Tag: Durban

A while back I went on a tour of the new Durban world cup 2010 stadium. This was done before the stadium had been completed, and was looking amazing.
The public are now able to go on a fully guided tour for R75 for a 90 min tour of the whole stadium. I think it is well worth the price, given the enormity and beauty of this stadium.

From the Durban host city FIFA website:

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build a FIFA-approved, Olympic-sized sports stadium, and then come on down and visit the stadium to find out! Or, travel up the iconic arch of the stadium to the viewing platform, where you will experience spectacular panoramic views over the ocean and the city. The more adventurous can walk up the 550 steps of the southern side of the arch to the viewing platform! For details on how to visit the stadium, read on.

Stadium tours

Tours of the stadium showcase the state-of-the-art landmark sport facility in Durban – The MOSES MABHIDA STADIUM which is the centerpiece of the Kings Park Sporting precinct. Fully trained tour guides will take you through the visually inspiring sport facility and surrounding precinct. You will be treated to the architectural and engineering ingenuity of the recreational and multi-disciplinary venue as well as panoramic views of Durban. The Moses Mabhida Stadium offers guided professional, general and school tours.

The professional all access tour covers the following areas:

• VVIP Presidential suites and atrium.
• The stadium banqueting facilities and various venue hire premises.
• The stadium competition area including the state of the art change rooms and players mixed zone and tunnel.
• Media Centre and Broadcast cubicles Venue Operations Centre [V.O.C].
• The hallowed 2010 World Cup Semi-final venue pitch The stadium bowl.
• The stadium window looking on to Durban’s CBD and glorious coastline.
• The Arch with its Sky Car and Adventure Walk.
• Peoples Park and Heroe’s Walk Imbizo Place lifestyle retail area.

Pricing:

Professional tours R75 (90 min tour) adults and children General tour Adults R20 Children R15 Pensioners 10% School groups: free, by appointment, Mondays

Opening hours:

Stadium Tours (Tuesday to Sunday)

Time	Price
09h00 – 09h45	R 20.00	General tour
10h00 – 10h45	R 20.00	General tour
10h00 – 11h30	R 75.00	Professional Tour – public (day ticket)
11h00 – 12h30	R 75.00	Professional Tour – pre-booked
13h00 – 13h45	R 20.00	General tour
14h00 – 15h30	R 75.00	Professional Tour – public (day ticket)
15h00 – 16h30	R 75.00	Professional Tour – pre-booked
15h00 – 15h45	R 20.00	General tour
16h30 – 17h15	R 20.00	General tour

Group size: 20 max

Sky car

A tourist attraction in its own right, the Sky Car will ferry up to 20 visitors to the stadium arch’s highest point, where they can enjoy a breathtaking 360-degree view of the city. The Sky Car consists of a single cabin mounted on an undercarriage that runs along steel tracks fixed to the top of the north arch.

The funicular runs along the length of the north arch from the lower station to the upper station at the Sky Platform. The gradient of the arch varies substantially; therefore the funicular is fitted with a hydraulic self leveling floor. The cabin is framed by glass windows with entrance and exit doors at either end. The roof consists of glass louvers that can be opened electronically by the driver for ventilation. The passengers travel up the arch in a standing position holding onto the handrail around the perimeter.

Note: Trips in the sky car dependent on weather conditions.

Pricing:

Adults R50 (SA citizens)
Adults R75 (international)
Children R25
Pensioners 10% discount

Opening hours:

Monday to Friday: 09h00 – 18h00
Saturday: 05h00 – 22h00
Sunday: 09h00 – 18h00

Adventure Walk

The southern legs of the arch incorporate an adventure walk. Visitors will be issued with safety equipment and, under the watchful eye of qualified instructors, will be able to make their trip to the top of the arch (and down again) via some 550 steps.

Note: trips in the sky car dependent on weather conditions

Pricing:

• Adults R80 (SA citizens)
• Adults R100 (international)
• No children’s discount
• No children under 10
• Pensioners 10% discount

Note: Participants to wear closed toe walking/ sport shoes
Note: trips in the sky car dependent on weather conditions

Group size – 9

Opening hours:

Monday to Friday: 09h00 – 18h00
Saturday: 05h00 – 18h00
Sunday: 09h00 – 18h00

Booking tours to the stadium, sky car and adventure walk.

To book your trip to the stadium, please make use of the following contact details;

Moses Mabhida Stadium switchboard: 031 582 8222

Direct line for tour etc bookings: 031 582 8242

Contact persons:

Deseree Naidoo, Email: [email protected]

Nereshnee Govender, Email: [email protected]

For school bookings – Florina Maphalala
Email: [email protected]

To enter the stadium, make use of Isaiah Ntshangase Road and proceed to the visitor’s stadium. For more information on the stadium, please consult the Moses Mabhida Website: www.mosesmabhidastadium.co.za

I heard a rumour not so long ago that the well-known pub in Umhlanga, Cottonfields, would be closing down. I been there a couple of times, and had a few good parties there, one which involved a bachelors party, which I have vague memories of :)

Now I heard they have officially closed down to make way for the American restaurant chain, Hooters. Now most guys will know about Hooters for their um, waitresses. I have also heard the Chicken wings are awesome.  To give you an idea of the stature of women they are looking to employ as waitresses, I found the advert calling for waitresses on a local site called Modelbase.

…Hooters hires women who best fit the image of a Hooters Girl to work in this capacity and believe that the Hooters Girl is as socially acceptable as a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader, Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, or a Sharks Girl.

The Hooters Girl uniform consists of orange shorts and a white tank top, short-sleeve or long-sleeve T-shirt.

Sounds nice enough :)

I came across a pictures, from the East Coast Radio website, of some of the waitresses who will be working at the new Hooters in Umhlangha.

Pics via ECR website

Anybody keen to join me for chicken wings and beer…. :)

UPDATE: To see a couple of Photos from the opening on the 1st of May, click check out King Shaka International Airport Opens post

I recieved some awesome aerial shots of the new Airport, called King Shaka International Airport, currentley being built just outside La Mercy just North of Durbs.

The first plane will land at the new airport on the 1st May 2010, just in time for the 2010 FIFA world cup. They are really moving along with the construction as you can see below. For more info on the Airport and what it will be offer check out this Wikipedia link

Click on the images below to view a larger version