Pretoria

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Union Buildings
Union Buildings

Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa, is in Gauteng.

[edit] Understand

[edit] History

The area known today as Tshwane Metro Councill, with Pretoria (City) at its centre, was occupied by the Sotho people for many centuries. During the 15th century the Ndebele people also migrated into the area and settled along the banks of what is today called the Apies River. Around 1820 the Matabele under the leadership of Mzilikaza also entered the region, leading to local conflicts between the Matabele newcomers and the already established Sotho and Ndebele tribes as well as the European Voortrekkers who were steadily moving northward through the country. These conflicts came to an end when the Matabele were defeated by the Voortrekkers in 1837 at Mosega.

By 1855 there was no known tribe in what is known as Pretoria area today. Only nomadic groups passed through this area, with a leader/person Tshwane (so it is alleged) one of the them. Pretoria was founded in 1855. Initially the capital of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek was Ohrigstad, but Pretoria became the capital of the then ZAR. Later on Pretoria became the capital of the Transvaal province (old ZAR) after the Anglo-Boer War. The city was named after Andries Pretorius, the boer leader at the Battle of Blood River where the Voortrekkers defeated the Zulus under King Dingaan. In 1856 the area today know as Arcadia was acquired in exchange for a pony and added to the town.

In 1899, during the Anglo-Boer War, Winston Churchill was captured and held as a POW in Pretoria until his eventual escape to Mozambique. British forces captured Pretoria in 1900 and held control over the city until the signing of the Peace of Vereeniging treaty in 1902.

When the Union of South Africa was established in 1910, Pretoria was elected the capital and is still the administrative capital of the Republic of South Africa today.

[edit] Climate

Pretoria is located in a summer rainfall area with hot days regularly followed by short and intense afternoon thunderstorms. The thunderstorms are often accompanied by lightning and occasionally result in hail. Summer temperatures range between 16°C at night to 30°C during the day. Winters are mild and dry with temperatures averaging between a minimum of 5°C and a maximum of 20°C.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By car

Five highways join in the Gauteng region, making it accessible from all cities in the country. This would include the N1, N3, N4, N12 and N14 national highways.

[edit] By air

The closest international airport is OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. The Albertina Sisulu Highway or R21 leads from there to Pretoria. Airport shuttles are available on the airport or can be pre-booked:

  • JIATA Taxi Assosiation, P O box 1899 Kempton Park South Africa 1620, ☎ +27 (0)11 390 1857, [1]. Johannesburg based company. Will get you from piont A to point B. edit

  • Ants Events and Tours, ☎ +27 (0)82 557 9604, [3]. Fairly reliable and friendly. edit

[edit] By bus

Major bus companies like Greyhound, Translux, Intercape Mainliner and the BazBus offer connections to all big cities in South Africa.

[edit] By train

The train station is on the corner of Andries and Railway streets, just south of the city centre.

There are frequent commuter trains to Johannesburg, other outlying towns and many suburbs of Pretoria. The railway system is unreliable and notoriously unsafe, and is best avoided.

There are inter-city trains to Johannesburg (south), Polokwane, Musina (north), Witbank, Nelspruit and the Mozambique border (east).

A high-speed rail link [4] is being constructed between Pretoria, Johannesburg and OR Tambo International Airport, east of Johannesburg. It should be at least partially complete by 2010.

[edit] Get around

Either use a taxi, rent a car, use the municipal bus service or, if you really must, use the minibus taxis.

  • Rixi Taxi, ☎ +27 (0)12 362 6262. Safe and professional taxi service. Not the cheapest means of getting around. edit

  • Municipal bus routes and timetables, [6]. Not extensive coverage or very regular, but is fairly reliable. edit

[edit][add listing] See

Union Buildings
Union Buildings
  • National Zoological Gardens (The Zoo), 232 Boom Street (Near the city center), ☎ +27 (0)12 328-3265 (). Aquarium, reptile park and all the larger mammals. One can also camp within the zoo on Friday and Saturday nights. R10 for secure parking plus R36 entrance fee. For those not inclined to walking, golf carts are available at R80 per hour.  edit
  • The Union Buildings, 2 Church Street, ☎ +27 (0)12 323-5649. The location of the South African government. edit
  • The Wonderboom (Wonder tree), Wonderboom Nature Reserve, [8]. A fig tree over 1000 years old edit

