Pretoria Holidays

Nowhere feels lovelier than Pretoria in spring when you’ll find the city awash with thousands of jacarandas in full bloom. Their trumpet-shaped petals carpet the pretty streets and well-designed parks in shades of violet colours. Through the ages, the seat of South Africa’s administrative capital has seen a huge amount of cultural diversity which is reflected in the impressive architecture. Rich history gives life to splendid buildings from the 40m-high granite Voortrekker Monument to the semi-circular Union Buildings, a masterpiece of sandstone, statues and twin-domed towers – and significantly the place of Nelson Mandela’s inauguration in 1994. In a city wrapped in political history, the country’s turbulent past is ever present. But Pretoria’s renaissance is evident in an ever growing cultural vibrancy and some of the most handsome parks and immaculate gardens to date. Head to the hundreds of whimsical outdoor havens like the 80-hectare Pretoria Zoo home to chimpanzees and the striped legged okapi among others. Pleasant retreats include Pretoria National Botanical Garden and the smaller Jan Cilliers Park dedicated to native plants with impressive city views.

Pretoria deserves a visit in its own right, made all the more riveting with the advice of our ground experts who can share their insights to help you make the most of your time here.