Most tourists have an idea where South Africa is, and what kind of place it is. Wildlife, great weather, racial diversity, and a compelling, tragic past. And yes, you can find all of these things in South Africa. But most people have only heard of Cape Town and Johannesburg. Granted, these are the two cities with the largest international airports, but despite their popularity, neither of these two cities is the actual capital of the country. The capital is Pretoria, the Jacaranda city – and it is becoming increasingly desirable as a tourist destination. But what is it that makes Pretoria so great? Let’s take a look at why more and more people are investigating South Africa’s capital.
Location
Pretoria is located approximately 55 kilometres North of Johannesburg, in the cultural and economic powerhouse that is the Gauteng province. The city is also known as the Jacaranda city because of the presence of thousands of Jacaranda trees that line the streets in October and November. The climate is typical of this part of South Africa – warm in summer with spectacular thundershowers in the late afternoons, and dry and chilly in winter (although this is by South African standards – the average winter maximum is around 20 degrees Centigrade). This means that the weather will never stop you from exploring this amazing city.
What to Do
Pretoria was founded by the Voortrekkers, Dutch settlers who travelled from Cape Town to Pretoria. They founded the city as the capital, and investigating their monuments is a huge attraction to foreign visitors. However, South Africa is not known as the rainbow nation for nothing, and every prominent culture is represented in Pretoria. Sites like The Voortrekker Monument, The Union Buildings, and Church Square are placed in stark contrast to struggle memorials like Freedom Park.
Apart from this interesting history, Pretoria is also known for a vibrant sporting culture. Cricket and rugby are the most widely followed sports, although local football is also popular. If you are familiar with names like Centurion Park and Loftus Versveld, then Pretoria is the city for you, as there is always something sporty going on.
If you prefer cultural experiences when you are on vacation, then Pretoria won’t let you down. The city is home to The State Theatre, National Museum, Natural History Museum, Pretoria Zoo, and literally hundreds of art galleries. Many of the country’s most prominent music stars are also from the capital city, and live music is a big part of a night out. The friendly locals enjoy a good party, and because the University of Pretoria has a suburb dedicated to housing students, there is never a shortage of party opportunities.
Getting Around
The recently opened Gautrain is a first in South Africa, a high-speed train that links Pretoria, Johannesburg, and the OR Tambo International Airport (JHB). This makes travelling between these two cosmopolitan cities easy and fast. Otherwise, taxis will get you around the well-structured road grid system. It just couldn’t be easier.
This guest post was written by freelance writer Victoria. She is currently exploring Credit Cards Canada.