[edit] Museums and Galleries

Voortrekker Monument
Voortrekker Monument
  • Correctional Services Museum, ☎ +27 (0)12 314-1766, [9]. Open 9AM to 3PM Monday to Friday.  edit
  • Melrose House Museum, 275 Jacob Maré Street, ☎ +27 (0)12 322-2805 (). Where the peace treaty that ended the Anglo-Boer War as signed in 1902. edit
  • National Cultural History Museum, 149 Visagie Street, ☎ +27 (0)11 324-6082, [10]. Learn about the people and the cultures of South Africa, from the Iron age till today. (Wheelchair friendly). edit
  • Pioneer Museum, ☎ +27 (0)12 803-6086 (), [11]. Open 9AM to 4PM daily. An old pioneer house R7 entrance fee.  edit
  • Sammy Marks Museum, Zwartkoppies, ☎ +27 (0)12 802-1150, [12].  edit
  • Transvaal Museum, Paul Kruger Street, ☎ +27 (0)12 322-7632, [13]. Where you can meet Mrs. Pless [14] when she is not on tour somewhere. edit
  • Voortrekker Monument, Eeufees Road, Groenkloof (On Proclamation Hill, big cubic building, to the south west of the city, you can't miss it), ☎ +27 (0)12 326-6770, [15].  edit

[edit][add listing] Do

JO-ANNA, Restored and operated by Friends of the Rail
JO-ANNA, Restored and operated by Friends of the Rail

  • Friends of the Rail, ☎ +27 (0)12 548-4090, [17]. Take a step back in time and circle Pretoria on a steam train or visit Cullinan, birth place of the worlds largest diamond. edit

[edit] Performing arts

  • State Theatre, cnr Pretorius and Prinsloo Streets, [18]. Book via Computicket [19]  edit

[edit] Outdoors

  • Groenkloof Nature Reserve, Fountains Valley Resort, ☎ +27 (0)12 440-8316 (), [20]. 5:30AM to 7PM in summer and 7AM to 8PM in winter. Walk, mountainbike, go on a 4x4 drive or stay over in the second oldest nature reserve in the world. See giraffe, antelope and many other animals. R15 entrance fee, R35 (with R300 refundable deposit) for an overnight hut (sleeps 12), R50 per day for mountainbike hire, R100 for guided walks, R40 for access to the 4x4 trial (R250 if you get stuck and call for a recovery vehicle).  edit

  • Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary, cnr Boshoff and Roper, ☎ +27 (0)12 440-8316 (), [21]. Open 7AM to 5PM (6PM in summer). Free entrance.  edit
  • Wonderboom Nature Reserve, ☎ +27 (0)12 341-0591, [22]. Open 7AM to 6PM, entrance until 4PM. Not much wildlife, some Dassies at most. A very old fig tree. edit

[edit] Learn

University of South Africa.
University of South Africa.
  • University of Pretoria, ☎ +27 (0)12 420-3111 (), [23]. Also known as Tukkies, or Tuks locally. edit
  • University of South Africa (UNISA), Preller Street, Muckleneuk, Pretoria, ☎ +27 (0)11 670-9000 (, fax: +27 (0)11 471-2987), [24]. Located in Pretoria, this university offers distance learning courses.  edit

[edit] Work

[edit][add listing] Buy

[edit] Shopping Malls

  • Menlyn Park, [26]. Located in the East. A large mall, it includes a roof top drive-in theater. edit
  • Brooklyn Mall, [27]. Just East of the city center with its art galleries and movie theaters for both mainstream and independent films. edit
  • Kolonnade, [28]. In the North with its ice rink and other entertainment. edit
  • Wonderpark, [30]. In the North just as you get onto Brits road off the Mabopani highway, Skatepark and 100's of stores. edit

There are also many smaller, local shopping centers usually with one of the larger chain stores as an anchor.

[edit][add listing] Eat

This guide uses the following price ranges for a typical meal for one, including soft drink:
Budget Under R60
Mid-range R60 to R120
Splurge Over R120

The renowned restaurants include Cynthia's, The Hillside Tavern and Pachas. There are also many franchised diners throughout the city.

