Things To Do Pretoria

South Africa

5 out of 57 Places to visit in South Africa

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Places To Visit In Pretoria

Groenkloof Nature Reserve

5 km south of the city, the Groenkloof Nature Reserve was South Africa's first nature reserve, established in 1895 and is one of Gauteng's top game reserves. It has several hiking and mountain biking trails and great 4x4 trails for off-road car lovers. It is also a great place for bird watchers, with a huge variety of local birds frequenting the area. As one of Pretoria's top tourist attractions, Groenkloof is a brilliant game sanctuary of Gauteng. There are 3 different hiking trails of 1.3, 3.7 and 10 km, and also a 20 km trail for mountain bikers. Kids can while their time away on the fun pony and horse rides while you take on one of these trails, and there are two picnic areas for the family to get together and relax after a fun day out. For hikers and mountain bikers who plan on taking on these trails early in the morning, you can also make bookings for overnight stays at the huts. Though it's best to make these reservations well in advance. Read More

Horse riding in South Africa is one of the most popular sports. Colin's Horseback Africa is the most popular in the area. Based in a private game park, it provides an exclusive tour, with zebras and giraffes among the many animals you will view from up and close. You can also take a walk and play with lion cubs! The lion tour is a super interactive and educational tour on lions, learning interesting facts about these fascinating cats. Along the way you get to play with the adorable cubs. Imagine showing your friends a picture with a lion cub! Colin's actively engages in taking care and conserving the growth of lions, and if you're an animal lover this place is an absolute must visit! Read More

The last house of Paul Kruger, president of South Africa, which today is a museum displaying life during the days he stayed in this house. The Kruger House is an important landmark in Pretoria. Paul Kruger was one of the foremost leaders of the freedom struggle against the British, and the President of the South African Republic. The house has been refurbished to showcase the life and time during the period Kruger resided here, between 1884 and 1900, when he left for Europe in exile. Interestingly, the house was actually built using milk instead of water for mixing the cement, as the cement was of poor quality. Stepping inside the house is like stepping into a different time. It is laid out as it would've been all those years ago, and also several artefacts from Kruger's life are found here. The 2 stone lions at the front were a gift to Kruger from the mining giant Barney Barnato, and inside you will also find the knife with which Kruger amputated his thumb after a shooting accident. Kruger died in Switzerland in 1904, and his body was sent back to South Africa for a full state funeral. The hat he wore on his journey to Europe is on display at Amsterdam's famous Rijksmuseum. Read More

The famous home stadium of the rugby team Blue Bulls, and also hosted 5 games during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The Loftus Versfeld Stadium is an iconic location for many an event throughout the year. This 51,000 capacity stadium has hosted important games during the 1995 Rugby World Cup, the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, and then the 2010 FIFA World Cup, including the match where Diego Forlan scored one of the goals of the tournament for Uruguay in a match against South Africa itself. The stadium has also hosted concerts of many international stars, and also the historic boxing bout between Gerrie Coetzee and John Tate for the WBA World Heavyweight Title. The atmosphere inside the stadium during Super Rugby League matches in the stadium is electric, and the stadium is obviously home to some world class facilities. Read More

National Zoological Gardens of South Africa is South Africa's largest zoo, spread across a sprawling 210 acres and is home to about 9000 animals of more than 700 species. There is a river bank inside ideal for a picnic, and a cable car connects the top of the hills to the entrance at the bottom. The chargeable cable car provides amazing views of the entire zoo and all its enclosures. The zoo has grown since 1899 by leaps and bounds to become a brilliant zoological facility. What initially was only used as a stopover point for animals being transported today is home to majestic animals like the Bengal tiger and lions. The zoo is home to an enormous number of animals today, with their natural habitats created for them superbly. Exotic animals like Koalas, Komodo dragons and Kangaroos, along with African animals like leopards, gorillas, elephants and several others. The beautiful zoo's landscape consists of a flat plain and a mountainous northern side, with the Apies River dividing the two, connected by 2 bridges. Read More

