The Spain 2010 Soccer World Cup Tour

The Spain soccer matches during the 2010 group phase take place in Durban (16 June 2010) Johannesburg (21 June 2010) and Pretoria/Tshwane (25 June 2010).

The knockout phase starts on 26 June, with the final on 11 July 2010.

Owing to the complexity of the allocation of venues to the teams who make it to the knockout phase, we do not cater for this part of the World Cup. However, all our other tours are available to you.

The Group Phase Itinerary for the Spain Matches

Day 1 (11 June 2010)

Welcome to South Africa! We meet you at the O.R. Tambo International Airport and take you to your hotel. For the ones who have bought tickets for the opening soccer game - how lucky you are! We will drop you off at the Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg. For the rest of us, we will have to decide whether to watch the game at the fan park (where 50 000 people are expected!), or in the comfort of our hotel rooms. Afterwards, dine in one of the many restaurants in the posh Sandton district.

Day 2 to 6 (12-16 June 2010)

Up early for our flight to Durban. Undoubtedly, the main attraction of Africa is its protected provincial, national and private game reserves and parks. Our destination is the iSimangaliso Wetland Park (previously known as "the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park") – a World Heritage Site. It encompasses an immense mosaic of habitats, ranging from coral reefs and beaches, coastal forests, salt and fresh water marshes to the drier woodland areas. This is a remarkably beautiful place. The Park’s location between subtropical and tropical Africa as well as its coastal setting has resulted in exceptional biodiversity, which includes large numbers of nesting turtles on the beaches, migrating whales, dolphins and whale sharks and more than 530 species of birds. This protected area is home to the largest population of hippopotamus and approximately 1 000 crocodiles. At the end of our visit, we spend the night in Durban after Spain's match against Switzerland at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Day 7 to 10 (17-20 June 2010)

The Pietermaritzburg (Natal) Midlands is a beautiful region filled with stretches of farmland, charming little towns, a wonderful arts and crafts route and picturesque scenery, bordering on the sublime. Rivers, lakes, and waterfalls are abundant – and the landscape is endowed with green pastures, hills and forests. On its northern reaches this region is dominated by the foothills and mountains of the Drakensberg (the “mountain of dragons”). Spend time exploring the many coffee shops, art galleries, cheese factories, trout farms, potters, weavers and painters who have made this region their home. We spend two nights in this laid-back atmosphere.

We leave the Midlands for the Lesotho-Drakensberg. The drive takes us through picturesque villages and regions with strange-sounding names such as Phuthaditjhaba, Qwa-Qwa and Golden Gate. The route meanders through beautiful mountains of sandstone, pieces of which were also used as building blocks in many of the dwellings in the area. Late afternoon, the sandstone reflects an array of warm colours – gold, yellow and ochre. Keep your cameras handy! We spend two nights in Clarens (“the jewel of the Free State”), well-known for its artists’ colony.

Day 11 (21 June 2010)

Up early and on our way to Johannesburg where Spain meets Honduras in their second match at the Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg. Maybe we have time to visit two well-known landmarks namely Gold Reef City and Soweto. Johannesburg, more commonly known as Egoli, is built on the richest goldmine in the world. Experience the mining process by entering an underground mine, search for the elusive specs of yellow in the rough rock and feel the heat of the golden liquid as it is poured into the mould.

Soweto, the most populous black urban community in South Africa, is steeped in history. Its political heartbeat has guaranteed it a place on the world map. Soweto was at the centre of the uprising that led to the overthrow of the apartheid regime and the onset of the historical peace process towards a democratic dispensation. However, Soweto is far more than this. Despite its poverty, it has a vibrant cheerfulness and is a hive of activity. We will visit its landmarks and a "shebeen" – a traditional drinking joint where we will enjoy the music, have a beer or two and enjoy a traditional African meal.

Day 12 to 14 (22-24 June 2010)

Undoubtedly the main attraction of Africa is its wildlife. For the next three days, experience the great outdoors in the company of the Big Five – lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant, and more species of mammals than anywhere else in Africa. Although sightings of these animals and birds are not guaranteed, experienced game rangers and trackers take visitors out in open safari vehicles to spots where there are usually sightings. The game rangers' wealth of knowledge of the bush and their own wildlife experiences make for interesting conversation around the fire.

An early morning game drive is advisable because the bush is alive with activity at that time of the day. In the late afternoon, the amazing African sunset will make your sundowner even more enjoyable. As darkness descends, your tracker will scan the bush with a powerful spotlight and point out the elusive nocturnal wildlife. Tonight, around the log fire, you will enjoy superb food, excellent wines and impeccable service.

Day 15 (25 June 2010)

We leave mid-morning on match day (25 June 2010) to ensure that we are in time for Spain's important clash against Chile to take place at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria/Tshwane.

