Top 10 Best Stadiums In South Africa.

South Africa boasts quite a few world-class, multi-purpose stadiums that can host different events such as football, rugby, and tennis matches, gatherings, and even large ceremonies.

Some of the biggest stadiums, such as Moses Madhiba and Greenpoint are based inside urban areas and close to public transport, making them very easy to reach even if you do not have a car.

FNB Stadium, South Africa’s biggest sporting complex, is strategically located with access from a number of highways.

There are also various accommodation options near all these stadiums.

Let’s look at what is unique about ten of South Africa’s most iconic and biggest stadiums.

The FNB Stadium

The FNB Stadium, also lovingly known as Soccer City by fans, is situated in Nasrec, south of Johannesburg.

It’s the preferred venue for one of South Africa’s favorite derbies, the Soweto derby between Premier Soccer League rivals Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.

The stadium also hosted international rugby matches and global music stars such as Justin Bieber, U2, and Lady Gaga to record attendances.

You can go to the FNB Stadium from the Rea Vaya Park Station terminus.

If you stay at the ANEW Hotel Roodepoort, their shuttle service will take you there comfortably and air-conditioned within 12 minutes.

Emirates Airline Park

Emirates Airline Park, popularly known as the Ellis Park Stadium vies with FNB Stadium for the title of the Rainbow Nation’s most iconic stadium.

It’s a giant amongst stadiums worldwide when it comes to rugby legendary but also hosts other sports and events regularly.

Music stars that performed here include Janet Jackson, Eminem, and Whitney Houston.

It also hosted the World Cup of 1995, a game that played a big role in bringing together a divided nation after South Africa’s first democratic election.

The ANEW Hotel Parktonian is a stone’s throw away and offers managed shuttle services for guests and participants to and from the station during events.

The Moses Mabhida Stadium

The Moses Mabhida Stadium is much younger than the iconic venues discussed previously but is still worthy of attention.

Its iconic “arch of triumph” provides the city of Durban with a defining landmark akin to that of the Eiffel tower in Paris and the Sydney Opera House.

It’s a popular venue for local and international events such as bungee jumping, soccer, and rugby matches as well as music concerts.

If you are attending an event at the Moses Mabhida Stadium and want to see more of the beautiful Kawzullu Natal before or after, we recommend the ANEW Hotel Ocean Reef on the Zinkwazi beachfront.

Less than an hour away, this ocean paradise nestled between indigenous coastal dune lands and milkwood forests is sure to take your breath away.

Cape Town Stadium

The Cape Town Stadium was designed to serve as the crown jewel of the 2010 FIFA world cup.

It rises a magnificent 15 stories high into the skyline, and is sheathed with a translucent fabric mesh that glows blue at noon, rose in the late afternoon, and red at sunset.

The stadium is situated right on the fringes of the Cape Town CBD and the Atlantic Seaboard, with plenty of accommodation options such as the ANEW Hotel Greenpoint within a ten-minute walk.

Loftus Versfeld

Loftus Versfeld is one of the oldest stadiums in South Africa, sports have been played here since 1903 It’s the home of the Blue Bulls rugby team that represents Limpopo and Gauteng in the local Curry Cup League.

Like other famous South African stadiums, it went through a few name changes as sponsors come and go, having been known as the Minolta Loftus and the Securicor Loftus, until the current sponsor changed the name right back to Loftus Versfeld.

Find a place to prepare yourself before the game or to wind down after at the ANEW Hotel Capital, a mere 9 minutes away by car.

The hotel also offers a shuttle to ferry guests, players, and performance crews to and from events.

The Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace

The Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace, is a multipurpose stadium in Phokeng, in the North West province.

It’s proudly owned by the 29 villages that make up the Bafokeng nation, and here local children are trained in soccer, martial arts, athletics, netball, and rugby.

The Platinum Stars is the resident Premier League soccer club, while the Leopards rugby team use it to host matches when large crowds are expected.

Sports teams, spectators, and guests will enjoy staying at the ANEW Resort Hunters Rest, 30 minutes away from the stadium.

The resort offers spectacular views of the Olifants Nek Mountain and dam and has a spa on the premises that offers recuperating treatments.

Orlando Stadium

Orlando Stadium, Soweto is situated in the heart of South Africa’s vibrant township culture.

It’s the Wimbledon of soccer in South Africa, every soccer player in Africa wants to play here.

It’s also the home of Orlando Pirates, one of the most popular Premier League soccer teams.

It was originally built for the Johannesburg Bantu Football Association.

It is also a historic landmark, June 16 1976 thousands of young South Africans set on a course to change the history of the country when they marched to Orlando Stadium to protest having to use Afrikaans as a medium of instruction and against the system of Bantu education forced upon non-whites by the apartheid minority regime.

Visitors to Orlando Stadium can find victuals and relaxation at the ANEW Hotel Roodepoort, which also offers a shuttle service to and from events.

Supersport Park

Supersport Park in Centurion was rated one of the 10 best cricket grounds in the world by Indian legend Kapil Dev, The beautiful stadium boasts a grandstand and open grassed embankments.

In 2003 the grounds hosted five World Cup matches, including two Super Six clashes.

If you stay at the ANEW Hotel Centurion, a 10-minute scenic drive around the Centurion lake will get you to your stadium relaxed and ready to enjoy your event.

Imperial Wanderers Stadium

Last but not least, is the Imperial Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.

It’s a cricket ground steeped in history.

The first test at the ground was in 1956 when England won by 131 runs and it has gone on to witness numerous memorable moments.

Some of the events hosted here include the 16th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture, the IPL Final, FIFA 2010 Goodwill Cup, the ICC Cricket World Cup Final in 2003, and the ICC World T20 Final.

The ANEW Hotel Parktonian, where literally every single room is a suite, is a mere 15 minutes away and a favorite host for spectators, sports teams, and performance crews alike when they have an event at the Wanderers.