An important South African botanical garden, the Pretoria National Botanical Garden is home to a beautiful collection of plants and flowers. It is divided into the western and eastern sections, with the former containing most of the smaller gardens like the succulent garden, medicinal garden, cycad garden, enabling garden and a few more. At the same time, the latter is home to grassland and also dassies. Established in 1946 and opened to the public in 1984, the botanical garden is perhaps Pretoria's most beautiful attraction. The wide array of natural vegetation and colourful flowers make the walk through the garden truly enchanting. A charming mix of different colours, the garden is home to different plants and flowers throughout the year, like the mesembs, white and orange daisies, cycads, Megalies plane and many others. The garden's immense variety of vegetation also means that it has attracted a lot of birds and also small mammals. You should also check out a visitor's centre, eco craft gift shop, and an artificial waterfall. Read More

About 18 km from the centre of Pretoria, the Rietvlei Nature Reserve is a sprawling area of grasslands, home to various endangered flora and fauna. Drives through the grassland reserve are a famous tourist activity, as the park offers brilliant picnic spots and the opportunity to view more than 1500 animals. The scenic Rietvlei Dam is also situated in the park. The park is a great place to spot leopards, cheetahs, and other animals like the Blesbuck, black wildebeest, waterbuck, zebra, hippopotamus, and many more. The Rietvlei Dam allows visitors to fish along its northern and western shores, relaxing for a good few hours! The other dam within the park, Marais Dam, is a great place for spending a fun time picnicking with the family. And if you're looking for a more proactive experience, there are many great hiking trails through the landscape or book a horse ride for more personal exploration. Tours during the day or even the night to spot the many nocturnal animals that reside here are very popular, and it's better to make bookings if you're looking for a guided tour. Temperatures in reserve get cold in the winters, dipping below 0 degrees occasionally. Read More

Union Buildings is the seat of the government of South Africa and one of the most iconic heritage sites of the country. The architecture of the building is striking, with the twin towers sitting at the front building representing the English and Afrikaans languages. Unfortunately, only the gardens are accessible to the public. Since the building is located at the highest point of the city, these terraced gardens offer great views of the city. The Union Buildings opened in 1913, marking the Union of South Africa. Sir Herbert Baker designed this impressive structure, and its 285-metre-long body was built from sandstone in the British imperial style. Some may also remember the buildings from when Nelson Mandela was declared the first democratically elected leader of South Africa in 1994. The gardens are adorned with several statues of important individuals, as well as memorials. The gardens are also often the location for concerts and major events. Spend a while relaxing with the family in the garden, enjoying panoramic views of Pretoria and marvelling at this imposing historic structure. Read More

The Voortrekker Monument is a historic granite structure erected to honour the valiant Afrikaans colony of the Voortrekkers. It is a prominent structure and major landmark in the city. The monument is a massive 40 metres high, entirely made of granite with some interesting architectural features. The Voortrekkers were an Afrikaans colony who left the Cape Colony around the 1830s and 1840s and moved inwards into South Africa due to the British occupation of the Cape. Back then, they used to be pastoralists and were engaged in several wars with other tribes, including the famous Battle of the Blood River, where they defeated the Zulu tribes of Dingane despite being severely outnumbered. The monument itself was opened in 1949 and has several notable features. The most notable is the Historical Frieze, made fully of marble. It displays various aspects of a day in the lives of Voortrekkers, as well as depictions of the Great Trek across 27 panels. At the centre of the Cenotaph Hall is the Cenotaph, the main attraction of the monument. Every year on 16th December, a ray of sunlight passes through the roof and falls onto its centre at noon. 16th December was the day of the Battle of the Blood River in 1838, and the ray symbolises the blessing of god with which they could achieve such a feat. There are other statues of Voortrekker leaders around the monument and a copy of the Voortrekker vow from the day of the Battle of the Blood River. Read More

Hedianga Farm is a predominantly rocky region comprising different challenging trails perfect for walking, hiking and mountain biking. It is situated on the Bronberg side of the Magaliesberg mountain in the eastern part of Pretoria. It is a great location to watch the sunset and take photographs. The area comprises different ecological zones including grasslands and quartzite rides and numerous animal and bird species which also makes it a suitable place for bird watching. Walking dogs is permitted within the farm and some of its areas also allow for them to be let off the leash. Hedianga Farm is also believed to have been occupied by early hominids. Be careful of the snakes hidden in the tall grass. Read More