Sunset at Soccer City Stadium in Soweto
The hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs are all ready to welcome you when you get to South Africa. But how are they going to get you around?
These are interesting times at Go-Concierge. We flew from London to South Africa at the start of April expecting to find the country primed for kick off.
It is.
Anticipation is rising. Stadiums are gleaming. And the hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs are bursting to welcome you when you get there. But as we discovered to our surprise: they’re not sure how they’re going to get you around.
Jam busting
South Africa’s transport system is the best in Africa, but the World Cup is going to push the system to its limit. Take road transport.
Assuming the supply of rental vehicles doesn’t dry up completely, travelling by car is relatively straightforward – but not cheap. Even if you can find a rental car, navigating unfamiliar and roads is never easy. Especially after dark when you’ve had a drink or two. As for match day parking, think Oxford Street on Christmas Eve.
When they’re good, South African taxis are among the best you’ll find. When they’re bad, they’re coffins on wheels. But the comparison is academic. Good, bad or ugly: there’s a good chance there simply won’t be enough taxis to go round.
As for buses: if you find first world bus travel an endurance test, you’re unlikely to enjoy South Africa bus travel.
Private minibus: the way to go
As we knew all along, private minibuses will be the smoothest and safest way to get around South Africa during the World Cup. What’s more, South Africa’s hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs agree with us.
We’re still taking bookings from individuals and groups for match days and non-match days. But over the last few weeks, we’ve been running a roadshow across South Africa that’s attracting huge interest from the hotels, guesthouses and B&B managers nationwide. Most of them know how many guests they will be hosting. Most of them also admit they don’t have the wheels to get them around.
Are you sorted?
You’ve booked your flight. Bought your match tickets. Sorted your accommodation. But it might be worth asking your hosts how you’re supposed to get around once you arrive in South Africa. If you don’t get the answers you’re looking for, it might be worth taking a look at Go-Concierge: the safest, smoothest way to get around the World Cup.
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