Pretoria

Pretoria Skyline

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

Understand

Useful links

• City of TshwaneTourist info has lists of malls, resorts and emergency contact numbers etc.

• The Pretoria Wikipedia page

History

The area known today as Tshwane Metro Council, with Pretoria (City) at its centre, was allegedly occupied by the Sotho people for many centuries. During the 15th century the Ndebele people also migrated into the area and settled along the banks of what is today called the Apies River. Around 1820 the Matabele under the leadership of Mzilikaza also entered the region, leading to local conflicts between the Matabele newcomers and the already established Sotho and Ndebele tribes as well as the European Voortrekkers who were steadily moving northward through the country. These conflicts came to an end when the Matabele were defeated by the Voortrekkers in 1837 at Mosega.

By 1855 there was no known tribe in what is known as Pretoria area today. Only nomadic groups passed through this area, with a leader/person Tshwane (so it is alleged) one of the them. Pretoria was founded in 1855. Initially the capital of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek was Ohrigstad, but Pretoria became the capital of the then ZAR. Later on Pretoria became the capital of the Transvaal province (old ZAR) after the Anglo-Boer War. The city was named after Andries Pretorius, the boer leader at the Battle of Blood River where the Voortrekkers defeated the Zulus under King Dingaan. In 1856 the area today know as Arcadia was acquired in exchange for a pony and added to the town.

In 1899, during the Anglo-Boer War, Winston Churchill was captured and held as a POW in Pretoria until his eventual escape to Mozambique. British forces captured Pretoria in 1900 and held control over the city until the signing of the Peace of Vereeniging treaty in 1902.

When the Union of South Africa was established in 1910, Pretoria was elected the capital and is still the administrative capital of the Republic of South Africa today.

Climate

Pretoria is located in a summer rainfall area with very hot days regularly followed by short and intense afternoon thunderstorms. The thunderstorms are often accompanied by lightning and occasionally result in hail. Summer temperatures range between 16°C at night to 30°C during the day, with occasionally higher temperatures (up to about 36°C). Winters are mild and dry with temperatures averaging between a minimum of 5°C and a maximum of 20°C. Winter nights and (occasionally winter days) can be surprisingly cold and buildings are generally not well insulated. Bring warm clothes if you're visiting during the winter months.

Get in

By car

Five highways join in the Gauteng region, making it accessible from all cities in the country. This would include the N1, N3, N4, N12 and N14 national highways.

Most National Routes (N) [3] are now Toll Roads or will be in the not to distant future.

By air

The closest international airport is OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. The Albertina Sisulu Highway or R21 leads from there to Pretoria. Airport shuttles are available on the airport or can be pre-booked:

• JIATA Taxi Assosiation, P O box 1899 Kempton Park South Africa 1620, ☎ +27 (0)11 390-1857. Johannesburg based company. Will get you from point A to point B.

• Your Choice Tours , ☎ +27 (0)84 580-4802, e-mail: (ref wiki) info@yct.co.za?Subject=shuttle (ref wiki). 24/7. Reliable shuttle service, tours and transport.

• Ants Events and Tours , ☎ +27 (0)82 557-9604. Very reliable and friendly. Contact +27 (0)12 346 2400 or e-mail: info@antsevents.com

By bus

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

By train

A convenient high-speel rail link [4] is available between OR Tambo International Airport and Pretoria. Travellers can access this direct link from the arrivals hall in the airport building. Safe, comfortable Gautrain busses serve local routes from the different stops in Pretoria.

The train station is on the corner of Andries and Railway streets, just south of the city centre.

There are frequent commuter trains to Johannesburg, other outlying towns and many suburbs of Pretoria. Metrorail is unreliable and notoriously unsafe, and is best avoided but the long distance Shosholoza meyl trains are safe and a very comfortable way to travel between cites, don't use if in a hurry.

The Shosholoza meyl service runs to Johannesburg (south), Polokwane, Musina (north), Witbank, Nelspruit and the Mozambique border (east).

Get around

As of January 2011 the Tourist Hop on/Hop Off bus has been suspended. The tourist office had no information on when or if it would return.

