Johannesburg visit while at fifa world cup south africa
Football fans from all corners of the world will be visiting Johannesburg in South Africa during June and July so that they can attend the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament. The 2010 FIFA World Cup games will be played in nine different locales, including Johannesburg, which will be prominent for two significant reasons. It is the only location with a stadium and therefore will draw football enthusiasts eager to see as much action as possible. Also, that is where the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final will be played.
Since so many matches are being held in Johannesburg, any visitor to the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament is bound to have a busy schedule, but there is so much to see here, it is worthwhile scheduling some time to see the sights during your holiday. Even if you only have a short time to spend, be sure to take a guided tour of the famous group of townships called Soweto. Developed during the time of apartheid in South Africa as a place for Johannesburg’s black residents to live, Soweto is short for “South Western Townships”.
The Mandela Family Museum, located in Soweto and housed in Mandela’s first home, is the perfect spot to visit. The museum has photographs of Nelson Mandela and his family on display as well as documents and other artifacts that pertain to his life. The Apartheid Museum is another attraction in Soweto, as is the Hector Pieterson Memorial Site and Museum, dedicated to the 12 year old boy who was slain by police during the 1976 Soweto Uprising.
In the center of Johannesburg, there are also a number of other museums and historic attractions. The city’s Constitutional Court is located at Constitution Hill, which is also where the now abandoned Old Fort Prison Complex is located. It was also referred to as “Number Four”. Mahatma Gandhi was imprisoned here, as were both Nelson Mandela and his wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. It’s possible to go see the Constitutional Court or Old Fort Prison facility with a tour guide. The SAB World of Beer is another museum that is located in Johannesburg, and here you can learn about beer brewing as well as the history of the South African Breweries Ltd. The Bernberg Museum of Fashion is located in Johannesburg too.
The Johannesburg Zoo is also a popular tourist attraction. Although it is presently being renovated, it remains open and has over 300 species on display, including lions, gorillas, bears, crocodiles, chimpanzees and seals.
The southern gates of South Africa’s renowned Kruger National Park are just a few hours by car from Johannesburg, so you can plan a visit if you have the time after attending the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It’s the ideal place to go on safari and try to find the ‘Big Five”: lions, leopards, black rhinos, elephants and buffalo.
