Places to Stay in Rustenburg
Rustenburg is a city based on platinum and agriculture. Doesn’t seem like a promising place to spend part of your 2010 World Cup odyssey? Well think again because as well as being a 2nd tier World Cup venue, hosting 5 Group matches and a Round of 16 game, it’s close to some of South Africa’s best game reserves, including Madikwe and Pilansberg. On top of that, Boer War buffs can explore some of the most significant sites from the 2nd war including Mafikeng. And last but not least, it’s well placed for a jaunt to Sol Kerzner’s shrine to hedonism, Sun City.
Stadium
Royal Bafokeng Stadium (capacity: 42,000)
World Cup Games in Rustenburg
Saturday, 12th June 8.30pm, Game 5 - Group C, England vs. USA
Tuesday, 15th June 1.30pm, Game 12 - Group F, New Zealand vs. Slovakia
Saturday, 19th June 1.30pm, Game 24 - Group D, Ghana vs. Australia
Tuesday, 22nd June 4pm, Game 33 - Group A, Mexico vs. Uruguay
Thursday, 24th June 8.30pm, Game 43 - Group E, Denmark vs. Japan
Saturday, 26th June 8.30pm, Game 50 - Round of 16, 1C vs 2D (3)
Weather in Rustenburg
Like much of the Highveld of South Africa, Rustenburg enjoys a winter similar to our autumn with daytime temperatures reaching the high teens in centigrade and nightime temperatures falling to low single figures. Winter's are dry so it's great game spotting weather if you heading to one of the nearby parks as the animals head for oen of the fewer, remaining waterholes for a slurp.
Things to do in Rustenburg
Rustenburg is one of those places where the appeal lies not in what you can do there, but what you can can do in the surrounding area.
Take Kgaswane Mountain Reserve (R20). Its not a place you come too to see the Big Five, although if you're lucky you could see some of the more unusual predators such as caracal, aardwolf and even leopard. But you will see a wide variety of antelope included hartebeest, kudu and sable antelope, and get to enjoy some pretty spectacular views down from the Magaliesberg to the town and the Pilanesberg and Waterberg to the north.
Or head to Madikwe Game Reserve (R50 but entrance must be booked through one of the park's lodges) - not only does it support over 60 mammal species, including the Big Five, in its 70,000+ hectares of open grass and woodland, it's also malaria-free.
The Pilanesberg Game Reserve (6.30am to 6.30pm, R45) also features the Big Five, but arguably offers a more spectacular setting, formed by an extinct volcano millions of years old and rising high above the surrounding Bushveld. Because of its location spanning the climatic zones of the arid Kalahari and the wetter Lowveld, Pilanesburg also sees a greater variety of wildlife, from the springbok and brown hyena to the impala. It's also extremely close to Sun City, which makes it easy to combine in a trip to explore the best of natural and man-made entertainment.
Sun City, Sol Kerzner's 'Kingdom of Pleasure', was opened in 1977 in the then independent state of Bophuthatswana, which meant it was free from South African laws banning gambling and topless revue shows. The resort now offers 4 hotels, 2 18-hole golf courses, a waterpark and extensive sports facilities for endeavours such as waterskiing, windsurfing, horseriding and mountain biking. The gambling remains of course, but the topless revue shows are no more.
Nightlife in Rustenburg
There's no a lot of nightlife in Rustenburg so don't get your hopes up.
For those pining for home, Caste Corner is an English-style pub with a good selection of beers and satellite sports. If you fancy a boogie, Café Voices is one of the few places with a dance floor in town and does host live bands.
