Pretoria Tourism And Travel Guide

Pretoria, the capital city of South Africa, forms an ideal holiday destination for tourists who wish to explore unique places. The city reverberates a cultural diversity like no other, boasting of Tswana, Northern Sotho, Afrikaans, and English speaking ethnicities. The city is sure to take you back in time with its architectural wonders that house governing bodies of today.

With jacarandas beautifying the streets of Pretoria and several local entertainment activities lighting up the cafes and restaurants, tourists can surely feel an uplift in spirits on their tour of Pretoria. Let us walk through this travel guide to know about tourism prospects of Pretoria.

By Air:
O.R. Tambo International Airport is the nearest airport to Pretoria. It lies around 55 km away from the heart of Pretoria and enjoys excellent connectivity to Port Elizabeth, Durban, Bloemfontein, and Cape Town. Airways is the fastest means to get to Pretoria with the city experiencing a superb connection to international hubs.

By Rail:

The rail services operating to and from Pretoria include Gautrain and luxurious blue trains. The blue trains travel to major hubs such as Johannesburg, Midran, Centurion, and Cape Town. Neighboring cities such as Nelspruit, Kimberly, and Polokwane also enjoy perfect connectivity to Pretoria.

By Road:

Prime national highways such as N1, N3, N4, and N14 provide links to Pretoria's internal routes. Internal transport providers offer trains that travel to other major cities of South Africa. The most convenient way to explore Pretoria's beauty is to book a cab and drive along the city's streets.

Pretoria's pleasant and temperate weather provides a perfect setting for tourism prospects to develop. The climate usually ranges between 15°C and 30°C. Let us see how the different seasons of the year attract tourists to Pretoria.

Spring (August to Mid-October):

Spring season is the most apt time of the year to explore the bustling jacaranda streets of Pretoria. The temperatures alternate between 15°C and 28°C. The beautiful gardens of the city bloom with radiant flora and fauna, which proves a perfect attraction for tourism prospects.

Summer (Mid-October to Mid-February):
Pretoria experiences mild summers with climate fluctuating between 15°C and 30°C. Thunderstorms take place in the afternoons and cause a considerate amount of rainfall throughout the city. The Dassie Trail is an apt place to visit during summer with its invigorating floral gardens.

Autumn (Mid-February to April):
Autumn is a perfect time of the year to visit the beautiful botanical gardens and game reserves of Pretoria. The comfortable climate of autumn allows several flowers such as carpet geranium and Crocosmia aurea to bloom within the yards. It is a great time to witness the revitalizing atmosphere created by the aroma of blooms.

Winter (May to September):
Winter season in Pretoria experiences parched weather with the temperatures usually alternating between 4°C and 20°C. Visitors can spend their nights in Pretoria amid chilling frost. Some tourists either shop to glory at Menlyn Park or experience breathtaking wildlife at a Pretorian game reserve during this time of the year.

Discover Pretoria's beauty while riding:

Tourists can opt for different ways to traverse through Pretoria's stunning landscapes. Harties Horse Trail Safaris is one such organization that provides thrilling horse rides through the jungles. Other apt ways to explore Pretoria include boarding a steam train to traverse through the city or using lavish cab rides to venture into the city.

Captivating Birdhouses and Game Reserves:

Pretoria is home to captivating nature reserves such as Faerie Glen Nature Reserve, Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary, Groenkloof Nature Reserve, and the Pretoria Zoo. These reserves house a diverse wildlife community that consists of thrilling birds and animals. Some of the magnificent creatures that reside within these nature reserves of Pretoria include the African elephant, white tigers, red pandas, Verreaux's eagle, blue cranes, and speckled pigeons.

Land of Historical Museums:

Pretoria is an ancient city that continually reminds tourists of its rich historical and cultural roots through its museums. These museums showcase the vibrant cultural heritage of South Africa and the relics of brave freedom fighters of the Apartheid era. These historical archives also display ancient artefacts from the life and times of leaders who ruled the country during the colonial period.

Pretoria's cuisine includes a beautiful blend of South African and international flavors. Owing to its South African traits, Pretoria also houses some wineries that offer excellent reserve wines. Some of the sumptuous dishes that are on offer at Pretoria's restaurants include spicy chermoula tagine, tacos with slow-cooked pork, classic jalapeno poppers, bacon, cheese and guac burger, and stellar chicken wings. Restaurants such as Crawdaddy's, Hemingway’s Restaurant & Wine Cellar, and De Kloof showcase the rich cultural diversity that is prevalent in Pretoria's cuisines.

Pretoria offers tourists with trendy shopping and amusement venues. Some of the popular shopping hubs of the city include Jakaranda Centre, Milestones Market in Hatfield, Menlyn Park Shopping Centre, and Brooklyn Mall. Not only do these shopping centres provide modern artwork and designs, but also authentic handicrafts. These traditional handicrafts make for perfect mementos that tourists can take back home from their trip. Tourists can shop at these markets for a variety of accessories, such as jewellery, artwork, and antiques.