Lonely Planet has announced its top 10 list of Best Value Destinations for 2011. Here at Finding Africa it comes as no surprise that Namibia is ranked at number 5.

 

Namibia is a land of unique and contrasting landscapes offering the wild rugged skeleton coast, the solitude of the mighty dunes in the Namib Desert, great game-viewing in the Etosha National Park and of course the colonial German architecture from a bygone era. Namibia is well geared towards backpackers and tours aimed at budget travellers, but if you go up a price bracket you can eat and sleep well in excellent midrange value-for-money options. Namibia has become a photographer’s and outdoor adventure enthusiast’s paradise.

 

Bangladesh topped the Lonely Planet list at number one.

The explosion of spring flowers has fast become one of South Africa’s most popular natural events, drawing visitors from across the country and the world to marvel at the carpets of colour that bloom in the Western and Northern Cape each year.

 

You’ll see magnificent spring flowers as far south as the Western Cape wine lands town of Darling, but if you have a little more time on your hands the Northern Cape is the place to visit. Heading north on the N7 freeway, you’ll pass the turnoff to Clanwilliam, but keep driving past the vineyards and rooibos tea plantations until you reach Vanrhynsdorp; the ‘gateway to Namaqualand’.

 

For the full article on the Flower Season.

 

 

CapeTimes

Babalo Ndenze

2 July 2010

 

An overwhelming majority of World Cup visitors from 13 countries have given the city and the province almost full marks, with more than half indicating their desire to return with their families after the tournament, a snap shot exit poll by the provincial government has found.

 

But the province said yesterday that negative pre Cup coverage, particularly by overseas media, had cost the province and the country.

 

Addressing the media on the poll results, the province’s 2010 co-ordinator, Laurine Platsky, described the media as the country and the province’s “worst enemies” in the run-up to the tournament.

 

Despite the negative portrayal of South Africa before the Cup, visitors found a different reality, and rated their experience 9.06 out of 10.

 

The poll of 50 visitors from 13countries,all here for the World cup, was conducted on 30 June in the international departure lounge of the Cape Town International  Air Port.   They were from the United States, England, Dubai, Netherlands, Hong Kong, Mexico, Scotland, China, Montenegro, Cayman Islands, Singapore, Switzerland and Germany.

 

Finance, Economic Development and Tourism MEC Alan Winde said the poll was a “small window sample”, but more detailed studies were being carried out by various bodies and universities.   The snap shot survey’s primary goal was to measure perception and experience.

 

Among the visitors surveyed, 38% perceived the destination as safe, 36 % felt reall safe and 16% felt very safe.  The remainder (10%) felt either unsafe or very unsafe.

 

One respondent specified that he initially felt unsafe, but felt really safe towards the end of this stay.   A respondent who claimed that he felt slightly unsafe was robbed on Lon Street, and requested a better police presence.   The perception of the destination was much more positive than upon arrival.

 

Winde said that 46% indicated that they viewed the destination more positively with 50% indicating they felt much more positively about SA since coming here.

 

“There were no respondents who indicated that they felt more negatively.” Said Winde.

 

The poll found 32% said that they would return and 66 % would return with their families.

 

“The top two countries exiting are the United Kingdom and the US, probably because of the results.   Respondents had an average age of 40 years and were predominantly male, but that’s to be expected because this is football, “Winde said.

 

Platsky recalled how she asked herself if Cape Town and the country could match Germany’s preparedness, while visiting the country four years ago.

“Then there was lots of negativity with the stadiums with professionals saying there was not enough skills and cement.   But now we’re getting positive feedback anecdotally and in more detail.  It’s all because of hard work and enormous attention to detail.   Many media people told me they would be bringing their families.   Some will go back with a glowing account of the province.”

 

She said the main reasons the city was not a preferred venue for team base camps was because there were far too many “distractions”.

 

Winde said the figures suggest that hosting the World Cup has had a positive influence on South Africa’s reputation as a travel destination.   “If these results come to bear, we may see a boost to the economy around the tourist industry for years to come.”

 

The top attractions in the Western Cape are TableMountain (84% visited) and Cape Point (68% visited).

 

Those surveyed had listed these icons as their top three non football experiences, “but in a substantial twist, the third most popular positive experience of World Cup tourists, were the people of the Western Cape, whom they said were friendly, fantastic, helpful, polite and hospitable”.

