Soweto.

The opulent Masarati-a-minute streets of Sandton stand in stark contrast to less-than-welcoming areas such as Hillbrow. Ask a local what the lie of the land is before heading off with your camera slung around your neck.

In winter (June-August) the weather is very dry with temperatures averaging 18 °C during the day, dropping to about 5 °C at night. The temperature drops sharly when the sun goes down If the wind gets up, stay indoors, the chill factor is harsh.

While you're there...

Hartebeespoort dam - by cradle of humankind

Before you start: We can't overstate the size of the place compared to European city centres, so don't expect to do too much walking from one place to the next. There isn't much in the way of public transport either, so hire a car and brave the roads.

The city's rich history provides a host of interesting museums including the Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill. While an organised tour Soweto is highly recommended, cruising around the area unaccompanied would not be a smart idea for tourists.

The city is in close proximity to the 'Cradle of Humankind.' This UNESCO World Heritage site encompasses the Sterkfontein caves, the site where the oldest hominoid skeletons were found.

A cold one and some sustenance?

Sandton bars: Classy

As in any big city, Jo'burg offers a splendid variety of restaurants and night spots. From fine dining to cheap-'n-fast, you'll find everything you need. Malls, situated in all four corners of the city, are your best bet. Sport will be on the tube in nearly every single bar.

Melville is a hub of restaurants and nights spots and usually great for live music, but if it's fine dining you're after, head for the northern suburbs like Sandton or Rosebank.

You'd have to get there first, mind

Johannesburg airport: Full of history

OR Tambo International airport - named after a prominent anti-apartheid activist - is a 20-30 minute drive from just about anywhere in or around the city. Public transport is rather thin on the ground so taxis are the next best thing after renting a car but are expensive - it might even be cheaper to rent a car!

There is also a smaller airport in the north of the city called Lanseria, to which several of the lo-cost carriers fly.

There are several bus stations round and about, connecting all over the country, and the Shosholoza Meyl trains from the south terminate at the station in town, but beware, the station is not such a safe place.

The N3 heads from Johannesburg to Durban through some terrific scenery, and the N1 or N12 head south to Cape Town, the N1 via Bloemfontein and the N12 via Kimberley. The N1 is a toll road and consequently better quality, but the N12 probably provides more in the way of interesting things to see. Cape Town is 16 hours away on the N1. the N1 also takes you north to Pretoria and beyond.

All of this, added to an internal network of highways and dual carriageways, make Jo'burg a spaghetti junction and road-signs are at a premium. If you are going to drive, buy a streetmap.