Great Western Air

South Africa

With less than 100 days to the biggest international tournament in world football, to say that the opening games of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa are eagerly awaited does a disservice to the growing excitement of football fans throughout the world! South Africa is the first southern hemisphere country to host the tournament since Argentina in 1978. All eyes will be focussed on the always-colourful opening ceremony, and the opening match between host nation South Africa and the skillful Mexico side. Read on for more...

32 national teams have qualified for the tournament, and the draw was made for the 8 groups of 4 teams on Friday December 4th 2009 at the splendid Cape Town Convention Centre. The draw certainly threw up some wonderful pairings, as we shall see now! 2 teams qualify from each group to reach the last 16 of eight knock out pairings.

Group A

This group features: South Africa, Uruguay, France and Mexico

Game meetings:

South Africa v Mexico 11th June (Soccer City, Johannesburg)

France v Uruguay 11th June (Cape Town Stadium)

South Africa v Uruguay 16th June (Lotus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria)

Mexico v France 17th June (Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane)

Mexico v Uruguay 22nd June (Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenberg)

South Africa v France 22nd June (The Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein)

Predicted to Qualify: France & Mexico

Group B

This group features: Argentina, Nigeria, Greece and South Korea

Game meetings:

South Korea v Greece 12th June (Nelson Mandela Stadium, Port Elizabeth)

Argentina v Nigeria 12th June (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)

Argentina v South Korea 17th June (Soccer City, Johannesburg)

Greece v Nigeria 17th June (Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein)

Nigeria v South Korea 22nd June (Mabhida Stadium, Durban)

Argentina v Greece 22nd June (Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane)

Predicted to Qualify: Argentina and Greece.

Group C

This group features: England, USA, Slovenia and Algeria

Game meetings:

USA v England 12th June (Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenberg)

Algeria v Slovenia 13th June (Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane)

Slovenia v USA 18th June (Ellis Stadium, Johannesburg)

England v Algeria 18th June (Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town)

Slovenia v England 23rd June (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth)

USA v Algeria 23rd June (Lotus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria)

Predicted to qualify: USA and England.

Group D

This group features: Germany, Serbia, Ghana and Australia

Game meetings:

Serbia v Ghana, 13th June (Pretoria)

Germany v Australia 13th June (Durban)

Germany v Serbia 18th June (Port Elizabeth)

Australia v Ghana 19th June (Rustenberg)

Ghana v Germany 23rd June (Johannesberg)

Australia v Serbia 23rd June (Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit)

Predicted to qualify: Ghana and Germany

Group E

This group features: Holland, Denmark, Japan and Cameroon

Game meetings:

Holland v Denmark 14th June (Johannesburg)

Cameroon v Japan 14th June (Bloemfontein)

Japan v Holland 19th June (Durban)

Denmark v Cameroon 19th June (Pretoria)

Denmark v Japan 24th June (Rustenberg)

Cameroon v Holland 24th June (Cape Town)

Predicted to qualify: Cameroon and Holland

Group F

This group features: Slovakia, Italy, Paraguay and New Zealand

Game meetings:

Italy v Paraguay 14th June (Cape Town)

Slovakia v New Zealand 15h June (Rustenberg)

Slovakia v Paraguay 20th June (Bloemfontein)

New Zealand v Italy 20h June (Nelspruit)

Italy v Slovakia 24th June (Johannesburg)

Paraguay v New Zealand 24th June (Polokwane)

Predicted to qualify: Italy and Slovakia

Group G

This group features: Brazil, Ivory Coast, Portugal and North Korea

Game meetings:

Portugal v Ivory Coast, 15th June (Port Elizabeth)

North Korea v BrazilJohannesburg)

Brazil v Ivory Coast (Johannesburg)

Portugal v North Korea 21st June

25th Jun (Nelspruit)

Brazil v Portugal 25th June (Durban)

Predicted to qualify: Brazil and Portugal

Group G

This group features: Spain, Switzerland, Honduras and Chile.

Game meetings:

Honduras v Chile (Nelspruit)

Switzerland v Spain (Durban)

Chile v Switzerland (Port Elizabeth)

Spain v Honduras 1st June (Johannesburg)

Spain v Chile (Pretoria)

Switzerland v Honduras (Bloemfontein)

Predicted to qualify: Spain and Chile.

Read our next World Cup 2010 blog for information on the round of last 16 teams!

Hope you are looking forward to the 2010 South Africa World Cup as much as we are! Obviously you are specifically travelling to the tournament to support your home nation, but with such a long haul destination you are bound to have some time to visit the wonderful South Africa attractions in the locality that you are staying in!