Either use a metered taxi, rent a car or use the municipal bus service. There is also a very extensive network of informal, cheap minibus taxis, mostly used by local commuters. These taxis have a reputation for being unsafe, but this has greatly improved in recent years and most taxis are now relatively luxurious and not overcrowded, except during peak times. Accidents are rare. Ask locals waiting at taxi stops about routes and rates.

Walking is a good option during the day, but us unsafe after dark in certain areas, such as central Pretoria.

• Tempest Car Hire , ☎ +27 (0)12 663-1368, fax: +27 (0)12 663-1387, e-mail: reservations@tempestcarhire.co.za. Affordable car rental service available at all major locations in South Africa.

• HeinRich's Taxis , ☎ +27(0)12 343-3331, e-mail: (ref wiki) kochhw@intekom.co.za?Subject=taxi (ref wiki). Safe and professional taxi service.

• Rixi Taxi, ☎ +27 (0)12 362-6262. Safe and professional taxi service. Not the cheapest means of getting around.

• Tshwane Bus Routes . Graphical map of bus routes and timetables and some information on using Minibus Taxis. R10 a journey.

• Municipal bus routes and timetables . Not extensive coverage or very regular, but is fairly reliable. -Main office at church square. Get time table there. Bus stops have lousy indication of bus, direction. So ask or wait. Bus frequency is during rush hours best. Very old fashioned but good for nostalgists. Price range between R5 to R10 from City to suburbs and R4 for scholars.

See

Union Buildings

• Botanical Gardens , ☎ +27 (0)12 843-5194, e-mail: pretoriagarden@sanbi.org. Open 8AM to 6PM daily. R15 entrance fee.
• National Zoological Gardens (The Zoo), 232 Boom Street (Near the city center), ☎ +27 (0)12 328-3265, e-mail: info@zoo.ac.za. R10 for secure parking plus R36 entrance fee. For those not inclined to walk, golf carts are available at R80 per hour. Aquarium, reptile park and all the larger mammals. One can also camp within the zoo on Friday and Saturday nights.
• The Union Buildings, 2 Church Street, ☎ +27 (0)12 323-5649. The location of the South African presidency with beautiful gardens. Building designed by sir Herbert Baker.
• The Wonderboom (Wonder tree), Wonderboom Nature Reserve. A fig tree over 1000 years old

Museums and Galleries

Voortrekker Monument

Freedom Park

• Correctional Services Museum , ☎ +27 (0)12 314-1766. Open 9AM to 3PM Monday to Friday.
• Melrose House Museum, 275 Jacob Maré Street, ☎ +27 (0)12 322-2805, e-mail: melrosehouse@tshwane.gov.za. Where the peace treaty that ended the Anglo-Boer War as signed in 1902.
• National Cultural History Museum, 149 Visagie Street, ☎ +27 (0)11 324-6082. Learn about the people and the cultures of South Africa, from the Iron age till today. (Wheelchair friendly).
• Pioneer Museum , ☎ +27 (0)12 803-6086, e-mail: pioneerm@nfi.co.za. Open 9AM to 4PM daily. R7 entrance fee. An old pioneer house
• Sammy Marks Museum, Zwartkoppies, ☎ +27 (0)12 802-1150.
• Transvaal Museum, Paul Kruger Street, ☎ +27 (0)12 322-7632. Where you can meet Mrs. Pless [1] when she is not on tour somewhere.
• Voortrekker Monument and Fort Scanskop, Eeufees Road, Groenkloof (On Proclamation Hill, big cubic building, to the south west of the city, you can't miss it), ☎ +27 (0)12 326-6770. R40 per person.
• Freedom Park, Salvokop of Potgieter Street (Located on a hill across from the Voortrekker Monument), ☎ +27 (0)12 470-7400, fax: +27 (0)12 361-0021, e-mail: info@freedompark.co.za.
• Willem Prinsloo Agricultural Museum , ☎ +27 (0)12 736-2035, e-mail: prinsloo@nfi.co.za.
• Kruger House Museum, 60 Church Str, ☎ +27 (0)12 326-9172, fax: +27 (0)12 328-5173.

