Name Loftus Versfeld Stadium
Year completed 1906 (renovated 2008-09)
Cost US$12,000,000 (estimated)
Capacity 50,000
Home to Blue Bulls (rugby), Mamelodi Sundowns, SuperSport United (football)
Trivia The stadium hosted matches during the 1995 Rugby World Cup. The first stand, accommodating 2,000 spectators, was erected in 1923

Home to both Mamelodi Sundowns and the Bulls, the Loftus Versfeld Stadium, located in the east of Pretoria, close to the university, will be the stage for the World Cup 2010 cut and thrust, hosting five group matches and one second round fixture. A ground with a British feel, the 50,000 capacity arena did not require a major structural overhaul, just upgraded floodlights, a new roof on the East Stand and some gloss and polish.

Where to go, what to seeRugby and cricket are generally the focus of sporting attention in Pretoria, but football is set to take centre stage in the summer of 2010. While Pretoria, or Tshwane to give it its new name, may be only 50 or so kilometres from Johannesburg, it certainly stands in marked contrast to its near-neighbour. With Jo'burg a spread-out, bustling, gritty and edgy hotbed, Pretoria is more sleepy, compact and refined as it fulfils its role as South Africa's administrative capital. The two major cities of the Gauteng region of South Africa also have climatic differences, Pretoria benefiting from slightly higher temperatures compared to Johannesburg due to the fact that it lies at a lower altitude. June temperatures in Pretoria range from lows of five degrees centigrade to 20 – typically English, you could suggest. Known as the Jacaranda City for the purple flowers trees that bloom there, Pretoria has a cosy feel to it that Johannesburg simply does not possess. For this reason, many will see it as an ideal World Cup base, within striking distance of both Jo'burg – only 40 minutes away by car along the N1 – and Rustenburg (110km away). The smaller size of its city centre and relatively good record on crime mean Pretoria can be comfortably explored on foot. However, to make the most of its pleasant suburbs and to travel beyond the city limits, the best bet remains getting a hire car. The nearest airport to Pretoria is O.R. Tambo International, around 50km to the south-east, and the main route into town is the R21. There are several other ways of making it into the city: booking a door-to-door shuttle through such companies as Airport Shuttle (Tel: 0861 748 8853) or Airport Link (Tel: 011 729 2017); taking a taxi from the rank in front of the Arrivals area (it costs approximately $62.50 one-way); or using the bus service that runs to the Sammy Marks Centre in Pretoria from 5.30am to 8pm (Tel: 27 12 323 1429). Pretoria's principal train station is located on the southern side of the Central Business District at the intersection of Paul Kruger Street and Scheiding Street. Inter-city buses stop beside the station building, while there are also plenty of minibus taxis and metered-cabs on hand. The municipal bus service runs between 5am and 8pm and trips are a snip at only a few rand, plus you can pay as you get on. The city's heart is Union Square, a place of significant history that boasts the grand architecture of the old parliament building, the Reserve Bank and the upmarket Cafe Riche. If you spend any time in Pretoria, you are bound to find yourself gravitating to this obvious focal point. One thing is for sure – this city is a sports-mad metropolis. To the south is the town of Centurion, the site of one of the nation's premier cricket grounds, with the local Blue Bulls rugby team another Pretoria institution. Meanwhile, the South African footballing elite has two Pretorian teams: Mamelodi Sundowns and champions SuperSport United. The Loftus Versfeld Stadium will stage the city's matches and driving your own car or taking a taxi to one of the park-and-ride or park-and-walk stop-offs are the best ways to get there. Head for Pretoria Technical High School on the corner of Wessels and Park Street and then make tracks for a pedestrian walkway that leads to the stadium, or you can go to the Pretoria Sport Union at the intersection of Totius Street and Queen Wilhelmina Avenue, where shuttle buses will take you on to Loftus. The World Cup Fan Park will be held at the City Event Centre (formerly Pretoria Show Grounds) in the west of the city, with local organisers promising a party to beat them all. Fortunately, the best nightlife in the city is not at all far away from there, in the swanky suburbs of Hatfield and Brooklyn. Burnett Street in Hatfield is very much party central and you should try Tings and Times, a reggae bar-cum-shrine to Bob Marley located under a sports tavern. The chef here rustles up great pitas with delicious fillings. Also try out the heaving News Cafe, which transforms itself from superior eatery and bar to a full-on nightclub after dark on weekends, while the Drop Zone bar and club on the same street is also a cool hang-out. Both Brooklyn and Hatfield boast all sorts of great restaurants. For fantastic pasta, go to Mozzarella's Italian Kitchen on Burnett Street in Hatfield, while Crawdaddy's in Brooklyn Plaza dishes up the sort of flavoursome Cajun dishes that would not be out of place in New Orleans. Another good spot to pig-out is the quaintly-named eastern suburb of Faerie Glen on the slopes of the Bronberg Mountains. Die Werf on Olympus Drive will take care of the most ravenous appetites with such hearty traditional dishes as the Bosvelder, a mammoth T-bone steak in a wine-and-black-pepper sauce and Old Cape chicken pie. And should you fancy some plate smashing and tasty Greek food, book a table Easy Ouzaria in the Broadwalk shopping centre. The districts of Brooklyn, Hatfield and Arcadia – Arcadia being home to the Union Buildings, the impressive headquarters of the South African government – all have superb shopping and several welcoming guest houses. Snacks are good in these parts, too. Biltong, spicy dried beef and venison shavings, are a secret the world should know better, and then there is vetkoek, fried balls of bread dough that taste far better than you would expect. Oh, and if you fancy a round of golf to divert your attention from the World Cup drama, head southwards on the N1 to the immaculate Centurion Country Club. Eagles and birdies all-round in Pretoria.

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