 

Cape Town Routes Unlimited chief executive Calvyn Gilfellan said the  “Cape of Storms” perception had not affected visitors numbers.

 

“The single biggest approach lies in tourism and tourism marketing in particular.” Said Gilfellan.

 

He said Western Cape was the only province that embarked on a tourism marketing campaign. The R1.2 million marketing campaign was launched last year.

 

The massive swing in positive media sentiment here and abroad – balanced, responsible coverage of the past three weeks – is worth diamonds and gold in marketing terms, ”he said.

 

Platsky said she had been keeping track of international and local media reports for the past five years, and most articles were very negative, especially in international media.

 

“The has been our worst enemies before the World Cup.   The press clippings I’ve collected in the last five years showed negativity around our readiness and crime.   More people would have come had it not been for the media.”

 

In one case, a group of 11 French tourist had cancelled their booking because of a story about the murder of Eugene Terre’Blanche, which had said racial wars would break out.

 

Platsky said she had been interviewed by foreign journalists about a story n the strikes and bad weather during the construction of the stadium.   However, ”the stories we saw later ignored the facts”.

 

Winde agreed, saying a number of page one articles had painted the country in a bad light.   “In the United Kingdom and Germany they were very negative.  I don’t know quantifiably, by number, how much this has cost us.”

 

South Africa scored nine out of 10 for its organisation of the 2010 World Cup. "Nobody in the world is perfect, but the organisation of this first World Cup in Africa and in South Africa was pretty close," FIFA president Sepp Blatter told a 2010 World Cup wrap-up press conference in Johannesburg.

 

"I was more than satisfied and happy with the smooth running of the tournament. It was a huge success for both South Africa and the continent of Africa. "It is down to the people of South Africa for the way they opened their arms to this event."

 

For the full article on iafrica.com, click here.

 

 

 

It is a little-known story outside of South Africa that has come into focus with the country hosting the continent's first World Cup.

 

 

RobbenIsland, best known for being home to political prisoners jailed by the old apartheid government, most famously former leader Nelson Mandela and current president Jacob Zuma. But what few realise is the role football played in shaping resistance at the prison. Many of the inmates were passionate about the game and used it to help find relief from their grim existence.

 

Zuma was a referee, but Mandela, later to become South Africa's first black leader, was kept in isolation with other high-risk prisoners and was not allowed to play. Warders wouldn't allow inmates a football at first so they tied rags together and played "matches" in their cells, but these were quickly broken up.

 

Several prisoners started writing letters of complaint, knowing it was within their rights to be allowed to exercise, but it took three long years before authorities finally caved in and let them have a ball.

 

But inmates soon created a league, the Makana Football Association in 1967, named after a prophet banished to the island in 1819. They put in place the same structures that would apply to any league, based on FIFA frameworks, publishing tables, fixture lists and detailed minutes of meetings. There were even authorised transfers, often written on tiny scraps of paper.

 

 

 

For the full article on iafrica.com, click here.

Clinton hails 2010 hosts

 

Former United States president Bill Clinton, who was in South Africa to watch his country's matchs, told reporters he had caught the World Cup bug. Clinton paid a visit to South African President Jacob Zuma, where he said that South Africa was doing a great job hosting the tournament. The former U.S. President is also apparently a vuvuzela fan. "There doesn't seem to be a conductor anywhere. Nobody seems to have a music script but I swear they were playing together. They somehow swarmed," Clinton told reporters. "I can't go home without one these. I have to get one of these."

 

Day 12 Matches

 

The qualification equation will be resolved once and for all in groups A and B on Tuesday when, to ensure fairness between the teams in contention, the two games in each section will kick off at the same time. Uruguay and Mexico currently lead the way in Group A with four points apiece and a draw between them in Rustenburg would send both through to the last 16. In Group B, Argentina stand on the verge of the knockout phase, even if they could still conceivably be eliminated on goal difference if they lose to Greece and three teams finish on six points.

 

France vs South Africa, Bloemfontein (16.00 local time)

Mexico vs Uruguay, Rustenburg (16.00 local time)

Greece vs Argentina, Polokwane (20.30 local time)

Nigeria vs Korea Republic, Durban (20.30 local time)

 

For the full article on Fifa.com, click here.