Do

Experiences

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

• Friends of the Rail , ☎ +27 (0)12 548-4090. Take a step back in time and circle Pretoria on a steam train or visit Cullinan, birth place of the worlds largest diamond.
• Klitsgras Drumming Circle, Tierpoort, Garsfontein Road (Take the Garsfontein Road (M30) in the eastern direction. 14km after crossing Hans-Strijdom Drive, turn left onto Plot 62. It's right next to the Excel service station.), ☎ +27 (0)83 311-0025. Drumming circle out in the bush. Held every second Friday night.

Performing arts

• State Theatre, cnr Pretorius and Prinsloo Streets. Book via Computicket [2]

Outdoors

• Groenkloof Nature Reserve, Fountains Valley Resort, ☎ +27 (0)12 440-8316, e-mail: audreyb@tshwane.gov.za. 5:30AM to 7PM in summer and 7AM to 8PM in winter. R15 entrance fee, R35 (with R300 refundable deposit) for an overnight hut (sleeps 12), R50 per day for mountainbike hire, R100 for guided walks, R40 for access to the 4x4 trail (R250 if you get stuck and call for a recovery vehicle). Walk, mountainbike, go on a 4x4 drive or stay over in the second oldest nature reserve in the world. See giraffe, antelope and many other animals.

• Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary, cnr Boshoff and Roper, ☎ +27 (0)12 440-8316, e-mail: audreyb@tshwane.gov.za. Open 7AM to 5PM (6PM in summer). Free entrance.
• Wonderboom Nature Reserve , ☎ +27 (0)12 341-0591. Open 7AM to 6PM, entrance until 4PM. Not much wildlife, some Dassies at most. A very old fig tree.

Learn

University of South Africa.

• University of Pretoria , ☎ +27 (0)12 420-3111, e-mail: csc@up.ac.za. Also known as Tukkies, or Tuks locally.
• University of South Africa (UNISA), Preller Street, Muckleneuk, ☎ +27 (0)11 670-9000, fax: +27 (0)11 471-2987, e-mail: study-info@unisa.ac.za. This university offers distance learning courses.
• Tshwane University of Technology, Staatsartillerie Road, ☎ +27 (0)12 382-5911, e-mail: general@tut.ac.za.

Buy

Shopping Malls

• Menlyn Park . Located in the East. A large mall, it includes a roof top drive-in theater.
• Brooklyn Mall . Just East of the city center with its art galleries and movie theaters for both mainstream and independent films.
• Kolonnade . In the North with its ice rink and other entertainment.
• Centurion Mall . South of Pretoria, in Centurion.
• Wonderpark . In the North just as you get onto Brits road off the Mabopani highway, Skatepark and 100's of stores.

Other Shopping

• German bakery and Alma german butchery. East of Pretoria, Offramp Rossouw, then turn north, after 200 m. Closed Mondays. Also serves Coffee

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

Eat

This guide uses the following price ranges for a typical meal for one, including soft drink:
Budget	Under R60
Mid-range	R60 to R120
Splurge	Over R120

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

• Cool Runnings, 1071 Burnett Street. A cool pub with a earthy rastafarian vibe.

Budget

• Centurion Mall Express Sandwich Baron (annemarie@sandwichbaron.com), Shop 30A, Cnr Hendrik Verwoerd and Embankment, Centurion Mall, Centurion, ☎ 27 (0)12 643-1144. Sandwich Baron produces freshly made platters and sandwiches and holds no ready-made products in stock. Also has a catering service.
• Tings 'n Times, 065 Arcadia Street, Hatfield, ☎ +27 (0)12 430-3176/7. Tings an' Times is an establishment inspired by bohemian ideals and permeated by soothing Reggae rhythms, catering to both young and old. Blending African and Mediterranean flavours, our eclectic menu features a variety of culinary delights.

Midrange

• Toni's Pizza Toni's is a great place to get the best pizza in town.
• Panarotti's Panarotti's is a national chain with several Pretoria branches.
• Spur Spur a national chain of Native American themed steak-houses. Several branches in Pretoria.

