The Caracal Package
England Rugby Travel, an Official Licenced Operator for the British & Irish lions Tour to South Africa in 2009, has a wide range of packages on offer.
The Lions will not be touring South Africa for another 12 years after Ian McGeechan’s men take on the world champions next summer, so many fans will be hoping to see as much of the action and of South Africa as possible.
The official supporter tours from England Rugby Travel take in a wide variety of games. A fine example of these are The Caracal packages, named after the ferocious African Lynx, offered by England Rugby Travel take in all three Tests, the midweek match against the Emerging Springboks and a trip to the world’s most famous game reserve, Kruger National Park, home of the ‘Big Five’ (lions, leopards, elephants, rhino and buffalo). All genuine match tickets are guaranteed and included in the price, as are direct international flights, internal travel, accommodation and official merchandise and much more.
Fans will also be able to meet up at the ‘Big Bar’ before and after each Test, that, as the name suggests, will be the place to sink a few cold ones on before with all of the Lions fans before kick-off and after the final whistle.
The first weekend of the Caracal tour will be spent in Durban, in Kwa-Zulu Natal, scene of Jerry Guscott’s famous drop goal in 1997, and a popular tourist destination amongst South Africans.
One of the city’s most famous features is the ‘Golden Mile’ a stretch of beachfront that houses the Blue Lagoon, a popular fishing spot, Mini Town a replica of Durban and the Durban Snake Park as well as a market.
Towards the northern end of the Golden Mile lies the Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World where you can have a flutter, a drink on the beach or eat at one of the many restaurants.
And no visit to Durban would be complete without sampling Bunny Chow, a hollowed out loaf of bread that is filled with curry.
With no Test in Cape Town this time around the Caracal tours offer five nights – with internal flights included – in this fabulous city taking in the match against the Emerging Springboks. Activities available in Cape Town include Wineland tours, a trip up Table Mountain, some time lazing on the beach or a ferry to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for most of the 27 years he spent in prison.
From there the circus moves onto to Pretoria for the second Test match at Loftus Versfeld, home of the Blue Bulls. One must-see for any tourist is the Voortrekker Monument which was built to honour the Voortrekkers who left the Cape Colony between 1835 and 1854 that commemorates the Great Trek and can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. Melrose House, a stately mansion, was the headquarters for the British forces in the Boer War and the Treaty of Vereeniging that ended the conflict was signed here in 1902.
The week before the final Test in Johannesburg promises to be one of the highlights of the trip with tourists on the Caracal packages offered a four night stay at Kruger National Park.
The game reserve was established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South African Lowveld and stretches over 2million hectares. It claims to be home to 147 species of mammals, 34 amphibians and 507 birds. You can also see bushman rock paintings and major archeological sites.
From then it is onto Johannesburg, the largest city in South Africa, for the final Test at Coca Cola Stadium (formely Ellis Park) and hopefully the site of the Lions captain, whoever it might be, lifting the trophy.
Gold Reef City Gold in the southern suburbs is a theme park featuring rides and a Victorian fun fair whilst the Mandela Museum in Soweto is the tiny house that Mandela lived in with his first wife.
At the Bhunga building you will find Mandela's "Long Walk to Freedom" - in his own words exhibition, and a collection of gifts he received from people and governments and Mvezo his birthplace.
The Caracal tour is one of our most popular tours because not only does it take in all three tests and one of the biggest provincial matches, but because the Caracal trips offers the rugby fan a taste of everything that South Africa has to offer.
Elizabeth Harsley, a first-time Lions tourist, from Birmingham has already signed up for one of the Caracal packages. She was hoping that her mother would join her, but unfortunately she passed away last year. Harsley, who is traveling with her family says: “We are keen rugby fans and love South Africa. Mum wanted to come on the tour so this is a particularly poignant tour for us all. We booked with England Rugby Travel because of their great reputation, reasonable pricing and all of the official adidas merchandise that is included in the tour price.”
Why not join Elizabeth and all of the other Lions fans who are traveling to South Africa with England Rugby Travel? There are a great range of tours on offer so there is sure to be a package to suit. Join what is likely to be the biggest lions tour of all time with England Rugby Travel.
Why not join Elizabeth and all of the other Lions fans who are traveling to South Africa with England Rugby Travel? There are a great range of tours on offer so there is sure to be a package to suit. Join what is likely to be the biggest lions tour of all time with England Rugby Travel. To view all of the package on offer, please click here.
