What to pack

Travel Necessities for Soccer Fans Traveling to South Africa for World Cup 2010:

As World Cup 2010 is quickly approaching, here are a few tips for first time visitors to South Africa.

Clothing

Many people are under the assumption that it will be scorching hot anywhere you are on the African continent. The fact is that during the World Cup from June to July, South Africa will actually be in their winter season. During that time, depending on which part of South Africa you are in, temperatures can average a low of 0 degrees Celsius. It is highly recommended that visitors pack their long sleeves and jackets for those cold nights when visiting South Africa during the World Cup. Light clothing such as thin shirts or t-shirts would be appropriate for daytime.

Protection
Two must haves when traveling to the World Cup in South Africa are Sunscreen and Insect Repellent. Although the average temperatures in the winter months can reach below zero degrees at night, during the day, temperatures can reach the 25 degrees mark with constant sunshine. So, it's definitely a wise idea to pack sunscreen on your trip. In terms of insect repellent, there is a risk of getting malaria from insect bites, especially if you're staying in the northwest regions of South Africa such as Mpumalanga or Limpopo. Prior to your visit, check with your Doctor if you need to take Malaria pills before visiting certain areas.

Travel Documents

Like all trips, make sure that you have all your travel documents and photocopies of them. These include passports, ID, and credit cards. This will make it a lot easier for you to get another copy from your embassy in the event that you have lost your passports and other identification.

Other Travel Necessities

During the World Cup period between June and July, there is an average of 18 days of rain which totals about over 100mm of rain during that period. So it would definitely be a good idea to pack that rain coat or an umbrella or two. Especially during World Cup games where the stadiums will be wide open.

If you are on prescription drugs make sure to bring an extra supply. South African pharmacies may not carry your prescription drugs which may lead to serious health issues if you're dependent on those meds.

Make sure you have money in different forms such as credit card, cash, travelers cheques etc.