Pretoria is South Africa’s administrative capital. Nowadays, it is also known as Tshwane, because the City of Pretoria is located within the Tshwane Municipality. There is plenty to see and do in and around Pretoria, from historical monuments to popular hangouts for locals.
Visit Pretoria in the spring, when the streets are lined with mauve-blooming trees, and you’ll understand why it’s known as the Jacaranda City.
- Voortrekker Monument- The massive Voortrekker Monument is located in a nature reserve in northern South Africa’s Pretoria region. You are very likely to see zebra, blesbok, springbok, impala, and even black wildebeest as you approach the entrance. It is visible for miles around, standing 203 feet tall on a kopje (hill). The granite monument commemorates the Voortrekkers, the pioneers who journeyed to South Africa’s interior in order to break free from British dominance in the Cape Province.
From the parking lot to the monument’s main entrance, there are 130 steps. A circle or laager is formed by 64 stone wagons. They commemorate the infamous 1838 Battle of the Blood River between the Boers and the Zulus. At the entrance, there are four corner statues of Pioneer leaders, each weighing approximately six tons.
- Pretoria Botanical National Gardens – The Botanical Gardens is home to the South African National Biodiversity Institute’s (SANBI) Head Office, combining ongoing scientific research with recreational activities. A paved nature trail winds through the gardens, providing visitors with breathtaking views of the diverse indigenous flora.
The gardens are divided into two sections by a high quartzite outcrop, one facing colder southern conditions and the other facing warmer northern conditions, resulting in two distinct plant worlds. Horticulturists are constantly creating new garden themes.
Rather than bringing a picnic, you can enjoy the lovely setting of the Milkplum Café as well as the delicious South African meals and treats on offer.
3- Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary- The Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary is a 29-acre nature reserve in the Pretoria suburb of Nieuw Muckleneuk. The name honors the renowned South African ornithologist who counted and cataloged nearly 1000 bird species in the country.
You can walk around the fenced-in area to appreciate the sanctuary’s impact, or you can go to the hide to get a close-up view of some of the water birds enjoying the dam. It’s difficult to believe you’re in the middle of the city when you see kingfishers and weavers overhead and plovers and jacanas in the water.
A visit to the property would be incomplete without a meal at The Blue Crane Restaurant. Blue cranes, South Africa’s national bird, strut casually past the enclosed terrace’s glass windows.
Dinokeng Big Five Game Reserve is a 30-minute drive north of Pretoria and an hour from Johannesburg International Airport. Dinokeng, which was founded in 2011, means ‘a place of rivers.’
Private landowners worked with the Gauteng Province to transform their farms into ecotourism destinations, removing fences and introducing a variety of wildlife, including the Big Five game animals: lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, and rhinos. Warthogs, kudus, impalas, ostriches, giraffes, and zebras are among the other animals. The reserve also has the endangered blue crane, a breeding pair of martial eagles, and a few black rhinos.
- Cradle of Humankind- Pretoria is 45 minutes away from the UNESCO World Heritage Site Cradle of Humankind. Maropeng and the Sterkfontein Caves are the official visitor sites. The Setswana word maropeng means “return to one’s origin.” The entrance to Maropeng is marked by a massive burial mound. Underground is a world-class exhibition center that focuses on the evolution of our forefathers over the last million years.
The center is reached via a surprisingly enjoyable underground boat ride. Icebergs, volcanoes, cascading water, molten lava, and firewalls are all visible as visitors sail by. When guests arrive at the center, they can explore at their own pace on a self-guided tour. The exhibits are fun, educational, and interactive.
The Sterkfontein Caves are famous for their fossil discoveries, particularly the pre-human skull of “Mrs. Ples” and an almost complete hominid skeleton known as “Little Foot.” It should be noted that a tour of the caves may be difficult for some people, particularly those with back problems, due to passages with low roofs. The Maropeng Visitor Center, on the other hand, is wheelchair accessible.
Is it worthwhile to visit Pretoria?
It is well worth a visit because it has many popular attractions such as the Union Buildings, the Cradle of Humankind, and Jacaranda Avenue. Pretoria is a city in the South African province of Gauteng. It is well worth a visit because it has many popular attractions such as the Union Buildings, the Cradle of Humankind, and Jacaranda Avenue.
What is Pretoria famous for?
Pretoria is primarily a government seat, but it is also a major rail and industrial hub. Engineering, food processing, and diamond mining are examples of economic activities. Pretoria joined the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality in 2000.
In Pretoria, South Africa, what language is spoken?
Languages spoken in Tshwane/Pretoria
A sixth of Pretoria’s population speaks English as their first language. Northern Sotho / Sepedi is spoken by 19% of the population, Afrikaans by 18%, and Setswana by 15%. Xitsonga and isiZulu come in at 8% and 8%, respectively.
