The FIFA 2010 World Cup is nearly upon us and, brings with it not only opportunity and mammoth excitement but, also legions of tourists and visitors to our wonderful country.

To help you cope with the influx of holidaymakers and avid soccer fans, we’ve put together a little list of tips to help you manage during this time.

• Schools will be closed for almost over four weeks during the World Cup. Think about what you’re going do with your kids. It’s not going to be possible to take leave for all the time that schools are closed so, why not think about sharing out the child-care responsibilities between your friends and family?
• Air travel will be very expensive during World Cup fever. Air tickets to Cape Town, for example, will cost about R8,000 per seat as some flights have to leave the same night after the games due to accommodation problems in all major cities.
• Flights will operate 24 hours. Be aware that noise and traffic congestion will be at a peak around airports at all hours.
• Fresh produce will be scarce, if not unavailable, during this time. Stock up as best you can. Freezing chopped bananas, for example, makes for easy use in smoothies.
• Traffic will increase by about 30% at the times of the games as fans go to the grounds or Fan Parks (games start at 13.30, 16.00 and 2030 hrs). The best time to fly is whilst matches are on!
• Road areas around stadiums will be closed off.
• It is expected that 550,000 people will be traveling to andfrom matches and 100,000 per match day.Expect considerable delays on match days.
• There will be no parking spaces available at airports so try your best to arrange drop offs.
• 4,800 buses will be operational and there will be restrictions on truckers and hauliers so, you need to plan with clients and especially regarding containers needing haulage.
• Fan Parks will be a huge attraction. Traffic to and from those areas will be extremely congested.
• Do not travel during these periods unless it is critical to travel.
• Plan your trip well in advance – changes to a ticket over this period will be extremely difficult and very expensive.
• Try to make appointments at a location that is in the opposite direction of a stadium / fan park.
• Take flights during the times when the games are being played. Games start at 13h30.
• Allow for a minimum of 2 hours to get to the airport in Cape Town and possibly 3 hours for Johannesburg . The congestion on the roads both to and from the airports is going to be chaotic. Plan for delays.
• Transfer companies will be busy with tourists and will also be very expensive.