FOOTBALL WORLD CUP 2010 CAPE TOWN

Mad about football? Then in 2010 there's only one place to be: South Africa.

In June the FIFA World Cup, the world's biggest sporting event, comes to Africa for the first time.

Both the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup and the 1995 Rugby World Cup were held in South Africa and both tournaments highlighted the country's excellent track record of staging major events. But this is something different. This is football. And football in South Africa is the number one sport. Nothing can compare to the South African's love for the game. You can expect the whole country to be behind the South Africa national football team when the tournament kicks off on 11 June. Bafana Bafana, as the national team is known, take on Mexico in the competition's curtain raiser.

32 nations will participate in the 2010 FIFA World Cup making it as much of a cultural event as a sporting one. Being in South Africa at this time means that you'll meet and mix with fans from all parts of the world. Naturally English will be the language of choice between travelling fans and let's not forget that English's a national language of South Africa.

The South African government has pulled out all the stops to ensure that this will be the best tournament ever. New stadiums have been built (including Cape Town's 78, 000 seater Green Point), Cape Town International Airport has received a facelift and security was been beefed up.

Hotels are already nearly fully booked and room rates have skyrocketed. English learners looking for good accommodation at affordable prices should contact us immediately. At EC Cape Town English language school you can combine quality English lessons with a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

What to Do in Cape Town

Capetonians are rightly proud of their beautiful city, they'll happily recommend some great places to you. In the meantime, here's a taster of the cities 'best-ofs' and 'must-sees'.

Best for Shopping: Century City and Canal Walk Shopping Centre is one of South Africa’s premier shopping centres. It’s home to over 400 stores and represents the best of local and international brands.

Best for Nightlife: Head to Long Street for some all night fun. There's a dizzying array of bars, restaurants and hot-spots where you can shake a leg. V&A Waterfront is where most tourists tend to congregate and it's very close to Green Point Stadium.

Best for Culture: Just 15 km from Cape Town, Gugulethu Township is a vibrant and lively area. The sense of community is strong and well worth the effort of exploring. Many people find this area one the most fascinating parts of Cape Town.

Best for Natural Beauty: The best views of Cape Town and the Atlantic Ocean are seen from the top of Table Mountain. It can be hiked, or for a more genteel experience, you can take a cable car.

Best for History: If there is one thing that Africa isn't short on, it's history. Accessible by a short boat ride, Robben Island is one of Cape Town's top tourist attractions and a poignant insight into South Africa's recent history. During apartheid the island prison is where Nelson Mandela has held for most of his 27 years of imprisonment.