The best way to discover the beauty of South Africa is to secure a top quality car rental so visit our Car Hire Cape Town page.

For more information on South Africa, check out our South Africa Travel Blogs page.

John writes for Novacarhire.com - an independent car hire reservation website where you can book low cost car hire at over 5,000 locations worldwide.

What are the places that i must see in South Africa?

Iam planning a three day trip to South africa, Jo berg and Suncity from India. Could you help me plan my trip? What are the places that i must see in South africa and how can i plan my three days to the best.

COMMENT FOR B O
You comment is making me disgusting

Have you seen the crime in india you are so Stupid do you actually stay in South-Africa.YES I WILL ADMIT THERE IS CRIME HERE BUT WHAT COUNTRY DOES NOT HAVE CRIME YOU ARE SO IGNORANT/STUPID.

Poor Whites - South Africa

South African

Luxury South African Safari Family Vacations

Child-friendly safari's are few and far between. There are not many safari reserves in South Africa where families can enjoy an up-market, luxurious African Safari exprience. An exception is the the Kalahari Desert. The Desert invites children and parents to enjoy a safari experience where parents can relax while their children play freely in these mystical surroundings.

A recent survey by American Express's Platinum division found that over 90 percent of its affluent cardholders prefer to travel with their children. This new breed of worldly traveleraged 15 and youngeris accustomed to fine food and designer labels, just like their parents.

While an African Safari vacation appeals to many international travelers, the up-market traveler yearns for a Safari experience that can offer a family a safari vacation that is an embodiment of luxurious comfort and personalized service. This up-market traveler is enticed by resorts that can offer superb quality; that offer assurance of the finest settings and top-quality vacation experiences.

To establish this level of extravagance and lavishness is often easily attainable and there are an abundance of resorts to choose from throughout South Africa. The more demanding challenge however is to discover a luxury safari resort that is also child-friendly.

Unfortunately there are many exclusive and luxurious South African Safari resorts that do not Welcome children. When children are permitted to visit the reserves, they often forget how important it is to cater for children. They may not have kid's menus and their idea of accommodating children often means that they sleep on the corner couch. Safari resorts that claim to be kid friendly should go out of their way to create an environment in which the children are entertained and where they can feel welcome and at home.

Another essential consideration when planning an African family safari vacation is to ensure that the game reserve is in a malaria-free area and where there is no need to worry about preventative malaria medication for the parents or the little ones.

Family vacations will never be the same after visiting the Kalahari Desert. Released from the cooped up confines of urban environments, boys and girls will relish in the delight of open spaces of the African bush; sliding down the red sand dunes, coming into contact with wild animals on the game drives or on horseback safaris, and being able to meet their friends from Meerkat Manor in real life. And while the children enjoy these new South African Safari experiences, parents are free to relax, knowing that their children are safe, cared for and entertained - while they can kick back and enjoy a truly carefree vacation, maybe do a little stargazing together at night and take a stroll along the Milky Way. With the night-time air so clear and so black in the middle of the Kalahari Desert, stargazing is a truly special and unique bonding experience.

The Kalahari Reserve is also renowned as an excellent place for bird watching with more than 200 species of birds some of them indigenous to the arid zone, found in the varying habitats of the reserve. Raptors and in particular, vultures, are very well represented. The most abundant species are the white-backed vulture and the lappet-faced vulture.

A special treat for children is a Hot Air Balloon ride across the skies looking down on the red desert sand dunes and vast African planes. Of course the most popular activity at an African safari is game watching from the private game viewing vehicle or by horseback trails. A guided walk with an experienced game ranger provides and educational and entertaining experience for the children.

While the children are entertained, the adult can enjoy superior facilities such as the tantalizing tastes of African cuisine and fine wines, a private chef and a luxury spa treatment. Even the youngsters deserve a little pampering after a hard and dusty day of game watching and playing under the African sun.

About the Author

The Tswalu Kalahari Reserve offers a unique child-friendly safari vacations and is the ideal luxury resort for the entire family. Visit http://www.tswalu.com to book your Safari experience.

How do you think the South African crowds will react towards England's Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott?

The upcoming England vs. South Africa series is due to start on November 13 in South Africa, how do you think the crowd will react towards the South African raised KP and Jonathon Trott?

Also how do you think the series will go?
Who do you think will be the stand out team and players?

It will be a definite test for both players and Fans for sure

Racial Advert - South Africa, Soweto