Travel Comments - Backpacker Guide through Southern Africa - tra:mag report -FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 South Africa

-- Confederations Cup 2009 Winner: BRAZIL --

Groups and Standings

What to do in between the matches?

New Zealand
Rustenburg: 14 June & 17 June - accommodation in Rustenburg
Johannesburg: 20 June - Purple Palms Flashbackers & Travel Lodge
What to do?
Rustenburg is close to the well known Pilanesberg Game Reserve. You can either join organised tours or explore the Reserve on your own in a rental car. One day in Pilanesberg is enough. Sun City is nearby aswell, so another day can be spend there. Hartbeespoort Dam isn't far away either, so that the days between the matches in Rustenburg can easily be spend.
The third match will be in Johannesburg, so moving there is advisable. There is plenty to do in Johannesburg, so will not get bored.
If the tournament is over for your team after the third match and you still have time to spend in Southern Africa, check the following suggestions:
· Kruger National Park tours
· Victoria Falls tours (Zimbabwe)
· Okavango & Chobe NP tours (Botswana)
· flights to Durban (the only "warm" city in winter is Durban)
· flights to Cape Town
· Overland tours in Southern/Eastern Africa
Otherwise enjoy the rest of the tournament in Bloemfontein, Johannesburg or back in Rustenburg.

Spain
Rustenburg: 14 June - accommodation in Rustenburg
Bloemfontein: 17 June & 20 June - Accommodation in Bloemfontein
What to do?
As 2 out of 3 matches during the group stage will be held in Bloemfontein, staying there is advisable. Bloemfontein is a student town, so at least the party part of the day will be pretty enjoyable...(rental car advisable)
Rustenburg is close to the well known Pilanesberg Game Reserve. You can either join organised tours or explore the Reserve on your own in a rental car. One day in Pilanesberg is enough. Sun City is nearby aswell, so another day can be spend there. Hartbeespoort Dam isn't far away either, so that the days between the matches in Rustenburg can easily be spend.
If the tournament is over for your team after the third match and you still have time to spend in Southern Africa, check the following suggestions:
· Kruger National Park tours
· Victoria Falls tours (Zimbabwe)
· Okavango & Chobe NP tours (Botswana)
· flights to Durban (the only "warm" city in winter is Durban)
· flights to Cape Town
· Overland tours in Southern/Eastern Africa
Otherwise enjoy the rest of the tournament in Bloemfontein, Johannesburg or back in Rustenburg.

Brasil
Bloemfontein: 15 June - Accommodation in Bloemfontein
Pretoria: 18 June & 21 June - North South Backpackers
The first match during the group stage will be held in Bloemfontein, so staying there is advisable. Bloemfontein is a student town, so at least the party part of the day will be pretty enjoyable...(rental car advisable)
The third match will be in Pretoria, so moving there is advisable. There is plenty to do in around Pretoria, so will not get bored.
If the tournament is over for your team after the third match and you still have time to spend in Southern Africa, check the following suggestions:
· Kruger National Park tours
· Victoria Falls tours (Zimbabwe)
· Okavango & Chobe NP tours (Botswana)
· flights to Durban (the only "warm" city in winter is Durban)
· flights to Cape Town
· Overland tours in Southern/Eastern Africa
Otherwise enjoy the rest of the tournament in Bloemfontein, Johannesburg or back in Rustenburg.

USA
Pretoria: 15 June & 18 June - North South Backpackers
Rustenburg: 21 June - accommodation in Rustenburg
As 2 out of 3 matches will be held in Pretoria, staying there is advisable. There is plenty to do in around Pretoria, so will not get bored.
Rustenburg is close to the well known Pilanesberg Game Reserve. You can either join organised tours or explore the Reserve on your own in a rental car. One day in Pilanesberg is enough. Sun City is nearby aswell, so another day can be spend there. Hartbeespoort Dam isn't far away either, so that the days between the matches in Rustenburg can easily be spend.
If the tournament is over for your team after the third match and you still have time to spend in Southern Africa, check the following suggestions:
· Kruger National Park tours
· Victoria Falls tours (Zimbabwe)
· Okavango & Chobe NP tours (Botswana)
· flights to Durban (the only "warm" city in winter is Durban)
· flights to Cape Town
· Overland tours in Southern/Eastern Africa
Otherwise enjoy the rest of the tournament in Bloemfontein, Johannesburg or back in Rustenburg.

Italy
Pretoria: 15 June & 21 June - North South Backpackers
Johannesburg: 18 June - Purple Palms Flashbackers & Travel Lodge
As 2 out of 3 matches will be held in Pretoria, staying there is advisable. There is plenty to do in around Pretoria, so will not get bored. The match against Egypt at the 18 June will be held in Johannesburg, so the shuttle service between the sister lodges North South in Pretoria and Purple Palms in Johannesburg is a good choice for you.
If the tournament is over for your team after the third match and you still have time to spend in Southern Africa, check the following suggestions:
· Kruger National Park tours
· Victoria Falls tours (Zimbabwe)
· Okavango & Chobe NP tours (Botswana)
· flights to Durban (the only "warm" city in winter is Durban)
· flights to Cape Town
· Overland tours in Southern/Eastern Africa
Otherwise enjoy the rest of the tournament in Bloemfontein, Johannesburg or back in Rustenburg.