It’s nestled in the middle of Limpopo Province and shares boundaries with South Africa's neighbors Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
The flamboyant city is surrounded by charming mountains and is full of captivating places. It’s also where Baobab, the biggest tree in Africa, exists.
Polokwane is a cosmopolitan and multicultural city that also attracts many investors and is considered to be the economic hub of Limpopo. It has been bustling with businessmen since gold was first discovered in the area in the 19th century.
It also has a substantial historical significance, as Polokwane is as old as the Stone Age.
Around Polokwane, the Mapungubwe people prospered during the Iron Age a couple of millenniums ago. But while Polokwane is ancient, professional football is only 15 years old in the city.
Professional football was first introduced in Polokwane in 1995 when Real Rovers were promoted to the country's Premier Soccer League.
It’s worth mentioning that Chelsea star Didier Drogba made his Ivory Coast debut in a CAF African Cup of Nations qualifier in 2001 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. South Africa won the game 2-1.


Peter Mokaba Stadium
Named after one of the famous figures who struggled against the apartheid in South Africa; it was newly built next to a smaller stadium that has the same name. The capacity of the new Peter Mokaba Stadium is almost 45,000.

Tshwane/Pretoria is South Africa's administrative capital. It might not boast breathtaking landscapes like many other South African cities but it’s definitely the right place for history buffs. A multitude of monuments and museums show how modern art is an integral part of the city, and also help you understand the history of the whole country.
One of the most important landmarks in Tshwane/Pretoria is the Union Buildings, where the headquarters of the country’s administration is located. The well-known venue has also witnessed all the presidential inaugurations. Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and the incumbent Jacob Zuma were all declared presidents at the Union Buildings.
The City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality was established only on December 5th, 2000 after the South African government united 13 former city and town councils.
The Ndebele people were the first to settle down along the Tshwane River, which was named after a Ndebele chief. In 1855, it became the first capital of the Zuid-Afrikaanche Republiek (ZAR), a territory claimed by Dutch settlers in South Africa.
Afterwards, the area was named Pretoria. It’s where the Rivonia Treason Trial was held and led to Mandela’s implication and imprisonment.
A good number of the Bafana Bafana’s football stars came from Tshwane/Pretoria as many top-flight clubs are situated there, such as Arcadia, Berea Park and Mamelodi Sundowns.

Loftus Versfeld Stadium Established in 1903 and is one of the oldest stadiums in the country. Originally it only accommodated 2,000 fans but today its seats 50,000 people.

Rustenburg is uniquely located at the center of the Savannah Bushveld in the North West Province, on top of the Magaliesburg Mountains.
The City’s location once made it a strategic place to initiate attacks during military battles in the 19th century.
It goes by the name of ‘platinum capital of the world’ because it boasts the richest platinum mines on earth. Rustenburg is also rich with other mineral wealth, and thus mining is perceived to be its primary industry.
Apart from its spectacular location 1,852 meter above sea level, Rustenburg is 30 kilometers away from the Sun City, arguably Africa's premier holiday resort. The Hartebeesport Dam is another prominent South African landmark located only 40 kilometers away from Rustenburg.
Football is not a very popular sport in Rustenburg. Platinum Stars is the only professional football club in the city but are considered to be one of the top teams in the South Africa.

Royal Bafokeng Stadium The Royal Bafokeng Stadium is one of the most prominent stadiums in South Africa. It’s named after the Bafokeng people who live in the area. It accommodates around 42,000 spectators and has hosted a number of pivotal games for the Bafana Bafana.

Johannesburg goes by the name of the City of Gold and is the largest and most famous city in South Africa. It’s considered to be the business center of the country and its contribution to the government revenues is quite substantial.
The city is also renowned for its abundance of trees that create a sort of an urban forest, therefore night strolls in Johannesburg are always memorable.
There are many fascinating places in Johannesburg, such as the old Mai Mai Market where you can discover traditional remedies.
Its residents are the descendants of the original Tswana and Ndebele inhabitants as well as the European, Indian and Chinese settlers. The Tswana name for Johannesburg is eGoli, which means a place of gold.
Johannesburg, which became a city since 1886, is where football is extremely popular in South Africa. It boasts the most prominent clubs in the country such as Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Jomo Cosmos.
Johannesburg has

Ellis Park Stadium It’s located at the heart of Johannesburg hosted pivotal games, including the 1996 African Cup of Nations final between South Africa and Tunisia, which the Bafana Bafana won the match 2-0 and the FIFA Confederations Cup final between Brazil and USA. It is also where the South African rugby team were crowned World champions in 1995. Ellis Park was upgraded ahead of the 2010 World Cup and now boasts 57,000-person seating. Soccer City Stadium Located in the largest city of the country, the reconstructed venue is considered the most famous football site in South Africa.
It witnessed Nelson Mandela's first speech in Johannesburg as it staged the CAN 1996 final; South Africa's only continental triumph.
The Soccer City Stadium, which will host the opening and final games of the World Cup, is regarded as a design masterpiece.
It has been upgraded to take a capacity of 94,700 supporters, adding changing room facilities and installing new floodlighting.

Nelspruit is the capital of the aptly-named Mpumalanga Province, and like many other South African cities, it’s renowned for its magnificent landscapes. The word ‘Mpumalanga’ means a place where the sun rises and indeed Nelspruit’s sunny weather is one of its main trademarks.
Nelspruit’s Blyde River Canyon is one of the most glamorous scenes in the world. It’s a deep-blue river that extends among an endless chain of green hills. No words can describe its charm. There are also numerous waterfalls and vast green spaces all over Nelspruit, therefore you can find a huge variety of fruits in the city.
Nelspruit was established early in the 20th century. It was named after the Nel family that settled in the area in 1905. They took advantage of the fertile soil and set up cattle farms at the time. Later on, the family moved to the Crocodile River which runs in the middle of Mpumalanga.
These days there is only one Nelspruit professional football club in the Mpumalanga Black Aces. Nelspruit is where former full-back David Nyathi, who’s now 41, was born and raised. He was once picked in FIFA’s World starting eleven.

