Erica's Choice

It seems that there is something beautifully intoxicating hidden in the African soil that waits to be unleashed each time a visitor arrives. My most recent trip yet again confirmed this fact. During this visit I ventured north, to the city of Pretoria.

Pretoria, the executive Capital of South Africa, located in the Gauteng Provence and house to the South African government, is surprisingly usually off-the-radar for visitors. It is situated approximately 40 minutes north of Johannesburg (and O.R. Tambo International airport), yet apart from the close proximity between these two cities, the culture and lifestyle in each are vastly different. Johannesburg is the business capital of the country while Pretoria is a residential city with in large spacious suburbs, beautiful gardens, two world class universities and top notch golf courses, restaurants, among other. The city is divided by the Magaliesberg Mountain Range, one of the oldest mountain ranges in history, that runs from east to west and it further marks the start of the Bushveld Igneous Complex. Pretoria was also the first capital of the Afrikaner nation and as such remnants of the history of the Afrikaner are seen in the older buildings and the strong Afrikaner roots in the culture. Afrikaans, a language closely related to Dutch, is spoken quite often and locals are avid rugby fans, specifically Blue Bulls supporters. Having said this, Pretoria today is a city that represents the Rainbow nation with flying colors and the history is painted with stories from all nations and cultures over hundreds of years.  In addition, locals are mostly fluent in English so tourists can travel freely without having to deal with a language barrier.

The purpose of this post is to provide you with a few ideas of what to do in Pretoria and surrounding areas. Even though I strongly recommend visiting other regions in the country such as I noted in a prior post on Cape Town, I implore you, visit Pretoria! Personally I love Pretoria and I am always amazed that tourists don’t visit it more often! A few days in the city will not be a disappointment.

Places Not to Miss

Union Buildings

Pretoria is the executive capital of South Africa and houses the beautiful Union Buildings and surrounding gardens. Take a day to explore the building and gardens and the history it holds. At night the structure is lit up and illuminates the skyline in beautiful golden hues.
Voortrekker Monument & Kruger House

If you have interest in exploring the history of South Africa during the early 20th century a visit to the Voortrekker Monument should be considered. This monument marks the Afrikaners Great Trek all the way from Cape Town with ox wagons to finally settle and establish Pretoria. The Kruger House is the original house of the first President of the Afrikaner nation, Paul Kruger, and houses the original equipment and furniture used by the Afrikaner during that time. It is a step back into history and very informative.

Cullinan

Cullinan, a rural town, approximately 30 kilometers from Pretoria, should not be overlooked. This is where the largest diamond in the world, , known as the Cullinan diamond, was discovered and today it represents a lovely town filled character and great restaurants. Make your way to ‘As Greek as it Gets’ or ‘Whispering Tree’ for a bite and then go on the diamond tour, a 5 hour tour that takes you into the diamond mine itself. This mine is still fully active and only recently one of the top 20 largest diamonds ever was discovered.

Hot Air Baloon Rides

If your time in South Africa is limited I suggest doing something different such as taking a hot air balloon ride over nearby game reserves.  Seeing Africa from the air is quite intoxicating and awe inspiring.

Safari & Hunting

Kruger National Park

Located just three hours north east of Pretoria this is a must see for any visitor to South Africa. Representing that largest wild life region in South Africa it covers 18,989 square km (7,332 sq mi) and extends 350 km (217 mi) from north to south and 60 km (37 mi) from east to west. The Kruger National Park houses not only the big five, but also other rare and exotic beauties such as the Eland, the Gemsbuck, the Hippo, crocodile, birds, snakes, among other. For those on a budget I recommend to rent your own car and drive through the Park, camp at Park resorts or towns or rent a hut in one of the resorts. Each Park resort is 100% safe and driving through the Park is an experience that I have loved and will always treasure. If you prefer not to drive then book an organized tour. Ample places have one week or two week tours and take care of everything including housing, meals among other. Alternatively, go on a hike in the Park. All hikes are led by experienced personnel and are 100% safe.

Hunting or Personal Safaris

For those that prefer a more personal Safari experience or would like to organize an African hunting adventure head over to Elandsbosch Safaris. Located in the beautiful Limpopo valley, less than 3 hours from Pretoria, Elandsbosch is a must see during a visit. Even though I am not a hunter I still love this spot due to the impeccable customer service, excellent food, great accommodations and beautiful scenery. The resort, run by Gerhardus and Aneke Steenkamp, is impeccably organized, the hunts 100% professional and safe and the food, wine and entertainment delightful. When you leave you take a piece of Africa with you and you’ll want to go back over and over again. For those hunters among us, the hunting is spectacular. Ranging from local antelope to the big 5 any hunters dream will become a reality. Gerhardus and Aneke are fluent in English, Afrikaans and Spanish and can accommodate parties of almost various sizes.

Golf

Pretoria has excellent golf courses, period. If you are a golfer make sure to get a round on the Serengeti Wild Life Golf Estate, the newly built golf course and estate just outside of Pretoria, designed by Jack Nicklaus. Also, if you have time, get a round at Irene Country Club, Wingate Park Country Club, Pretoria Country Club and Silver Lakes Country Club. In addition, the spectacular Sun City Resorts,  is less than 3 hours away and a vacation destination in itself.

Places to Eat:

Pretoria is a city with the best value for food in the country. My favorites in the city include the delightful Kream restaurant, O’Galitos, Trana Indian cuisine (for parties of 6 or more), Cynthia’s, Indigo Moon, or Pachas restaurant. Delight your taste buds in local favorites and indulge in local wines at very affordable prices. Don’t overlook local antelope options or seafood alternatives. The seafood in Pretoria is spectacular and I have found on many occasions that it’s even better and fresher than what is served in other areas in the country including cities closer to the oceans.

Places to Stay:

My first pick is Villa Sterne. The resort, built by the Sterne family offers charming rooms with spectacular views of the city, a sumptuous breakfast, a spa, a gym, and anything the tourist can dream of on a visit. Alternatively the city is swamped with local guest houses offering wonderful accommodations at more affordable prices. Here is a link with reasonable alternatives. In general, when you reserve a hotel in Pretoria I recommend staying out of downtown city center and instead book hotels in Hatfield, Brooklyn or Waterkloof areas. These are prettier and safer than the central business district.

Final Notes

South Africa is must visit for any traveler. It offers the infrastructure that one needs to enjoy a safe and comfortable journey yet opens to door to Africa, the wild life, the people and the culture. Pretoria is only one city of many worth seeing and, as so many other places in this beautiful country, worth a visit during your African adventure.