(Image: Mary Alexander, South Africa .info)

Johannesburg

The economic hub of Africa, Johannesburg is a bustling, sprawling city of contrasts, spread across the small but densely populated province of Gauteng.

• Johannesburg: quick profile
• Nearest airport: OR Tambo International
• 2010 World Cup stadiums: Soccer City and Ellis Park
• 2010 World Cup matches: 10 first-round (including the opening) and two second-round matches, two quarterfinals and the final.

Cape Town

South Africa’s oldest and loveliest city lies in Table Bay on the Atlantic Ocean, in the south of the Western Cape province. Beautiful buildings, the nearby winelands, long white beaches and a rich cultural life make Cape Town South Africa’s most favoured tourist destination.

• Cape Town: quick profile
• Nearest airport: Cape Town International
• 2010 World Cup stadium: Greenpoint Stadium
• 2010 World Cup matches: five first-round matches, one second-round match, one quarterfinal, one semifinal.

Durban

A warm subtropical place and the largest city in KwaZulu-Natal, Durban is a major tourist destination with the busiest port in South Africa.

• Durban: quick profile
• Nearest airport: Durban International
• 2010 World Cup stadium: Moses Mabhida Stadium
• 2010 World Cup matches: five first-round matches, one second-round match, one semifinal.

Pretoria

Pretoria is the administrative capital of South Africa, lying north of Johannesburg in the province of Gauteng. Over 150 years old, it is a place of grand monuments, delightful architecture and lovely open spaces.

• Pretoria: quick profile
• Nearest airport: OR Tambo International
• 2010 World Cup stadium: Loftus Versfeld Stadium
• 2010 World Cup matches: five first-round matches, one second-round match.

Port Elizabeth

Known as the Friendly City, Port Elizabeth lies in Nelson Mandela Bay on the windswept Wild Coast of the Eastern Cape province.

• Port Elizabeth: quick profile
• Nearest airport: Port Elizabeth Airport
• 2010 World Cup stadium: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
• 2010 World Cup matches: five first-round matches, one second-round match, one quarterfinal and the third-place playoff.

Bloemfontein

The former capital of a Boer republic and now capital of the Free State, Bloemfontein – the name means “flower fountain” – is a pretty city with thousands of rose bushes and some poignant memorials.

• Bloemfontein: quick profile
• Nearest airport: Bloemfontein Airport
• 2010 World Cup stadium: Vodacom Park
• 2010 World Cup matches: five first-round matches, one second-round match.

Rustenburg

Its tranquil Jacaranda-lined streets belie the fact that the Rustenburg area in North West province is one of the world’s most heavily mined regions, with a wealth of platinum underground.

• Nearest airport: OR Tambo International
• 2010 World Cup stadium: Royal Bafokeng Stadium
• 2010 World Cup matches: four first-round matches, one second-round match.

Nelspruit

The capital of Mpumalanga province lies in the fertile valley of the Crocodile River, about 330km east of Johannesburg.

• Nearest airport: Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport
• 2010 World Cup stadium: Mbombela Stadium
• 2010 World Cup matches: five first-round matches

Polokwane

The capital of Limpopo province is ideally situated near the border of the wildlife-rich, world-famous Kruger National Park.

• Nearest airport: Polokwane International Airport
• 2010 World Cup stadium: Peter Mokaba Stadium
• 2010 World Cup matches: four first-round matches

Other football tournaments: UEFA European Championship in Ukraine and Poland Euro-2012

Cabernet Sauvignon
Most of the great red wines of Bordeaux and some of the finest wines of the New World including South Africa are based on Cabernet Sauvignon. This grapes variety is often blended with Cabernet Franc and Merlot and its flavor is reminiscent of blackcurrants or cedar wood. It requires aging in small oak barrels, and the best wines require several years of bottle age to reach their peak.

Cabernet Franc
This grapes variety possesses qualities similar to those of Cabernet Sauvignon, although they are a little less pronounced in Cabernet Franc. It is an important part of South African Cape blends and is often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon.

Cinsaut
Formerly known as Hermitage in the Western Cape of South Africa, it produces light wines and is most often used as a blending wine to increase accessibility at an early age. Cinsaut is one of the parents of Pinotage.

Merlot
This variety takes second place to Cabernet Sauvignon in most premium red wine blends. Merlot is fragrant and usually softer than Cabernet Sauvignon. It also shows best with oak maturation, but usually requires less bottle maturation before it is ready to drink. Some believe that the growing conditions in South Africa do not require Merlot to be blended in with Cabernet. Merlot bottled as a varietal is becoming more and more commonplace in South Africa.

Pinotage
It is a unique South African grape made from a cross of pinot noir and cinsaut. It was developed locally in 1926. It is hardy in the vineyard and generally produces a wine that is full bodied with good fruit flavours and a distinctive spiciness, but often referred to as possessing a “sweetish acetone” flavor. Previously thought to be early maturing, it is now believed that pinotage benefits from extended maturation.

Pinot noir
The grape from which complex and elegant wines are made in Burgundy There are several new vineyards in South Africa making pinot noir that show great promise. The Pinot Noir wines in South Africa are clean and lively with the flavor of ripe cherries.

Shiraz
This grape is also known as Syrah. It makes a soft and rich wine often characterized by smoky and chocolaty aromas. It matures faster than cabernet and is sometimes blended with it to speed accessibility.

Zinfandel
This variety probably originated in Southern Italy as the Primitivo grape. It is planted by only a few Cape wineries, and the first examples have been very good, especially when they receive enough oak maturation.

Even though English is the most commonly spoken language in official and commercial public life in South Africa, it is only the fifth most-spoken home language, while eleven official languages are recognized in the Constitution on South Africa:  Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa and isiZulu.