Driving and Hiring in SA

It also offers an alternative to South Africa's potentially unreliable public transport system. It's a great opportunity to test drive a potential new vehicle too.

Companies such as Avis and Hetz feature cars right through from KIA Picantos and Hyundai Atos to the latest version of Prius hybrid, as well as the hugely practical VW T5 Caravelle people carrier.

HIRE SMALL CARS, HIRE LUXURY CARS

For those wanting more prestige, luxury cars such as the Mercedes E Class saloon are also available. And you might even find a couple of anomalies at some South African car rental companies such as the Nissan Tiida hatch and saloon which haven't been released yet, here in the UK.

Finally, if you want to explore the country's rugged beauty, Drive South Africa offers a wide range of proper 4x4s including Land Rover Defenders and Discoverys, fully equipped with roof tents for camping out.

Car hire operators are advising that you should book as soon as possible as SUVs, microbuses and luxury cars are already being snapped up. And be warned: if you leave it to the last minute, you could run the risk of ruining your budget as car rental companies will hike up their prices to cash in on any late demand.

EXPLORE SOUTH AFRICA - FOLLOW WORLD CUP FIXTURES

With a car rented, you've now got the perfect opportunity to explore South Africa in between games and pub crawls. England's first game is in Rustenburg in the northwest of the country and see us playing the US on June 12.

The Pilanesberg National Park and Madikwe Game Reserve are not far from Rustenburg by car and offer incredible safari experiences. You can take your own car through Pilanesberg and see at first hand the park's 7,000 different species of wildlife.

For those wanting something more corporate, drive to nearby Sun City and play a round of golf before visiting the casino; please the kids with a visit to South Africa's most extreme water park, Valley of the Waves.

TOURING ENGLAND'S WORLD CUP

On June 18, the England squad head to Cape Town in the southwest to play Algeria. As well as taking in this great city, we can only recommend driving up into the Winelands. It's then a sobering 465-mile drive from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth for the Slovenia game, which nevertheless takes in stunning mountain ranges and the Garden Route coastline.

We're not to mention the possibilities and permutations of England?s progress through the tournament of course, not least the possibility of a final place in Jo'burg. The tournament opens up possibilities for an epic road trip and fantastic motoring holiday.