21 September 2015 | Quathar Jacobs and Carina van Wyk
Hop on and off a red bus to catch a Rugby World Cup game or two
The countdown to the Rugby World Cup 2015 is officially over as the six-week-long tournament started in England on 18 September, so why don’t you hop on and off a red bus to catch a game or two?
After their disappointing loss against Japan, the Springboks need our support more than ever.
Here’s a list of top spots – along City Sightseeing tours in Cape Town and Joburg – to watch the Springboks and the other 19 competing nations battle it out.
STOP 1 on our Red City Tour and Blue Mini Peninsula Tour – the V&A Waterfront – is home to an Absa Boktown. All matches – as well as the opening ceremony – will be screened live in the amphitheatre.
There’ll be free live entertainment on the days the Springboks play, and for the quarters, semis and final. Beer and biltong (and other snacks) will be on sale at these Boktown matches, as will rugby apparel and merchandise.
Entrance to the V&A Waterfront Absa Boktown is free and limited to the first 500 fans per match.
Then, several restaurants in and around the V&A Waterfront will be adding to the gees with World Cup specials and by screening the games. These restaurants include Alba Lounge, Hildebrand, Den Anker Restaurant, Mondiall, Quay 4, Shimmy Beach Club and the V&A Food Market. Find out more here.
Stop 8 on our Red City Tour and Blue Mini Peninsula Tour, Cafe Caprice in Camps Bay, will be screening all 48 games to ensure you feel the World Cup fever.
Games will be shown on five large flat-screen TVs, there’ll be 2-for-1 beer specials during all matches, fun in-store betting and plenty of prizes will be given away. To top it all, a braai will be held during the most popular games with a different flame-grilled speciality every week. Find out more here.
Stop 9 on our Red City Tour and Blue Mini Peninsula Tour, you can catch all the games live at the hotel’s Senate Bar. You’re guaranteed to work up an appetite while rooting for your favourite team, so indulge in the beer and burger special – it’s a steal. Find out more here.
Stop 11 on our Red City Tour and Blue Mini Peninsula Tour, Harveys Bar at the Winchester Mansions Hotel has created a green and gold cocktail in support of the Springboks, called the “Gees”.
In addition, Harveys Courtyard and Restaurant is also running a Rugby World Cup special. For R75 you can grab a plate of pork ribs or hake goujons with chips and a dipping sauce. Find out more here.
The SAB World of Beer (stop 9A in Newtown) will be showing those games that start after 10 am and finish before 6pm (within its operating hours). The fee of R162 for adults and children 12 or older, or R100 for children aged six to 11, will include a braai (South African barbeque) and two drink vouchers per person. Find out more here.
Gold Reef City (stop 6) will also be home to an Absa Boktown, where rugby fans can share the great moments of the game together. Food and beverages will be available and you can expect live entertainment and lots of giveaways. Tickets cost R30 each and include a free local beer, glass of wine, soft drink or cider. Find out more here.
Why not park at Gold Reef City in the morning, hop on the red bus or our taxi to Soweto, and hop off again later during the day to watch a rugby game?
The Bannister Hotel in 9 De Beer Street, Braamfontein (close to stop 11), will screen all the games. Visit the website or call +27 (0)11 403 6888/7888.
Please note that some of the games don't take place within City Sightseeing operating hours, so make sure to take a look at our Johannesburg and Cape Town timetables before planning your trip.
Upcoming Springbok fixtures, all starting at 5.45pm:
Find the entire Rugby World Cup 2015 schedule here.
