Nigeria will open their campaign in Johannesburg against Argentina before jetting off to Mangaung/ Bloemfontein to play the former European champions, Greece.
Travel options from Johannesburg to Mangaung/ Bloemfontein
By plane: You will have to take a cab (meter taxi) to the nearby OR Tambo International airport in Johannesburg, where you can catch a flight to Bloemfontein Airport.
By car: Given the scenery on the 410km route between Johannesburg and Bloemfontein, the driving option is highly recommended. Take the N1 (South) to Mangaung/ Bloemfontein. On leaving Johannesburg you may wish to stop and explore the Soweto township, which shaped the history of South Africa during the fight against apartheid. Here you can find Vilakazi street, where Nelson Mandela stayed before he was jailed for 27 years, and the Hector Peterson Museum. Get back on the N1, this road leads you straight to the city of Mangaung/ Bloemfontein. Around the halfway point of your journey, you may be tempted to stop in Kroonstad and savour the beauty and tranquillity of this small town.
By bus: The third option is to take an overnight bus trip, which reaches Mangaung/ Bloemfontein in about five to six hours. Make your way to Johannesburg Park Station (in the Central Business District (CBD)) and catch one of the luxury buses to Mangaung/ Bloemfontein.
By train: Rail services between Johannesburg and Bloemfontein are provided by Shosholoza Meyl and run daily. You can catch a train at Johannesburg’s Park Station (Rissik Street, CBD).
The Nigerians will then make the 670km trip to the coastal city of Durban to play Korea Republic. This is another interesting route that takes you through dry central South Africa to the country's calmer and cooler coastal region.
Travel options from Mangaung/ Bloemfontein to Durban.
By plane: Flights are available between these two cities, with the flight time being around 1hr30. Flights go from Bloemfontein airport to Durban's La Mercy Airport or Durban International.
By car: This option is highly recommended. From Mangaung/ Bloemfontein, take the N5 east through Bethlehem and Harrismith until you hit the N3 from Johannesburg. Take the N3 South to Durban. The drive is approximately seven hours.
By Bus: This is also a good option. Buses arrive and depart from the Transit Centre at the Bloemfontein Tourist Information Centre on Park Road. Travelling to Durban by bus from Bloemfontein will take you around eight hours. The trip will cover the sovereign state of Lesotho, also known as the Mountain Kingdom, via Kwa-Zulu Natal and the town of Ladysmith.
By train: The railway station in Mangaung/ Bloemfontein is on the corner of Maitland and Harvey streets. Travelling to Durban by rail will take you 16 hours.