Day 11 Matches

 

Although European champions Spain were widely backed to take Group H by storm, it is Chile and Switzerland who will battle for top spot in the section after the less-fancied duo both recorded wins in their initial outings. Having been humbled by the Swiss, Spain now need to get their tournament up and running against a Honduras side that put in a valiant effort before losing 1-0 to Chile.

 

Portugal vs Korea DPR, Group G, Cape Town, 13.30 (local time).

Chile vs Switzerland, Group H, Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth, 16.00 (local time).

Spain vs Honduras, Group H, Johannesburg (Ellis Park), 20.30 (local time).

 

For the full article on Fifa.com, click here.

Vuvuzelas go global

 

The vuvuzela may have had a lot of bad press overseas, but English football fans seem to be so smitten with them that a British supermarket can’t keep up with demand for the infamous South African plastic horn.

 

Sainsbury's, the country’s third-largest supermarket chain, said on Wednesday it expected to sell out of vuvuzelas within 48 hours as British fans snap up English-themed versions of the horn. According to AP, the retailer has sold more than 40 000 vuvuzelas, which are priced at £2 each.

 

For the full article on iafrica.com click here.

Day 7 Matches

 

Argentina and Korea Republic will cross paths for the second time in FIFA World Cup™ history in Johannesburg on Thursday knowing that whoever seizes the spoils in their Group B meeting will take a giant stride towards the Round of 16. France face a Mexican side still hoping to showcase their expansive football after their 1-1 draw with South Africa.

 

The matches

Argentina-Korea Republic, Group B, Johannesburg (Soccer City), 13.30 (local time)

Greece-Nigeria, Group B, Mangaung/Bloemfontein, 16.00 (local time)

France-Mexico, Group A, Polokwane, 20.30 (local time)

 

For the full article on Fifa.com, click here.

Day 5 Matches

 

The only country to have won the FIFA World Cup™ outside their own continent, five-time champions Brazil take their opening bow at South Africa 2010 against Group G outsiders Korea DPR.

 

The Matches

New Zealand-Slovakia, Group F, Rustenburg, 13.30
Côte d’Ivoire-Portugal, Group G, Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth, 16.00
Brazil-Korea DPR, Group G, Johannesburg (Ellis Park), 20.30

 

For the full article on Fifa.com, click here.

Day 4 Matches

 

A cosmopolitan cast is preparing to light up the fourth matchday at the 2010 World Cup South Africa™. Following an all-European affair between the Netherlands and Denmark, Italy take on Paraguay in a Europe-South American showdown before Asian hopefuls Japan meet four-time African champions Cameroon.

 

The matches
The Netherlands - Denmark, Group E, Johannesburg (Soccer City), 13:30
Japan - Cameroon, Group E, Mangaung/Bloemfontein, 16:00
Italy - Paraguay, Group F, Cape Town, 20:30

For the full article on Fifa.com, click here.

Endlich wieder WM – wer würde nicht gerne ein Sommermärchen wie die 2006 in Deutschland live miterleben?

Die gute Nachricht- es sind noch günstige Zimmer frei!

Johannesburg, Durban oder Kapstadt – wir bringen Sie auch Last Minute noch unter!

 

Kontaktieren Sie uns HIER oder rufen Sie uns an:

 Tel: +49 89 2206 1272

 Tel: +27 21 685 6460

 

SA is more than ready!

 

Just days before South Africa meets Mexico in the opening match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Soccer City, Johannesburg, the host country’s President Jacob Zuma took the opportunity to welcome the world to South Africa.

 

South Africa has resembled a construction site for the last six years as world-class stadiums have been built and roads, rail, airports and communication systems upgraded in record time to meet the demands of the tournament and the country’s developmental needs for years to come.

 

For the full article on Fifa.com, click here.

SA 'Safer than Europe'

 

A report from British authorities, showed that South Africa was a safer destination for British tourists than Spain, Thailand and Germany.

 

The report was released by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office and measured just how much help that country’s tourists need from their consulates abroad between 2008 and 2009. Statistically Britons were nearly twice as likely to die in Germany than in South Africa, while Thailand was the least safe destination for people from the United Kingdom.

 

Full the full article on iafrica.com, click here.

