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

University of South Africa.

Get in

By car

Five highways join in the Gauteng region, making it accessible from all cities in the country.

By air

Fly into Johannesburg International Airport [1] S26 07.859 E28 13.886 and drive from there to downtown Pretoria.

By bus

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

Get around

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

See

• The Union Buildings, the location of the South African government.
• Rhinos and (perhaps) cheetahs in the Rietvleidam nature reserve S25 53.107 E28 15.936. It's located South East of the city next to the air port highway.
• The Zoo. Near the city center (crime warning). Entrance is 32 Rand.
• Voortrekker Monument.
• The Wonderboom (Wonder tree). Climb up to the fort for an excellent view of the whole city.
• Tswaing Crater Asteroid Impact crater. [2]
• Botanical Gardens

Do

A balloon ride from Hartbeespoort Dam

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

• Walk, mountainbike or drive (4x4) in the Groenkloof Nature Reserve, the second oldest nature reserve in the world. See giraffe, antelope and many other animals. It's located between the city center and Centurion.
• Visit Hartbeespoort Dam. There are hot air balloon rides over the Savanna, a cable car, a golf course and watersport.
• Take a step back in time and circle Pretoria on a steam train or visit Cullinan, birth place of the worlds largest diamond [3]. Contact Friends of the Rail [4] on +27 12 548 4090
• Visit the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory [5]. Phone +27 12 326 0742. Operated by the CSIR as NASA Deep Space Station 51 from 1961 to 1974. Now operating as a radio astronomy observatory.

Buy

• Visit Coin World [6] at the South African Mint for Kruger Rands and gold jewellery. Phone +27 12 677 2460. Take exit 121 from the N1 South to the R101 Old Pretoria Road, the Mint is on your right. Before going shopping, have breakfast at Café Burgundy's and watch buck and ostridge walk past.

• The largest shopping centers are :

1. Menlyn Park [7] in the East. It includes a roof top drive-in theater.
2. Brooklyn Mall [8] just East of the centre with its art galleries and a movie theater for independent films.
3. Kolonnade [9] in the North with its ice rink and other entertainment.
4. Centurion Mall [10] on the Southern side of Pretoria
5. Wonderpark [11] in the North just as you get onto Brits road off the Mabopani highway, Skatepark and 100's of stores.

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

Eat

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

Drink

1. The nightlife is concentrated in Hatfield (near the university) and Menlyn Square.
2. Zeplin's Nightclub in Pretorius Street, catering for the pretoria goth community.
3. Nile Crocodile as you turn left off Nelson Mandela Road, live bands mostly alternative.

Sleep

• Being the capital, there are many posh hotels (including the Sheraton) and guest houses.
• The Farm Inn out on Lynnwood Road provides a uniquely South African experience.

Get out

• Fly out of Johannesburg International Airport [12].
• Rent a car from one of the many outlets. Note that the N1 North is now a toll road, so have some cash on hand.
• Catch a bus at the station S25 45.473 E28 11.321.