Mbombela Stadium It’s one of the stadiums that have been newly structured for the 2010 World Cup. It’s named after the municipality situated in Nelspruit with a capacity of 46,000.

In the middle of the Free State Province lies Mangaung/Bloemfontein, where life is a mixture of rural calmness and urban development.
In SeSotho, one of South Africa's 11 official languages, the word ‘Mangaung’ means a place of the cheetahs, while in Dutch ‘Bloemfontein’ means the fountain of flowers.
As the judicial capital of South Africa, Bloemfontein boasts a number of buildings of an architectural value, like the Appeal Court, which is the highest court in South Africa and is considered one of the city's most important landmarks. The City Hall is another testament to the city’s architectural wealth. It was built by Sir Gordon Leith.
It’s worth mentioning that football fanaticism has been more common in Mangaung/Bloemfontein than any other South African city. The most affectionate supporters in the country come from Mangaung/Bloemfontein. They usually egg on their teams by singing enthusiastically in the stands.
Bloemfontein Celtic have one of the most powerful fan firms in South Africa, known as Siwelele. The club’s kit is quite similar to their Scottish namesake.
Football was first played in the city late in the 19th century when the area was an independent Boer republic. It was called 'Oranje Free Staat' at the time.

Free State Stadium It was the venue of the memorable FIFA Confederations Cup semi-final match between Spain and USA, which the latter team surprisingly won to qualify for the final. After refurbishments, its capacity rose from 38,000 to 45,000.

Durban, also known as Ethekwini, is the largest city in the KwaZulu-Natal Province. The coastal city is the busiest port in Africa and also a favorite resort for tourists for its warm climate and magnificent shores.
Ushaka Marine World is undoubtedly one of Durban’s worth visiting places. In the massive park there is one of the five largest aquariums on the globe.
The history of the city is written in rocky caves in uKhahlamba/ Drakensberg National Park. The San lived in these mountains for four millenniums. The sculptures have made uKhahlamba/ Drakensberg National Park a UNESCO World Heritage site ever since their discovery.
Durban is understood to have hosted the country’s first football league in 1882, which included four sides in Pietermaritzburg County, Natal Wasps, Durban Alpha and Umgeni Stars.
Many prominent clubs were established in Durban, such as Zulu Royals who were the first winners of the National Professional Soccer League in 1971.
Durban was the host city for three 1996 African Cup of Nations matches as well as South Africa's game against England in 2003, which helped the Bafana Bafana launch their bid for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Durban Stadium One of the stadiums that were recently built for the World Cup and it will host one of the two semi-final games. Its futuristic design was inspired by the South African flag. The 70,000-seater is one of the biggest venues in the country.

Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth, nicknamed the Friendly City, is named after one of the World’s most famous patriots.
It is located in the Eastern Cape Province, where some of the country’s folk heroes settled for a long time, such as Mandela, former president Thabo Mbeki, and Steve Biko. They all stood firm against apartheid.
Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth is a haven for sea lovers, with many pristine beaches surrounding it.
The buildings of the city clearly show the development of architecture starting the 19th century. For instance, the Opera House is built in the Victorian style. The small city also boasts a myriad of Art Nouveau buildings and contemporary structures.
The visitors usually enjoy eco-tourism in Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth, with five Biomes converging in the Eastern Cape Province.
Rumor has it that the Sunshine Coast, which is few hours away by car, inspired J. R. R. Tolkien to write his famous books the Lord of the Rings, which turned into a series of blockbusters few years ago.
Football, rugby and cricket are the most popular sports in Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth, which was the host city of the group stage and quarter-final matches of the 1996 African Cup of Nations.

Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium The stadium has been recently established next to the shore of the North End Lake. It will host the third-place match and a quarter-final game. The stadium’s structure is notably striking and its location is spectacular. Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium's capacity is over 48,000.

Cape Town is the most southern city in Africa. One side of the city overlooks the ocean while the rest of its boundaries are shaped by stunning mountains. It has been the legislative capital of South Africa since 1910.
The Table Mountain is one of the most prominent landmarks in Cape Town. It rises 1,086 meters above the city and is deemed remarkable for its flat summit.
Cape Town goes by the name of Mother City and possesses a breathtaking landscape and is the perfect place for fishing tuna and crayfish.
The Victoria and Alfred (V&A) Waterfront is where shopaholics can fulfill their needs. The city is also renowned for its numerous museums and massive wine production.
Curiously, it’s believed that Cape Town was first inhabited as early as 100,000 BC. In 1652, it became a resort for the sailors who used to travel along the African coast at the time. Some places in Cape Town have historical significance. Robben Island, for instance, is where several political figures were imprisoned in 1898.
Many successful South African players hail from Cape Town, such as Quinton Fortune who played for Manchester United after joining from Atletico Madrid. South Africa's all-time top scorer Benni McCarthy is also a Cape Town native. He won the UEFA Champions League with FC Porto under the management of highly-rated coach Jose Mourinho.
There are many top-flight sides in the city too, such as Ikapa Sporting, FC Cape Town and Hanover Park.

Green Point Stadium Green Point is an awe-inspiring stadium that was newly built in a strategic location in Cape Town. The massive 70,000-seater will host a World Cup semi-final clash.