World Cup 2010 South Africa

2010 SOCCER WORLD CUP SOUTH AFRICA RUSTENBURG NORTH WEST PROVINCE ROYAL BAFOKEN SPORTS PALACE This will be a great place to watch your team in the 2010 Football World Cup in South Africa. This venue has an interesting history in that it was erected by the richest tribe on earth in 1999! How this came about is that the Bafoken tribe acquired 70 000 hectares of farm land during the 1800's and early 1900's by working on the mines in other areas in Southern Africa and then pooling their money and buying farms to raise cattle. Little did they know that underneath this land lie some of the richest mineral deposits in the world, including the 2nd largest platinum deposit on earth! After being dispossessed by the previous political dispensations, their rights were restored after 1994, and the mining companies have to pay royalties to the tribe and provide them with job opportunities. The income from these royalties is substantial and the Bofoken have used it to build schools, roads and clinics as well as the beautiful Royal Bafoken Sports Palace which will be used to play the 1st and 2nd rounds of the 2010 World Cup. Rustenburg is a burgeoning town with its economy based mainly on mining and to a lesser extent, agriculture. It has a large shopping centre on the perimeter of the town and there are many pubs and restaurants as well as shops in the town centre. There is a nature reserve adjoining Rustenburg but the main game reserve of the North West is called Madikwe Game Reserve. This is a Big 5 malaria free gem that offers a range of lodges from 5 Star luxury to rustic comfort. One of the biggest attractions in the North West is Sun City the gaming capital of Africa. This huge resort offers every luxury imaginable, including championship golf courses, watersports, entertainment and gaming. You can indulge in a safari experience here as well with big game on view at the Pilanesburg National Park right next door to Sun City. There are many more rural towns and villages in the North West. Some of them have a fascinating history and Groot Marico is one of these. This town was made famous by the author Herman Charles Bosman and his tales of the people of this town. It also made famous the local brew, a fiery brand of liquor that is called mampoer. Beware! It is strong..you have been warned! " INTERESTING FACTS #1 There are only 12 countries in the world that supply tap water that is clean enough to drink, and South Africa is one of them. In fact our tap water quality is about 3rd in the world.