worldcup2010

Polokwane/Pietersburg

Peter Mokaba Stadium

Where's the game on?

The newly-built Peter Mokaba Stadium is situated 5km from the centre of Polokwane, a quick journey by car or public transport. When completed in 2010 it will have a capacity of 46,000. It was named after Peter Mokaba, a former leader of the ANC Youth League.

The form of this largely concrete structure is inspired by the local Baobab tree.

The site has been arranged to offer convenient access, parking and circulation for supporters, with buses and taxis on hand to ferry supporters to and from the stadium.

And the rest of the city?

Situated on the Great North road to Zimbabwe, Polokwane is the heart of the Limpopo Province. It has a reputation as a peaceful, quiet city and its name literally means 'place of safety'.

The city of Polokwane is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in South Africa with six of the country's eleven official languages being spoken: English, Afrikaans, Sepedi, TshiTsonga, TshiVenda and IsiNdebele.

The city offers a convenient starting point for visitors wishing to explore neighbouring countries like Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Botswana, which are all within a couple of hours' drive.

For those bemoaning the fact that the World Cup takes place during the South African winter, Polokwane offers the perfect solution. Situated on the Tropic of Capricorn the location of the town formerly known as Pietersburg at 1280m above sea level on a vast open plateau ensures that it has a temperate climate with plenty of sunshine throughout the year.

While you're there...

Eco and nature lovers will relish and enjoy the many nature and game reserves situated in the surrounding area. The natural environment is one of the world's richest in terms of biodiversity, wildlife and archaeological sites and popular tourism attractions for visitors from across the globe.

The surrounding area offers many fine examples of San art as well as archaeological digs tracing the rich and diverse history of human habitation in the area.

In the city itself visitors will find the Bakone Malapa Northern Sotho Open-Air Museum, which depicts the traditional and modern-day culture and lifestyle of the Bakone people.

The African Ivory Route, which has its origins in the legendary exploits of early ivory hunters and gold traders, runs through the Capricorn region. Today the route is an important ecotourism and 4X4 adventure destination much sought after by safari enthusiasts.

More than 21 game species, from small buck to rhino can be seen in this 3200-ha scenic Polokwane game reserve, one of the largest municipal owned game reserves in South Africa, adjacent to the city. The reserve offers a variety of hiking trails ranging from short day-walks to a 20km overnight trek.

A cold one and some sustenance?

The city has many restaurants, varying from fast food to haute cuisine, so there should be something to suit every palate. The Meropa Casino and Entertainment World offer fun for people over 18. However, there is something for the whole family; from restaurants, a cultural fair, a bird and butterfly park to go-karting.

As Polokwane is small in relation to some other South African cities, you will never have to travel far to find a good pub or restaurant.

Those wanting to experience a true African meal could do worse than visit neighbouring Krugersdorp, where the Carnivore Restaurant offers 15 different types of meat, roasted on an open fire like pork, lamb, beef, chicken, ribs and sausages, and including such game meats as crocodile, zebra, giraffe, impala and ostrich.

You'd have to get there first, mind

Polokwane International Airport serves both domestic and international flights, although you're unlikely to find a direct flight from any European countries. Polokwane has direct flights to most cities in South Africa as well as a number of neighbouring countries so getting there and back from one of the other major metropolises is easy.

By road take the N1 north from Pretoria and Johannesburg as the highway leads directly to the centre of the city. The drive should take about four hours. The N1 stretches all the way from Cape Town, which is approximately 14 hours' drive away.

The city is also connected to both Pretoria and Johannesburg by rail, should a train journey be more to your liking, while many bus and taxi services are also available.