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Executive capital of South Africa
Photo: User:(WT-shared) NJR ZA, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa, is in Gauteng. Its wide avenues are lined with purple-flowered jacaranda trees and stately architecture. The city has many museums and art galleries, and a large student population that gives its centre a boisterous atmosphere.
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An urban oasis to explore. This 76-ha urban oasis is a pristine getaway in the eastern suburbs of South Africa's administrative capital, Pretoria.
Aquarium, reptile park and all the larger mammals including koalas. One can also camp within the zoo on Friday and Saturday nights. Golf carts are available for rental at R80/hour. Children's pushcarts at R60/day. A cableway operates from 10:00 - 16:15 daily between the top and bottom of the zoo, price R20 one way, R30 return.
often referred to as "Arcadia"
The offices of the South African presidency. The building was designed by Sir Herbert Baker in 1908. Entrance to the building is prohibited for security reasons. However, the beautiful terraced gardens, which boast a wide variety of indigenous plants, are open to the public and provide a truly amazing view over the city. One of the 14 places in the world heritage listing Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites.
Tree of Wonder or Miracle Tree
A fig tree over 1000 years old. The tree, now a national monument, is unusually large, standing some 25 metres high and having a 5.5-metre diameter main trunk. Its growth pattern is also unusual: as its branches grew longer, they drooped towards the ground and eventually took root and formed a circle of new trunks or daughter trees around the original tree. There are now 13 trunks, and the colossal tree covers an area with a diameter of 55 metres. Wonderboom Nature Reserve has a large number of dassies (rock hyrax) living in caves overlooking the Apies River. They provide a food source for a breeding pair of black eagles that nest on a rocky ledge nearby and that can often be seen circling above the reserve. At the top of the Wonderboom Hill are the ruins of the Wonderboom Fort, one of four forts built by the former South African Republic at the end of the 19th century to defend Pretoria against the British forces. It was never used. It was blown up, probably on the instruction of Prime Minister Jan Smuts, in the early days of the Second World War, lest it be used by anti-government dissidents as a springboard for an attack on the state. At the foot of the hill near the Wonderboom is an important Iron Age site and nearby is one of the best Stone Age sites in the area. The reserve has picnic facilities.
In September, the jacarandas have purple flowers. Many streets are lined with these trees. A good place to view lines of them is the Union Buildings.
Church Square is one of the few places in the Pretoria CBD where you can get a sense of how Pretoria must have looked a century ago, and, as a result, is often used as a set for local period movies and TV series. The square is surrounded by important civic buildings, including the Palace of Justice, the General Post Office, the Old Council Chamber and the Old Capitol Theatre and its importance was underlined by the erection of a statue commemorating President Paul Kruger.
Historical articles show the development of the penal system in South Africa from the most barbaric methods to the modern penological system of today. The pursuit of hobbies by prisoners is portrayed by matchstick work, art objects, wood and stone carvings. Objects illegally made by prisoners and which are confiscated, are displayed, such as dagga pipes, forged keys and money, tattooing machines, and stabbing and cutting weapons.
Where the peace treaty that ended the Anglo-Boer War as signed in 1902.
Learn about the people and the cultures of South Africa, from the Iron Age till today. (Wheelchair accessible). Exhibitions include rock paintings and engravings of the San people; 1000-year-old Iron Age figurines from Schroda in the Limpopo Province (described as “the best known artifacts indicating ritual behaviour in the Early Iron Age”); the Art Gallery presents an overview of South African culture through time, using cultural objects, crafts, sculpture and paintings and an exhibition on Marabastad is a true example of a cosmopolitan and fully integrated rainbow nation before apartheid.
Pionier Museum
A pioneer house. The house was built of clay and local materials, with a thatched roof and earthen floors, and is furnished in the traditional 19th century rural style. It is surrounded by a traditional herb and vegetable garden, orchard, furnished wagon house and vineyard. Guides in period clothing.
Transvaal Museum
Where you can meet Mrs. Pless when she is not on tour somewhere.
Monument to the Voortrekkers (Afrikaner pioneers) with a museum of Afrikaner Heritage.
One of the must-visit museum in Pretoria. It comes back on the history of South-Africa, wars and the apartheid. Behind, a beautiful park commemorates all the people that gave their live for freedom and humanity.
