Inside the Stadium

This awesome photo inside Durban's World Cup Moses Mabhida Stadium was taken by our guest Guido at the Spain vs Switzerland game. The impressive arch over the Stadium makes a stunning architectural addition to Durban's skyline and a cable car takes one to the viewing deck on top. Guido also captured Manolo who was in town to encourage the Spanish fans (Guido is right in the photo next to Manolo.

Bielefeld to Durban 13 Mar - 13 June

We are privileged to meet at the Guesthouse trans-Africa traveller Armin Hollensteiner who made the journey from his hometown, Bielefeld in Germany, by jeep to Durban for the World Cup opening game Germany vs Australia today.

Travelling 21 000 kms through Europe, the middle east and Africa, Armin was joined in Dar-es-Salaam by Marcus and the travellers arrived in Durban yesterday making it a 3-month 13th Mar - 13th June journey. Armin has created a blog to document the journey and you can view it here.

In the top photo are Armin and myself (Dave) outside the Guesthouse with the reliable jeep that averaged 11 ls per 100kms. In the 2nd photo Marcus and Armin pose with their mascot Lohmann, the 3rd photo shows Armin's personalised numberplate with BI for his home town Bielefeld, ZA for South Africa (Zuid Afrika) and 2010 for the FIFA 2010 World Cup Football event. The 4th photo shows the route Armin travelled across Africa to get to Durban.

You can also watch Armin's YouTube Video Clip.

Wow, congratulations guys, what a journey and accomplishment!

Ozzies in Durban

In Durban for the Australia vs Germany opening game at our new Moses Mabhida Stadium are Sydneysiders Kieran, cousin Michael and brother Danny.

They were met at the new King Shaka International Airport in Durban by Kate-Lynn, daughter of Durban Stadium View Guesthouse owner Dave and given a traditional South African welcome.

Bafana Bafana take on Mexico

One would be mistaken in thinking our SA National Football team, Bafana Bafana, were not the world favourites to win today as they take on Mexico in the opening game of the World Cup.

I have never seen so many yellow shirts in South Africa on one day... everyone - uniting the nation - are showing their colours for Bafana Bafana and South African flags are everywhere.

Fridays have been the days South Africans and schoolchildren have been allowed to show their support by wearing a Bafana shirt to school or work. In the photos from top to bottom are images painted on a garden wall just up the road from the Guesthouse showing Bafana Bafana in action, a handwritten message  in wet concrete, my office staff gearing up for the opening game today, and a self-pic of myself in my car on the way to work - full time lawyer, inbetween running the Guesthouse with my partner Llewellyn, who also has his own SpecSavers Optometry practices by day.

World Cup Welcome

Welcoming the world to Durban are Guesthouse co-owners Dave and Llewellyn on the rooftop of the house with views of the new FIFA World Cup Football Stadium in the background.

The past few weeks have been busy ones at the Guesthouse recovering furniture, painting, choosing new furniture and curtains for some of the rooms, putting desks and safes in every room and pimping up the Pub for the visitors from around the world due for the World Cup Football event.

We will be welcoming guests from Australia, Germany, Portugal, Brazil, Japan, New Zealand, United States, England, Netherlands, South Africa, and Switzerland.  

We hope you have a really awesome time in Durban guys and may the best team win.

Durban shaping up - QM2 arrives

Durban is shaping up in time for the World Cup in June. The Queen Mary 2 arrived in the harbour this morning for a quick visit and I shot around taking some photos.

The grass around the World Cup Stadium - the Moses Mabhida Stadium - is growing nicely as the surrounding landscaping is greening Durban, one of South Africa's greenest cities.

The posters on the street lamp-poles proclaim Durban as South Africa's warmest city for the World Cup, and that is true. Being a coastal city with the warm Indian Ocean, Durban's winter temperature is in the 15c - 22c range whilst football fans in Johannesburg and Cape Town arelikely to be in cold 10c weather during the World Cup.

We still have some Guesthouse space, particularly around the Brazil vs Portugal game, so bookings can still be made online or by email to durbanstadiumview@gmail.com.

The view from the top of the Stadium

Enjoying the view from the top of Durban's new Moses Mabhida 2010 World Cup football Stadium are (from left to right) Guesthouse owner Llewellyn and Dave with the beachfront and city centre in the background.

Durban's new Moses Mabhida Stadium opened a few weeks ago and the funicular cable car now takes 24 visitors up the northern arch to the top of the 25 -story high stadium with spectacular views over the Indian Ocean and the City. Rides are R50 per person or R75 for international guests and in addition you can book a VIP tour of the Stadium or to see the pitch from R20 to R75 for the full tour.


As the arch changes pitch going up, the funicular car is on a hydraulic system to keep the car level.

Dave says howzit, with guest Wim in the foreground left at the funicular cable car goes up to the top of Durban's new 2010 World Cup football Stadium.

Netherlands vs Japan Sat 19 Jun 2010

Durban's third football match of the FIFA 2010 World Cup will be an interesting one with top-rated Netherlands playing Japan on Sat 19th June 2010.

Fans should be delighted with the match date which falls on a Saturday so the party in Durban on Friday with the build-up to the game, and after the game on Saturday with celebrations for some, will be huge.

There is limited accommodation available for the days around this game at our Stadium View Guesthouse as well as our luxury Apartment overlooking the Stadium, so please book early as enquiries for all of the match dates have been steadily coming in and rooms taken.

In the photo is Japan's Shunsuke Nakamura in the World Cup qualifier game against Bahrain earlier this year.

Japan Football Association Royal Netherlands Football Association

Executive Apartment available

A stunning 3 bedroomed Apartment in Durban's Berea suburb with awesome views of the new Moses Mabhida Football Stadium, the City centre and Indian Ocean, has now become available for the World Cup period.

This executive Apartment sleeps 7 with a master double bedroom with dressing room and en suite superbly appointed bathroom, a double bedroom, both with sliding door access to the view garden and a third bedroom which sleeps 3 - ducted airconditioning throughout, living/dining area, kitchen, beautiful beechwood bar/pub also with Stadium views, double garage and a stone's throw from Durban's finest restaurants and pubs.

Enquiries can be emailed to durbanstadiumview for bookings.

Guesthouse Rates 2012

Rainbow room ............. City View Room .......... Pool View room

Rates to 31 October 2012:

R450 per person per night sharing double room
R550 per person per night single

R325 per third/4th person sharing Garden Studio per night

R275 per person sharing The BunkRoom 
R600 per person sharing Premier Room or R750 single *

December/January or special event rates may be subject to double occupancy/room rate only.

.......... The Bunk Room

Rates includes breakfast of cereals, yoghurts, croissant or muffin and toast, cold meats, jams, cheese selection, egg, tea/coffee, fruit in season and fruit juice. The Studio also has basic self-catering facilities and a separate entrance. A complimentary drink in the Guesthouse Pub with the hosts on the evening of arrival is also included. A full English breakfast is also available as an option at R40 pp per breakfast

Loyalty Programme:

Earn 100 points for each night stayed and after you have 1000 points enjoy a FREE night with us on your next booking of 2 or more nights

Specials: Premier -

* PREMIER ROOM - pamper yourselves with all of the frills and the best views of Durban, welcome pack and complimentary sparkling wine in the room, premier soaps and shampoos.

Guesthouse co-owner shows our Premier Room

Great inhouse Pub for cocktails and drinks