[edit] Budget

[edit] Midrange

  • Smoke, Groenkloof Plaza,Goerge Storrar Road, Groenkloof, ☎ +27 (0)12 346-0916.  edit

[edit] Splurge

  • Cynthia's Indigo Moon Restaurant, 283 Dey Street, Nieuwmuckleneuk, Brooklyn, ☎ +27 (0)12 346-8926. Around R170 per person.  edit
  • La Pentola, 5 Riviera Galleries, Well Street, Riviera, ☎ +27 (0)12 329-4028 (fax: +27 (0)12 329-5464), [31]. Open Mon to Fri from 12PM to 3PM and 6PM to 10PM, Sat from 6PM to 10PM, closed on Sundays. Multi award winning restaurant with excellent food. From around R150 per person.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

  • The nightlife is concentrated in Hatfield (near the university) and Menlyn Square.
  • Zeplin's Nightclub, Pretorius Street. Caters for the Pretoria goth community. edit
  • Nile Crocodile, turn left off Nelson Mandela Road. Live bands mostly alternative edit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room:
Budget Under R500
Mid-range R500 to R1000
Splurge Over R1000

Being the capital, there are many posh hotels (including the Sheraton) and guest houses and all the usual hotel chains have one or more hotels.

[edit] Budget

  • North South backpackers, 355 Glyn Street, Hatfield, ☎ +27 (0)12 362-0989, [33]. From R140 for a single and R180 for a double room.  edit
  • Pretoria Backpackers, 425 Farenden Street, Clydesdale, ☎ +27 (0)12 343-9754 (), [34]. From R50 for camping, R80 for the dorms and R125 for a room.  edit
  • Word of Mouth backpackers, 430 Reitz Street, Sunnyside, ☎ +27 (0)12 343-7499 (), [35]. (Skype:travelinafrica) From R100.  edit

[edit] Midrange

  • The Farm Inn, Lynnwood Road, ☎ +27 (0)12 809-0266 (), [39]. Provides a uniquely South African experience. From R370 per person sharing.  edit

[edit] Splurge

  • Villa Sterne, ☎ +27 (0)12 346-2255, [42].  edit

[edit] Contact

Compete GSM coverage with GPRS, 3G and HSDPA and Edge available almost everywhere.

[edit] WiFi

Always-On [43] , +27 (0)11 575-2505, provides prepaid WiFi access in a number of locations in and around Johannesburg. Simply connect to the access point and you will be given the opportunity to pay for access by credit card. Pricing starts at around R15 for 10 minutes or R60 for 100MB.

Coverage areas include:

  • Cafe Dulce. Centurion Mall. edit
  • City Lodge. Courtyard in Arcadia. edit
  • JB Rivers. Lynwood edit
  • Holiday Inn. Arcadia edit
  • Mugg&Bean. Just about all of them. edit
  • Villa Sterne Guesthouse. Waterkloof Ridge edit
  • Wimpy. Doornkloof edit

[edit] Stay healthy

[edit] Hospitals

  • Unitas Hospital, Clifton Avenue, Lyttelton, Centurion, ☎ +27 (0)12 421-6700. Caters for 24 hour accident and emergency treatment. edit

[edit] Stay safe

[edit] Important telephone numbers

[edit] From a fixed line

  • 107 - Emergency
  • 10111 - Police [44]
  • 10177 - Ambulance
  • 082911 - Netcare911 [45]

[edit] From a mobile phone

  • 112 - Emergency
  • 911 - Netcare911 [46]

[edit] Cope

[edit] Get out

A balloon ride from Hartebeespoort Dam
A balloon ride from Hartebeespoort Dam
  • Fly out of OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg [47].
  • Rent a car from one of the many outlets. Note that the N1 North, towards Limpopo Province, is a toll road, so have some cash on hand (or a credit card).
  • Catch a bus at the station S25 45.473 E28 11.321.
  • Mpumalanga Escarpment in a weekend
  • Rietvlei Nature Reserve, a small and quiet nature reserve with a number of wildlife species and lots of bird watching opportunities.
  • Visit Hartebeespoort Dam. There are hot air balloon rides over the Savanna, a cable car, a golf course and watersport.

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