After the match against Chile we book into a comfortable guest house - something Pretoria/Tshwane is well-known for. Why not spend the last night on the town. “The Square” is nearby where the night never ends!

Our African safari draws to a close. The management of Wild Sunset Safaris will be at the airport to bid you an African farewell – hamba gathle!

The optional extension of the tour.

For those staying on for the second leg of the soccer tournament the journey continues. Provided enough members of the touring party indicate that they want the tour to continue to Cape Town (where Spain will most probably play their first knock-out game on 29 June 2010). The tour can be extended as indicated below.

Day 16 to 18 (26-28 June 2010)
(the optional extension of the soccer tour)

We fly from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth/Nelson Mandela Bay from where our journey to Cape Town begins. The Garden Route is undoubtedly the most beautiful part of the South African coast line. The area boasts a Mediterranean climate and unsurpassed natural beauty. We spend the next two days in the sleepy picturesque town of Knysna. The town lies on the shores of a beautiful estuary, with the lagoon spilling into the ocean, passing through the monolithic sandstone cliffs known as the Knysna Heads. After a siesta we take a sunset cruise across the lagoon to the Heads to get a full view of the lagoon and the town.

After a light breakfast a short drive takes us into one of but a few remaining indigenous forests in South Africa, known as Tsitsikamma. Have you ever dreamt of an enchanted forest of mysterious and impenetrable lushness, with a canopy of giant trees and moss and ferns under foot? Well this is it! We take the back roads deep into its inner sanctum. Here we enjoy the pleasure of a “bush brunch”. We continue our journey, meandering through the forest, to the coastal town of Plettenberg Bay. We spend the afternoon at leisure. Enjoy the vistas of the lagoon below and the winding coastline in the distance. Weather permitting, a stroll on the beach – and for the brave, a dip in the waves – will start you planning your next visit. We return to Knysna in the late afternoon.

After breakfast we leave for Oudtshoorn, nestled against the Swartberg Mountains in the semi-desert region of the Klein Karoo. Our first visit is to an ostrich farm, with it grand manor house, reflecting the days when ostrich feathers were in vogue. Ostrich farming is still a lucrative business, but is valued for its meat and beautiful skins. We watch farm labourers engage in their daily “Ascot” ostrich race. Why not try it yourself – but remember to hold on!

Then a short drive to one of the unique wonders of the world – the Cango Caves with underground tunnels and chambers four kilometres long. Millennia of limestone deposits formed breathtaking stalactites and stalagmites that are skilfully illuminated for us to enjoy. Time permitting, we take the scenic route through the Swartberg Pass, an engineering feat of yesteryear. After a busy day we can enjoy the luxurious desert retreat of Rosenhoff Country House.

Day 19 to 22 (29 June - 2 July 2010)
(the extended leg of the tour)

Today we are on route to the Mother city – Cape Town. We take the scenic Route 62, reminiscent of the more famous Route 66 in the USA. We drive through picturesque villages such as Bonnievale, Ceres and Tulbach. In Montagu we stop for lunch at the 1906 Victorian Restaurant. Back in the coach, sit back and enjoy the magnificent landscapes, towering cliffs and scenic passes. The mountains form the backdrop to a rainbow of colours – fields of wheat and canola, vineyards and orchards. As we get closer to Cape Town who will be the lucky one to spot the famous mountain first? After a short rest in our hotel we leave for the Round of 16 soccer match, to start at 20:30 at the Green Point Stadium.

The Mother City is regarded by many as the most beautiful city in the world. It lies beneath the sandstone countenance of Table Mountain, often shrouded in a veil of clouds. Far below its flat crest lies the harbour, with colourful sailing boats returning from stunning trips to the precipitous cliffs of the Twelve Apostles, the magnificent Monte Carlo-like mansions of Clifton, the sandy white beaches of Camps Bay, Muizenburg and Fish Hoek, not to mention Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years.

This corner of South Africa is also renowned for its splendid wines – produced among beautiful mountains, whitewashed Cape Dutch homesteads and a patchwork of vineyards. The towns reflecting the history of the French Huguenots are Stellenbosch, Franschoek and Paarl, all nestled beneath rugged mountains. No wonder this region is one of the most popular destinations for travellers.

Our four days in Cape Town goes by way too quickly. We leave for the airport in the afternoon with a sense of nostalgia – “I will return here, someday” – and fly back to Spain with so much to say about this country in the South. Adiós!

Owing to uncertainty about the teams qualifying for the knockout part of the World Cup, Wild Sunset Safaris does not offer scheduled tours for the soccer matches of the teams that make it to the final stages of the Soccer World Cup 2010. We do not believe that we can provide service excellence for our clients with such a short lead time between the different soccer knockout phases. However, all our other tours are available to you.