The thing about the West Coast is what you see is what you get: the open spaces that hide nothing, the rustic wind-swept fisherman’s cottages and the smell of bokkoms: a local delicacy of sundried fish that permeates the air. It’s a place that allows you to take a minute to breathe in the fresh sea air as carpets of sand sting your knees.

 

And what better place to do so than along an untouched ElandsBay coastline? Approximately an hour’s drive from Langebaan and two from Cape Town, ElandsBay is a surfing hotspot that attracts many a beach bum in search of the perfect wave. Beaches are deserted, wild, unblemished. Seas are lively. And the skyline stretches on forever....

 

For the full article, click here.

Security Beefs up for FIFA World Cup

 

South Africa has successfully delivered close to 150 major sporting events, including the FIFA Confederations Cup and the Indian Premier League last year, with no major incidents. However the 2010 FIFA World Cup is a far larger affair and in response to this, the SAPS has increased their capacity, having now taken delivery of 665 million rand worth of new equipment. This includes six helicopters, ten mobile command vehicles, 100 high performance vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, body armour and water cannons.

 

Besides the investment in equipment, the SAPS have also recruited 55,000 new police officers over the last five years. This force will be complemented with an additional 41,000 officers who have gained invaluable experience in handling major sports tournaments. These security forces will be charged with border control, route security, city security, stadium security and crowd management during the tournament.

 

For the full article on fifa.com, click here.

South Africa's Greenpoint stadium, which has been chosen to host a 2010 World Cup semifinal, was on Monday declared complete.

 

The 68 000 seater stadium boosts the views of the iconic TableMountain and the historic RobinIsland, where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated.

 

Greenpoint cost R4.5-billion and is one of ten venues to host the 2010 football spectacle. Other stadiums already completed include, Moses Mabhida in Durban and SoccerCity in Johannesburg.

 

For the full article on iafrica.com, click here.

 

The Whale Trail, a five-day, 55-kilometre wander through the De Hoop Nature Reserve, has rapidly become one of the South Africa’s iconic hikes, so popular you need to book months in advance if you want to walk it during the peak whale season from August to October. Even if you walk out of season, when whales are few, it remains one of South Africa’s most incredible walks.

 

Lying 240 kilometres east of Cape Town, the De Hoop Nature Reserve covers around 34 000 hectares, but the offshore marine protected area is just as important. Stretching five kilometres out to sea, it is one of the largest protected ocean areas in Africa and provides a sanctuary for an array of marine life.

 

For the full article on iafrica.com, click here.

Two million tickets sold for 2010 World Cup

After three of five ticketing sales phases for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa, two-thirds of the available tickets have been sold.

The third ticketing sales phase, which will conclude with a random draw for oversubscribed matches on 1 February, saw a total of 1,206,865 applications received from 192 countries. Six matches are currently oversubscribed (in all categories), among them the semi-finals and the final. In total, 55 matches are oversubscribed in at least one category.

The next ticketing sales phase will start on 9 February 2010 and end on 7 April 2010. During these 58 days, more than 400,000 tickets will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis via www.fifa.com/2010 or in FNB branches (in South Africa only).

For the full article on fifa.com, click here.

Expats flock to SA

 

South Africa is the sixth best country in the world to live in, according to expatriates based here. This was revealed in a massive global survey commissioned by global finance house HSBC Bank International. The study was conducted by UK-based research company FreshMinds. Results were released in late November 2009.

 

Over 3100 expats, from more than 30 industries and living in 50 countries on four continents, took part in the study earlier in the year. In the end 26 countries made the rankings. South Africa came in behind the top five of Canada, Australia, Thailand, Singapore and Bahrain.

 

As an expat favourite it eclipsed highly developed nations such as the US, France, Hong Kong, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and the UK, as well as other emerging nations including Brazil, Mexico, China and India.

 

In addition to making the top 10 overall, South Africa scored highly in the categories of making local friends (2), organising schools (3), finding somewhere to live (3), social life (3), quality of life (3), and accommodation (4).

 

South Africa was the top-ranked country for hobbyists, as well as the top country for settling down, beating Thailand and Canada which took 2nd and 3rd place respectively. More than half of those questioned — 55 percent — have lived in South Africa for more than five years.

 

For the full article on iafrica.com, click here.