Things To Do In Pretoria

Pretoria is a quaint city nestled in a valley encircled by the Magaliesberg Range. The city boasts of a beautiful blend of historical and modern architecture. This carefully designed city is renowned for the beautiful jacaranda trees that line up its streets. Some of the exciting activities that tourists can take up on their trip to Pretoria include exploring the town from inside a steam train, visiting some of the incredible game reserves that reside within the city, scuba dive with magnificent aquatic creatures, and get acquainted with South Africa's intriguing past. Let us read on to learn how these exciting things to do when in Pretoria make it a tourist hotspot.

With blissful sceneries and a plethora of bird species spread across its territory, Faerie Glen Nature Reserve is a beautiful tourist spot. This reserve is perfect for adventurous hikers who wish to take up endearing trails through the wilderness. One of the prime attractions of the sanctuary is the Protea, the national flower of South Africa. More than 150 bird species reside within Faerie Glen Nature Reserve, making it a true birdwatcher's haven. Some of the colorful birds that live here include African Black Duck, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Brown-backed Honeybird, Village Weaver, Cape Grassbird, and Marsh Warbler.

Friends of the Rail provides timeless rides through Pretoria aboard steam trains. These train rides showcase the working environment of the railway system along the journey. The steam train rides bring to life the remarkable technological prowess of the South African railway's system. These rides regularly traverse through destinations such as Cullinan, Rayton, and Bela Bela. Riding atop a steam train is a fun activity to take up along with families while celebrating anniversaries or birthdays.

Harties Horse Trail Safaris offers fascinating horse rides through the wilderness of Pretoria. These adventure trails start from a nearby lodge and pass through breathtaking landscapes. The unique part of these adventurous rides is that tourists can explore their surroundings while seated atop a friendly horse. Some of the exciting animals that visitors can spot along the trip include warthogs, ostriches, impala, kudu, zebras, giraffes, and the blue wildebeest. The authorities come up with a variety of trails, one-hour to half day trips through the jungle. The place is a perfect spot for family and romantic experiences.

The Scuba Crew center in Pretoria allows tourists to catch a glimpse of the aquatic world that flourishes under water. Their scuba diving courses train visitors to survive underwater and swim above reefs brimming with radiant fish. Scuba Experts use the indoor swimming pools to provide training in scuba diving. Once done with training, tourists can decide whether they want to explore the waters of the sea. These dives offer an unusual experience, with glowing coral reefs and inquisitive fish greeting you along the way.

Situated in Muckleneuk, Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary is a perfect picnic site for families to visit and unwind. The Blue Crane restaurant nearby is located atop a dam and a bed of reefs. This factor attracts beautiful birds to the vicinity, including rock doves, blue cranes, speckled pigeons, Egyptian geese, and grey-crowned cranes. With two rivers dropping water into the marshy basins within the 11.8-hectare expanse of the sanctuary, this place was meant to breed exciting water birds. Tourists can park themselves within one of the bird hides to admire the colorful birds or embark on guided walks.

Pretoria's Sammy Marks Museum boasts of a backdrop that is sure to take tourists back into the forgotten era. This splendid Victorian mansion came into existence in the 1800s and also possessed a beautiful garden within its vicinity. The palace gets its name from Sammy Marks, who was one of the most exceptional entrepreneurs of South Africa. The interiors of Sammy Marks Museum have remained intact, providing visitors with a good sight of the architectural prowess that prevailed within South Africa in the 1900s. The greenery around the mansion offers a bright spot for tourists to spend a picnic at, relaxing during their stay.

Freedom Park stands as a symbol of democracy. It marks the rights, freedom, and human dignity that the freedom fighters of South Africa fought for in the bygone era. The park covers a 52-hectare expanse, providing tourists with a stunning bird's-eye view of the capital city. It perfectly provides an overview of the industrial world. Tourists and locals regularly visit Freedom Park to gain a better understanding of the freedom struggles of South Africa.