While Pretoria may not be as popular among tourists as Cape Town or Johannesburg, the city certainly has a lot to offer. Beautiful architecture, luscious outdoors, delicious food, interesting history, and a welcoming local culture all make this city an attractive place to visit. Here are three places you cannot miss while there…
National Botanical Garden
The Pretoria National Botanic Garden is home to more than half of South Africa’s tree species, as well as many cycads, aloes, and flowering plants, among others. The National Herbarium is housed here too, and boasts the largest collection of plant specimens in the country – over a million! This herbarium is the largest on the African continent, and fourth largest in the southern hemisphere. The plants here are dried and pressed onto cardboard that is labelled for research purposes. The Mary Gunn Library, the largest botanical library on the continent, is also housed at the herbarium.
Entrance fees to the national garden include R50 for adults and R20 for scholars, with even lower prices for senior citizens, and student discounts. You can also enjoy a pre-booked, guided tour for just R85. Visitors can grab lunch at the Lakefront restaurant after exploring the beautiful gardens.
Groenkloof Nature Reserve
The oldest nature reserve on the continent, Groenkloof boasts a large variety of wildlife, including jackal, kudu, impala, zebra, blue wildebeest, red hartebeest, blesbuck, sable, giraffe, and ostrich, as well as many bird species. Visitors can hike, horse ride, mountain-bike, and go on game drives and tours. The reserve also has a much enjoyed 4×4 route. Although entrance fees depend on intended activities, the daily tariff for an adult is R45. All other prices, facilities, and hiring information can be found on the website linked below.
Kruger House Museum
If you’re planning on spending a lot of time in Pretoria’s beautiful outdoors, consider this indoor option for some time away from the sun. Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger was a dominant political figure of the 19th century, and President of the former Zuid-Afrikaansche Republic from 1883 to 1900. The Kruger House Museum, which consists of the home of Paul Kruger built in 1884, has been refurbished to reflect the period of time in which he lived there. Stepping foot into this building, is like traveling back through time. The museum also consists of President Kruger’s State Railway Coach, and two display halls.
The exhibitions detail the international appreciation of Paul Kruger, and the fight for freedom from British imperialism, as well as his exile and journey to Europe.