It's calypso and carnival season in South Africa pretty soon - and I'm not just talking about the approaching 2010 FIFA World Cup.

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Soon South Africa's Proteas travel to the West Indies initially for the 2010 ICC World Cup Twenty20 competition and thereafter they will stay in the Caribbean for a one-off Twenty20, followed by five one-day internationals and a three-match Test series.

You can say it's well and truly samba time!

South Africa will start their campaign on May 2 against India in St Lucia. That Twenty20 competition will take them around the Caribbean until they play a one-off Twenty20 in Trinidad as an entrée to their West Indies series.

They will then play five ODI matches in a series starting on May 22 in Trinidad, which also hosts the second one dayer to be played on May 24. The third and fourth ODIs will be played in Dominica on May 27 and 30. The final one-dayer will be played in Jamaica on June 2.

The Proteas' last visit to the West Indies in 2004/05 saw them win both the ODI series (5-0) and comfortably wrap up the Test match series (2-0).

The ICC Twenty20 competition gives the Proteas time to settle into the Caribbean, and many fans predict more of the same pain for the West Indians.

Such over-confidence might just boomerang on the South Africans who have Herchelle Gibbs to thank for a reputation of over-enjoying their stay in the tropical paradise.

Before the Test series against the West Indies, South Africa will also play two tour games to get into the Test groove. The first Test will be played in Jamaica starting on June 10, the second Test match is on June 18 in St Kitts, and the last match will be played in Barbados starting on June 26.

It's two full months of fun and sun in the Caribbean. For Graeme Smith and the lads the only regret will be missing out on the FIFA World Cup back in South Africa.