Skip to main content

Things to do in Pretoria: Top Places to visit


Photo credit:
There are some great things to do in Pretoria if you are a first-time visitor.  Pretoria is the administrative capital of South Africa and situated in the Gauteng province.  It is very close to Johannesburg and the Oliver Tambo International Airport. Although it is a big city with a population of about 2.3 million, it is still small enough to create a feeling of being in a large town. The best time of the year to visit Pretoria is in October and November when all the Jacaranda trees are in full bloom (the reason why the city is also known as the Jacaranda city).

Here are my top 5 places to visit in Pretoria if you are a first-time visitor to the capital:

The Union Buildings

Source: South Africa Travel Net. The Union Buildings
Visiting the Union Buildings should be first on your list of things to do in Pretoria.  These buildings form the official seat of the South African government and also house the offices of the Presidency.  Already built in 1913, it has a rich history, interesting architecture and has seen the inauguration of many South African Presidents.  From the Union Buildings, the visitor has an impressive view of central Pretoria and surrounding areas.

The Voortrekker Monument and Nature Reserve

With more spectacular views of the capital, the Voortrekker Monument portrays an interesting history of the Afrikaner and South Africa. It is one of the most visited cultural sites in  Pretoria and the setting includes a beautiful Nature Reserve.

Rietvlei Nature Reserve

The Rietvlei Nature Reserve is an urban reserve boasting numerous wildlife in an area of about 3 800 hectares.  If you want to truly experience some African game, including two of Africa's Big Five namely the buffalo and white rhino, a visit to this Nature Reserve is highly recommended.  You can drive through the Reserve yourself or organise for a guided tour.  Several picnic spots are also available to the visitor.


Museums

Melrose House. Source: Melrose House.
If you want to learn more about the history of South Africa and Pretoria, there are several museums in and around the city, namely the Kruger museum, Smuts House, Melrose House, the Pioneer museum, the Police museum and the Natural Cultural History museum, to name but a few.  There are also several art museums, including the Pretoria Art  and the Anton van Wouw Art museums.


A bleak view of Pretoria when it snowed for the
 first time since 1968 on 8 August 2012 in the capital




Church Square

Church Square is a public square in the centre and heart of Pretoria and surrounded by numerous old historic buildings such as the Palace of Justice and the Old Government Building.  The Tourist Information Centre is also next to this square.

Related Posts

Best Time to visit Pretoria
What to do with kids in Pretoria: Fun train rides
Child-friendly restaurants in Pretoria.

The months of October and November  is the best time of the year to see 
Pretoria because  of the Jacaranda trees.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Remarkable Train Rides for Kids in Pretoria

Mini trains at Cedar Junction Theme Park. Want to take your children for an outing? The school holidays or weekends can be the ideal time to take them for a train ride to keep them busy. Pretoria has some remarkable train rides to offer.   Having a young kid myself, I know how exciting it is for them to ride on the trains and to hear their sound.  But you can also take them for a ride in a real train. Here is my list of favourite train rides in Pretoria. Centurion Society of Model Engineers Each Sunday the Centurion Society of Model Engineers meets and offers rides on their mini locomotives with little carts for a small fee. These ride are really value for money with some interesting scenery. They can be found each Sunday at Kwikkie Crescent Street, Zwartkops, very close to the Centurion Gautrain station. Barry rides most Sundays in Centurion, except for the third Sunday of each month. Below to the right is one of the many steam trains. Children love to ride

The Ultimate Guide to Child-friendly Restaurants in Pretoria

Pretoria has several child-friendly restaurants but it is not always easy to find one that also has good food and service.  I have been a regular visitor to child-friendly restaurants in Pretoria for almost 11 years.  My top child-friendly restaurants in Pretoria not only have great food and service, but also playgrounds and activities that would keep children busy. Even though there are several other child-friendly restaurants in Pretoria, my list was chosen based on my own experiences.  They are (in no particular order of preference): C'est la Vie in Centurion C'est la Vie playground . C'est la Vie (translated that is life ) in Centurion is definitely a favourite in that it has great food and lots of fun activities to keep children busy.   It boasts a centrally located coffee shop and separate play areas for young and older children.   A water slide and three wheels go karts for the older children add to all the fun. Children aged two and younger may play

Top 5 Places to visit in Gordon's Bay, Cape Town

Gordon's Bay harbour . Are you planning a trip to Cape Town, South Africa and wonder whether Gordon's Bay is worth a visit?  I would definitely recommend at least a couple of days in Gordon's Bay since there are so many things to entertain the visitor.  This small seaside town with its beautiful harbour just 25 km from Cape Town,  is a scenic paradise and a visit will never be forgotten. It is also the ideal place to visit if you have small children. Here are my top five places to visit in Gordon's Bay: Bikini Beach View of False Bay from Bikini Beach. Although there are many  other better beaches around Cape Town to visit, Bikini Beach has Blue Flag status, meaning it is safe and clean to swim (an international quality award).  The water is also a bit warmer than the other beaches around Cape Town. The scenic view of False Bay alone makes this a must visit beach. Go for a swim at Pringle Bay. Drive to Betty's Bay to watch the African