Whenever people plan trips to South Africa, they are usually first to browse Cape Town, Johannesburg, or Durban; what I like to call the “tourism triangle”. Often forgotten is Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa. Pretoria (also known as “Tshwane”), is host to a plethora of natural, cultural, and historical attractions that make it a truly worthwhile place to visit. Here are some exciting attractions and activities you can enjoy while you’re here:

1.  The Voortrekker Monument

This granite structure is a major landmark, situated on a hilltop just outside of Pretoria. It was built to commemorate the Voortrekkers who left the Cape Colony between 1835 and 1854 to begin the Great Trek. The two main points of interest inside the building are the Historical Frieze and the Cenotaph. The building, which stands 40m high, has been declared a National Heritage Site, and gets about 200,000 visitors a year.

2.  The Union Buildings

The Union Buildings are located atop Meintjieskop, the highest point in Pretoria. They form the official seat of the South African government and house the presidential offices. This iconic landmark, built of light sandstone in the English monumental style, has been declared a National Heritage Site. The 285m semi-circular building has two wings at the sides to represent the union of a formerly divided people. It is considered a South African architectural masterpiece.

3.  Loftus Versveld Stadium

Loftus Versveld is a rugby and association football stadium in Arcadia, Pretoria. It was named after Robert Owen Loftus Versveld, the founder of organised sports in Pretoria. The stadium has a capacity of 51,762, and has hosted the 2009 Currie Cup Final, matches in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, as well as several concerts, namely UB40, Robbie Williams, and Celine Dion.

4.  National Zoological Gardens of South Africa

This 85 hectare plot, also known as Pretoria Zoo, is the largest in South Africa, and is also the only one with national status. It houses hundreds of mammal, bird, fish, invertebrate, reptile, and amphibian species. It features a reptile park and the largest inland marine aquarium in the country. More than 60,000 people visit the zoo annually.

5.  Transvaal National History Museum

The Ditsong National Museum of Natural History, formerly known as the Transvaal Museum, is the leading natural history museum in the country, founded in 1892. It is housed in a sandstone building, offering collections of dinosaur skeletons, Plio-Pleistocene fossils (including hominids from Sterkfonten, Swartkrans and Kromdraai in the Cradle of Humankind), as well as late Permian therapsids (mammal-like reptiles from the Karoo).

6. Pretoria National Botanical Garden

The Pretoria National Botanical Garden is a 76 hectare plot that was established in 1946. It constitutes a wetland, cycad garden, succulent garden, useful plants garden, and an enabling garden. It features a restaurant, concert stage, tea garden, and a function hall. It also boasts the National Herbarium, Biodiversity Centre, and Environmental Education Centre. Special features include the avenue of wisteria trees and collections of medicinal plants.

7.  Freedom Park

Freedom Park covers 52 hectares of land on Salvokop. It opened in 2007 and is a space where South Africans can reflect on the past, while remembering that they have taken a step forward as a nation. It includes a symbolic resting place for those who sacrificed their lives in the struggle, a body of water for baptism and drinking, an eternal flame, a gallery of leaders, and an amphitheatre.

Make the most of your stay by booking at some of our fantastic accommodation in Pretoria.