Football fans from all corners of the world will descend on Johannesburg in South Africa in June and July to view the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament. Johannesburg is one of nine cities that will host 2010 FIFA World Cup matches, but it is a significant venue for two critical reasons. First of all, it will be the one city of the nine involved that will utilize two stadiums during the tournament. That means that it will attract football fans who are interested in seeing as much action as they can. Also, that is where the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final will be played.
Anyone who is going to Johannesburg to see the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament will be fairly busy because so many matches are being held there, but there are a number of tourist attractions there that are worth seeing during your vacation. Be sure that you take a guided tour of the famous group of townships referred to as Soweto, even if you have limited time available. South Western Township, Soweto, arose during apartheid as housing for Johannesburg's black population.
The Mandela Family Museum is one place worth visiting when you are in Soweto. It is the first house that Nelson Mandela owned. Among the exhibits on display in the museum are pictures of Nelson Mandela and his family, as well as documents and other articles that pertain to his life. The Apartheid Museum is another attraction located in Soweto, as is the Hector Pieterson Memorial Site and Museum, which is dedicated to the 12 year old boy who was killed by police during the 1976 Soweto Uprising.
At the heart of Johannesburg there are plenty of historic sites as well as museum options. The city's Constitutional Court is now housed at Constitution Hill, which is also the site of the now abandoned Old Fort Prison Complex, which was also referred to as "Number Four". Nelson Mandela, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi all were jailed here. It is possible to take a guided tour of the Old fort Prison Complex and the Constitutional Court. The Bernberg Museum of Fashion is also located in Johannesburg, as is the SAB World of Beer, where you can find out how beer is brewed as well as the history of the South African Breweries Ltd.
The Johannesburg Zoo is also a beloved tourist destination. Presently it is being renovated, but it remains open and it houses over 300 species, including lions, gorillas, bears, crocodiles, chimpanzees and seals.
Should you have additional time to spend following the 2010 FIFA World Cup, you may want to visit South Africa's renowned Kruger National Park, which is only a few hours by car from Johannesburg. It is the ultimate safari location and ideal for viewing lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo and black rhino, otherwise known as the Big Five.
