FIFA World Cup 2010: Only 100 days to go

With today marking 100 days to the kick-off to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, excitement is building across South Africa. Durban will host the official launch and the extravagant celebration today.
Fans and travellers are busy planning the details of their tour through South Africa. The hosts of Dreamfields Guesthouse highly recommend to book safaris and other activities well in advance to avoid disappointment. To find out more about activities and rates in the Hazyview area please send an email to info@dreamfieldsguesthouse.com.

FIFA World Cup 2010: From the "Kiez" to the Cape

They officially started on Monday, the 15th February: Kay Amtenbrink and Bernd Volkens are driving from Hamburg, St. Pauli, the “Kiez” to the Cape in their old VW Minibus and plan to be on time for the opening game on the 11.June 2010.

Kristina and Neil from Dreamfields Guesthouse read a newspaper article about it and got in touch with Kay and Bernd. Updates from the tour are now published on Twitter and once they reach the north of South Africa a cold beer and a comfortable bed will wait for them. Dreamfields Guesthouse proudly sponsers projects like this!

TOP 3 South African Sports

Rugby: For the many South African fans of the game, rugby is a serious matter, a source of bursting pride and joy - or shattering disappointment. The country has traditionally fared extremely well on the world stage, and South African fans expect their national team to win every game it plays. The Springboks are the national rugby team and traditionally one of the sport's international powerhouses. Every talented South African youngster dreams of one day wearing "the green and gold".

Cricket: South African cricket was isolated from the rest of the world for 21 years - from 1970 to 1991 - because of the apartheid policies of the former government. South Africa had only ever played against Australia, England and New Zealand. When the country was readmitted to world cricket in 1991 it was able to face all opponents. The Proteas, previously known as the Springboks, adapted surprisingly quickly to the demands of the international game in 1991.

Soccer: The most widely played sport in South Africa is football – or soccer, as many call it. Traditionally supported and intensely followed by the black community, the quality of the local game keeps improving. For many South Africans, the country's proudest sporting moment came when South Africa won the African Nations Cup on home turf in 1996. The national site is called Bafana Bafana (Boys) – a name everyone will know after the FIFA 2010 World Cup.

Shangana Cultural Village Evening Festival

For guests who want to combine a dinner with an African experience, we highly recommend the Shangana Village:

The residents of the traditional villages of Shangana invite guests to share in the way of life of the Shangaan people. The picturesque villages are set in the shade of ancient trees in a reserve of forest and grassland, and are open every day.

A bustling African market village forms the centre of Shangana, where local craftspeople make and trade their craft. From here, trained guides lead guests down to the famed Evening Festival in the Chief's Kraal. The Chief and his family host the Evening Festival, where choirs, actors and dancers gather to tell the story of the Shangaan people.
The evening ends with a delicious dinner.

More information and bookings can be done by your hosts.

Top 3 Restaurant recommendations in Hazyview

Hazyview offers a good choice of restaurants, from family restaurants to upmarket restaurants. Your hosts at Dreamfields Guesthouse are happy to make recommendations and reservations. The Top 3 Restaurants are:

1. Pioneers Grill – for delicious steaks and seafood
2. Summerfields Kitchen
3. KUKA Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge

FIFA World Cup 2010: Airline price-fixing?

South Africa's competition watchdog is investigating major airlines in the country for colluding on airfare prices for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The airlines being investigated are British Airways and Comair, South African Airways, 1Time, SA Airlink, Mango and SA Express.

Hopefully this will lead to a price cut and will give more travellers the opportunity to visit South Africa for this event! To find you more click here.

Kruger National Park: Public sightings

Everyone interested in wildlife and the Kruger National Park should have a look at the following beautiful pictures taken by visitors of the Park in 2009:
Public sightings

Dreamfields Guesthouse is only 10 kms from Phabani Gate to the Kruger National Park. Guided safaris can be arranged prior to your arrival.

