Our guide to England's group destinations starts off a little Rustyâ¦
EnglandâÂÂs World Cup begins here with a game against the USA on June 12. Most fans will drive, taxi or get coaches in from Johannesburg, which takes under two hours, or fly into Pilanesburg or Rustenburg airports. Make sure you plan ahead for getting there and back: there are no realistic public transport options, and South AfricaâÂÂs overstretched system could see you stranded otherwise.
The city of Rustenburg itself isnâÂÂt necessarily the sort of place youâÂÂd normally visit: itâÂÂs an administrative capital and a platinum mining base â think Doncaster with sunshine. Driving round initially, there doesnâÂÂt seem to be much to see apart from numerous car showrooms â and England fans may feel that theyâÂÂve been robbed of an interesting place to stay on the first leg of their visit.
TheyâÂÂd be wrong. While âÂÂRustyâ is little more than a pleasant town (albeit a safe one with ample accommodation, high employment, a low crime rate and some decent nightlife) itâÂÂs a perfect base for two of AfricaâÂÂs most spectacular attractions.
Nature lovers will go wild for the reserves and safari parks of Magaliesberg, where they can spot the âÂÂBig Fiveâ animals and take part in numerous outdoor pursuits: mountain-biking, climbing, rambling, hot-air ballooning, horse-riding, fishing, bird-watching, botany and much, much more.
For fans seeking for a more visceral thrill, itâÂÂs just half an hour to South AfricaâÂÂs answer to Vegas and âÂÂKingdom of PleasureâÂÂ. Sun City is a 1500-hectare playground: casinos, hotels, bars and leisure facilities chucked together in a stunningly beautiful jungle setting. At the majestic Palace of the Lost City you can surf a roaring lagoon at the Valley of Waves, sunbathe on an incredible man-made beach, try the water slides and whizz around on a hired quad bike or Segway (all for a tennerâÂÂs entrance fee).
Sun City: Simply bonkers
Sporting types can get wet at the âÂÂWaterworld Lakeâ (speedboating, water skiing etc) or have a round at the two lavish championship golf courses. After losing your rands at the Sun City HotelâÂÂs Harlequins Casino, fans can enjoy some live entertainment, and the resort is also putting up some truly gigantic TV screens for the World CupâÂÂs matches. You can even feed and ride elephants.
The bars and restaurants of the Cabanas, Cascades and Palace are world-class too: no wonder when previous guests include the likes of Michael Jackson and Elton John, who have both played spectacular gigs here.
Never knowingly understated...
Back in Rustenburg, the fansâ park will be set up at Fields College, just a short distance from the city centre. With a capacity of 20,000, itâÂÂll show all the World Cup games and is open for the business of partying from 10am to 11pm. "We're stocking a lot of beer for the English," a tourist office official tells us. "And weâÂÂre looking forward to drinking them with you."
If you donâÂÂt fancy joining the locals for a lager straight away, though, Rusty also offers some interesting Boer War history at the Rustenburg Museum, and the Waterfall Shopping Mall is a good place to while away half a day picking up some bargains.
The Stadium
EnglandâÂÂs opening game is to be held at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace Stadium. The smart 42,389 capacity open-air bowl has been built in the heart of the Royal Bafokeng nation, and is owned and funded (at the cost of 120 million rand) by the local tribe, who operate many of the platinum mines.
As it's 13 kilometres outside the city, most fans will arrive by coach, taxi and park-and-ride along the âÂÂAvenue of Legendsâ â a road with lots of posters of Maradona, Zidane and David Beckham, in other words. Plan your journey well ahead and arrive early.
The view from the bench...
Inside, the ground is similar to many of the venues fans will remember from Germany 2006: spacious, with lots of legroom and wide-open concourses and stairwells, meaning thereâÂÂs no crowding or claustrophobic crushes. It feels properly African too, though: you can see the Magaliesburg mountains and savannah from the stands.
...and the dressing room
Despite having an athletics track around it, every seat is close to the action, although itâÂÂs hard to say how much of the noise generated by the England fans will be lost into the African air. DonâÂÂt worry about a brolly, either, Mr. McClaren (if youâÂÂre coming, that is). The weather here is pleasant all year round, so pack sun cream for this leg of the trip. Winter is known as the âÂÂsecret seasonâ in this part of South Africa.
Accommodation
With 14,000 hotel rooms, Rustenburg offers an option to suit every budget. You could rest your head in a nearby safari park in Pilanesberg, or even rent a room from a local Bafokeng tribesman. Find out more at www.rustenburgaccommodation.co.za and www.magliesmeander.co.za
FFT's hosts wereSun International, Southern AfricaâÂÂs leading hotel group.
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