Tent City with all mod cons for World Cup fans

Tent City - which has already had bookings from fans from as far afield as Brazil and Australia - will be built in Waverley Park and guests will camp out in freezing winter temperatures in four- and six-sleeper tents equipped with single beds, lockers and heaters. Ablution facilities include portable chemical toilets and mobile showers.

Also planned are a shop, laundromat, Internet cafe, communal kitchen, 24-hour fast-food outlets, a clubhouse, bowling alley, medical and travel desks, beer hall, braai area and tight security with electronic identification tags for each guest. There will be cleaners at all times to ensure the place is kept neat.

Tent City will be able to accommodate 1480 people.

Of these, 1280 will be able to rent tents and 200 will be able to pitch their own for R330 for a one-man tent.

Tent City consultant Barry Mackay said the camp site would be a "high-quality but affordable" option for both local and international fans. It will open on June 4 and close on July 16.

"We considered a lot of other spots around Johannesburg, but Waverley Park is close to the main highways and fans can access the Gautrain, the airport, and the four big host-city stadiums - Soccer City, Ellis Park, Loftus Versveld, in Pretoria, and the Royal Bafokeng stadium, in Rustenburg - easily."

Mackay said the Gauteng Tour Operators' Association had made 104 minibuses, both 12- and 22-seater types, available to Tent City for transport to matches and elsewhere.

"There is a tour programme that we're working on to take fans to tourist spots like Sun City and the Cradle of Humankind, but even if they need transport to the malls and other sporting arenas, drivers will be at hand," said Mackay.

Fans from Argentina, Brazil, Denmark, New Zealand and Australia have already made bookings.