Top Valentine`s Day destination

Forget about the Maldives, Hawaii or Paris – Southern Africa is the place to be this Valentine’s Day. The continent is increasingly being associated with luxury and romance. Where else can you – like you can in Hazyview - combine activities like an exciting Safari, a day in a 5 star SPA, a round of golf on one of the top golf courses and Hot Air Ballooning?
Book your romantic holiday now.

FIFA World Cup 2010: Mbombela Stadium Pitch Re-Laid

The rain-storms we had over the last weeks left the new stadium's pitch water-logged. After a FIFA inspection the Mbombela Stadium pitch has to be resurfaced and a suitable drainage implemented.

World Cup organizers in Nelspruit said the new pitch will be ready for match competition by the end of February - and there was no cause for concern about the ground's ability to host its four World Cup matches in June when there is traditionally hardly any rain in the area.
Plans for the proposed opening of the stadium on March 3 with a friendly international between Ghana and Bosnia-Herzegovina are going ahead as planned.

World Cup fixtures due to be staged at Nelspruit's Mbombela Stadium are those between Honduras and Chile (June 16), Italy and New Zealand (June 20), Australia and Serbia (June 23) and North Korea and Ivory Coast (June 25).

Only about 60 kms from the stadium Dreamfields Guesthouse still has got availablility for some dates.

TOP 25 Useful South African Words

South Africans speak English, that does not mean that you will always understand them!
For all the visitors – not only during the World Cup 2010 - we would like to introduce a few words that are good to know while travelling in South Africa:

babbelas (bub-buh-luss) - A hangover.
bakkie (buck-ee) - A pick-up truck.
biltong (bill-tong) - This South African favourite is dried and salted meat
boerewors (boor-uh-vors) - Literally, farmer's sausage. A savoury sausage developed by the Boers - today's Afrikaners - some 200 years ago, boerewors is South African food at its most traditional.
boet (like book, with a t) - A term of affection, from the Afrikaans for brother.
braai (br-eye) - An outdoor barbecue, where meat such as steak, chicken and boerewors are cooked.
café (kaf-ay, kaff-ee or kayff) - The ubiquitous small neighbourhood convenience store, often found on street corners and stocking cigarettes, cold drinks and newspapers.
droewors (droo-uh-vors) – Dried boerewors, similar to biltong.
eish (aysh) - Used to express surprise, wonder, frustration or outrage.
gatvol (ghut-foll) - Taken from Afrikaans, this means fed up, as in “Jislaaik”. I'm gatvol of working in this hot sun." Translation: "Gee, I'm fed up with working in this hot sun."
howzit - A traditional South African greeting that translates roughly as "How are you?", "How are things?" or simply "Hello".
is it (as one word: izit) - An expression frequently used in conversation and equivalent to "Is that so?"
ja (yaa) - Yes.
jislaaik (yis-like) - An expression of outrage or surprise: "Jislaaik, I just saw Elvis!"
just now - If a South African tells you they will do something "just now", they mean they'll do it in the near future - not immediately: "I'll do the dishes just now."
laduma! (la-doo-mah) - A popular cheer celebrating goals scored at soccer matches, from the isiZulu for it thunders.
lekker (lekk-irr with a rolling r) - Nice, good, great, cool or tasty.
mampara (mum-puh-rah) - An idiot, a silly person. From the Sotho languages.
now-now - Shortly, in a bit: "I'll be there now-now."
oke - A man, similar to guy or bloke.
robots - Traffic lights.
sarmie - Sandwich.
shame - Broadly denotes sympathetic feeling. Someone admiring a baby, kitten or puppy might say: "Ag shame!" to emphasise its cuteness.
sharp - Often doubled up for effect as sharp-sharp!, this word is used as a greeting, a farewell, for agreement or just to express enthusiasm.
vuvuzela (voo-voo-zeh-lah) - A large, colourful plastic trumpet with the sound of a foghorn, blown enthusiastically by virtually everyone in the crowd at soccer matches. According to some, the word comes from the isiZulu for "making noise".

And do not forget, South Africa is a multilingual country with 11 official languages!