Pretoria
About Pretoria
Pretoria in Gauteng Province is the administrative capital of South Africa. Known as "Jacaranda City" for its thousands of jacaranda trees, it's also home to universities and government buildings. The semicircular Union Buildings encompass the president's offices and hosted Nelson Mandela's inauguration. Nearby is the Voortrekker Monument, honoring 19th-century Afrikaans settlers from the Cape Colony. Church Square is flanked by historic buildings such as neo-Renaissance Ou Raadsaal and stately Palace of Justice, both completed in the late 19th century. Close by, the Kruger House is where Paul Kruger, the former President of the Transvaal, lived from 1883 to 1901. The expansive National Zoological Gardens is home to rare species such as Komodo dragons. Other animals, such as the blue wildebeest, can be found at the Groenkloof Nature Reserve, which offers game safaris and many outdoor activities. Pretoria also hosts a number of local food and flea markets.
Voortrekker Monument
Voortrekker Monument is located just south of Pretoria in South Africa. This massive granite structure is prominently located on a hilltop and was raised to commemorate the Voortrekkers who left the Cape Colony between 1835 and 1854. The building shares an architectural resemblance with European monuments such as the Dôme des Invalides in France and the Völkerschlachtdenkmal in Germany but also contains African influences.
Union Buildings
Union Buildings form the official seat of the South African Government and also house the offices of the President of South Africa. It has become an iconic landmark of Pretoria and South Africa and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city and an emblem of democracy.
Church Square
Church Square, originally Market Square, is the square at the historic center of the city of Pretoria. The founder of Pretoria, Marthinus Pretorius, determined that the square be used as a market place and church yard. The square's most prominent feature is the statue of the late Boer leader and president of the South African Republic, Paul Kruger, at its center.
Groenkloof Nature Reserve
Groenkloof Nature Reserve, located adjacent to the Fountains Valley at the southern entrance to Pretoria, was the first game sanctuary in Africa. Native trees occur at varying densities on the hillsides and in the lower valley. These include white stinkwood, hook-thorn, mountain karee, velvet bushwillow, wild pear, and puzzle bush. Over 120 bird species have been recorded in the reserve and the adjacent Fountains Valley. Game birds include guineafowl, Swainson's spurfowl, and crested francolin.
Freedom Park
Freedom Park is situated on Salvokop in Pretoria. It includes a memorial with a list of the names of those killed in the South African Wars, World War I, World War II as well as during the apartheid era. Some of the national leaders chosen include Steve Biko, Oliver Tambo, Helen Joseph, Albert Lutuli, and Bram Fischer.
Ditsong Museum
Ditsong National Museum of Natural History, formerly the Transvaal Museum, is a natural history museum situated in Pretoria. The museum curates large collections of Plio-Pleistocene fossils, including hominids from Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, and Kromdraai in the UNESCO World Heritage Site the Cradle of Humankind, as well as late Permian therapsid.
Rietvlei Nature Reserve
Rietvlei Nature Reserve is located in Pretoria and is about 4000 hectares in size and located within the reserve is the Rietvlei Dam. Both indigenous and exotic species of trees can be found in the reserve. There are an estimated 404 species of birds that make use of the reserve. The reserve carries around 1600 individual mammals such as Cheetah, Blesbuck, black wildebeest, red hartebeest, eland, common zebra, waterbuck, reedbuck, springbuck, mountain reedbuck, steenbok, grey duiker, oribi, leopard, buffalo, and hippopotamus can all be found in the reserve.
Wonderboom Nature Reserve
Wonderboom Nature Reserve incorporates a section of the Magaliesberg range in the northern portion of Pretoria. Its main attractions are the Wonderboom Afrikaans for Marvel tree near the reserve entrance in Lavender street and the derelict Fort Wonderboompoort on the crest of the Magaliesberg, which was constructed towards the end of the 19th century, during the Second Boer War. The vicinity of the fort ruins offers sweeping views of the city.
Mapungubwe Collection
Mapungubwe Collection curated by the University of Pretoria Museums comprises archaeological material excavated by the University of Pretoria at the Mapungubwe archaeological site. The archaeological collection comprises ceramics, metals, trade glass beads, indigenous beads, clay figurines, and bone and ivory artifacts as well as an extensive research collection of potsherds, faunal remains, and other fragmentary material.
Paddle Power River Rafting
Paddle Power River Rafting is an adventure attraction popular for guided river rafting, along with hiking, archery, and abseiling. Enjoy an exciting trip for 5km down the Crocodile River. Navigate over two weirs then face a number of rapids, ranging from class 1 to 3, and sometimes 4 after good rains.
Best Time To Visit Pretoria
The best time to visit Pretoria is from April to October.
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