The history of the development of agriculture in South Africa and a collection of old vehicles (donkey and horse carts, ox-wagons, coaches, carriages and spiders) are displayed in the main building. Visitors can explore the 1880 and 1913 house museums and outbuildings, and two Ndebele homesteads from different eras. Indigenous farm animals include the Nguni and Afrikaner cattle, Kolbroek pigs, Speckled Persian sheep and indigenous chickens like the Ovambo, Koekoek, Venda and Naked Necks.
Visit the home of Boer leader and president of the ZAR. Very well-kept and interesting, well worth an hour.
Take a step back in time and circle Pretoria on a steam train or visit Cullinan, birth place of the world's largest diamond. The train runs two or three times per month, check timetable on website for exact dates.
Drumming circle out in the bush. Once you have a drum, food and drink you can sit down in the amphitheater around a cozy fire where the professionals and novices are drumming together and everyone joins in. Everyone takes lead from these people even if you do not know what you are doing, you just follow their drumming. So you are not only here to watch, but to be part of the entertainment! And then as a visual bonus the fire dancers move to the groves of the drumming. Didgeridoo players and percussionist frequent the venue. Held every second Friday night.
The State Theatre in Pretoria, South Africa is the largest theatre complex in Africa. Tickets for performances can be booked via Computicket
Walk, mountainbike, go on a 4x4 drive or stay over in the second oldest nature reserve in the world. See giraffe, antelope and many other animals. 3½-, 4½- and 10½-km hiking trails.
The sanctuary is located in the Walkerspruit Open Space System. Two streams, the Walker and the Argo, feed water into wetland basins of which nine are small perennial dams that attract a multitude of water birds. The sanctuary was fenced in June 1970. Species include unique birds such as the crowned crane and the blue crane. The veld type of the sanctuary is mixed bushveld. Nice and expansive restaurant. Guided walks: R55 per person up to 12 people per group.
Barbque resort
A combined airshow and trade exhibition, also open to the public, taking place biannually in September. There are planes on display, aerobatics and parachuting shows and hands-on activities for kids.
annemarie@sandwichbaron.com
Sandwich Baron produces freshly made platters and sandwiches and holds no ready-made products in stock. Also has a catering service.
Italian restaurant chain, incl. SA-Food. Good prices, take aways, wifi.
A national chain of Native American-themed steak-houses. Several branches in Pretoria.
This new restaurant has a fresh upmarket urban feel and offers splendid food at very reasonable prices.
Excellent food.
EB is in many shopping centres and offers coffee while reading their books.
very clean backpackers hostel with single/double rooms and dorm beds. Has a nice garden with a swimming pool, bar, TV room, free Wifi, breakfast and tea and coffee.
Free breakfast.
Double rooms and free breakfast.
Great backpackers, managed by the friendly owners Frank and Corné. Free wifi and breakfast! Offers doubles, dorms and camping. Has two friendly dogs walking around and a nice central location in Hatfield.
Standard rooms, all equipped with plasma TV, bathroom and shower. Facilities and services are swimming pool, restaurant and bar/lounge.
Khayalethu GuestHouse has 10 en suite rooms, off-street parking and free internet access.
Provides a unique South African experience. stuffed and alve animals around. Also excellent for day visitors.
Several family homes were converted into sleeping rooms. lots of space, quiet. Next to sports university. Functions possible. Free Wifi.
A/C spacious rooms equipped with TV with cable channels, double bed and bathroom. Some of its facilities and services are restaurant, Wi-Fi internet, massage service, and 24-hour front desk.
Budget hotel next to the railway station. Notable for being the oldest hotel in the city, it first opened in 1880.
Close to Union building. Good breakfast buffet.
Wide range of accommodation from budget to splurge.
Located in the east. A very large mall, it includes a roof top drive-in theater.
Just east of the city centre with art galleries and movie theaters for mainstream and independent films.
In the north with an ice rink and other entertainment.
In the north just as you get onto Brits road off the Mabopani highway. Skatepark and hundreds of stores.
Larger mall. No free parking. Also good for middle budget eating out.
Has a Pick N Pay supermaket and many places to eat.
East of Pretoria, Offramp Rossouw, then turn north, after 200 m. Serves coffee. You can also buy some imported products.
All three stores are part of Shoprite.
Has a Mastercard/Visa card ATM.
By plane
R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg. The Albertina Sisulu Highway or R21 leads from there to Pretoria.
By bus
By train
A convenient high-speed rail link, Gautrain, is available between Johannesburg, OR Tambo International Airport and Pretoria.
Although crime in South Africa is higher than in many other parts of the world, common sense precautions should prevent incidents. Be especially aware of your surroundings after dark and don't travel alone.
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