Splurge

• Cynthia's Indigo Moon Restaurant, 283 Dey Street, Nieuwmuckleneuk, Brooklyn, ☎ +27 (0)12 346-8926. Around R170 per person.
• Kream Restaurant, 570 Fehrsen Street, Building 3 Ground Floor, Brooklyn Bridge, ☎ +27 (0)123 464642. Around R150 per person. This new restaurant has a fresh upmarket urban feel and offers splendid food at very reasonable prices.
• La Pentola, 5 Riviera Galleries, Well Street, Riviera, ☎ +27 (0)12 329-4028, fax: +27 (0)12 329-5464. Open Mon to Fri from 12PM to 3PM and 6PM to 10PM, Sat from 6PM to 10PM, closed on Sundays. From around R150 per person. Multi award winning restaurant with excellent food.

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Drink

Both Tings and Zeplin's have moved, please add correct addresses.

• Pretoria's nightlife is concentrated in Hatfield (near the university), which boasts a number of bars and night clubs. Menlyn Square (just off the Menlyn shopping centre) is also a popular location which contains several venues but caters for the more upmarket crowd.

• Drop Zone, Hatfield Square. Popular night club that stays open until late at night/early morning. Entrance is free.

• Tings 'n Times, 065 Arcadia Street, Hatfield, ☎ +27 (0)12 430 3176/7. In addition to being a great budget restaurant with a Rastafarian feel, Tings offers some great life acts.

• Zeplin's Nightclub, Wonderwater Centre, Cnr Braam Pretorius & Lavender Annlin, South Africa. Caters for the Pretoria goth/alternative community.

• Babylon. One of South Africa's biggest nightclubs marketed at gay patrons. Babylon is clean and trendy, although slightly overpriced, and is open every Saturday night.

Sleep

This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room:
Budget	Under R500
Mid-range	R500 to R1000
Splurge	Over R1000

Being the capital, there are many posh hotels (including the Sheraton) and guest houses and all the usual hotel chains have one or more hotels. With so many hotels owned by the same chains, in particularly Southern Sun, and occasional change of ownership (e.g. a Holiday Inn is now a Southern Sun) things can get a bit confusing. Make sure you note the address when booking so you go to the right hotel. When Parliament is in session and when there are other state events it can be almost impossible to find a mid-range or splurge room. Consider nearby Centurion as an alternative if you have to be in Pretoria at those times.

Budget

• 1322 Backpackers, 1322 Arcadia Street, Hatfield, ☎ +27 (0)12 362-3905, e-mail: reception@1322backpackers.com. From R70 for a dorm.

• Khayalethu Backpackers, 1291 Arcadia Street, Hatfield, ☎ +27 (0)12 362-5403, e-mail: groups@ghk.co.za. From R125 for a dorm.

• Formula 1 , ☎ +27 (0)11 807-0750, e-mail: all@formule1.co.za. R249 per room (max 3 people).

• Kia-Ora Lodge, 257 Jacob Mare Street, Berea, ☎ +27 (0)12 322-4803, e-mail: hostel@absamail.co.za.

• Pretoria Backpackers, 425 Farenden Street, Clydesdale, ☎ +27 (0)12 343-9754, e-mail: info@pretoriabackpackers.net. From R100 for the dorms, double and double en-suites available.

• Villa Zieshaan, 323 Minnaar Street, Central, ☎ +27 (0)82 855-4354. Check-in: 12AM, check-out: 11AM. R350 per room.

• Word of Mouth Backpackers, 430 Reitz Street, Sunnyside, ☎ +27 (0)12 343-7499, e-mail: wom@mweb.co.za. From R100. (Skype:travelinafrica)

Midrange

• Dark Chocolate Guest House Pretoria, 25 Catherine Street, Shere, ☎ +27 012 809 0626. From ZAR 1,040.00. Standard rooms, all equipped with Plasma TV, Bathroom and Shower. Facilities and services are Swimming pool, Restaurant and bar/lounge.

• Khayalethu GuestHouse, 1291 Arcadia Street, Hatfield, ☎ +27 (12) 362-5403. Khayalethu GuestHouse has 10 en-suite rooms, off-street parking and free internet access.

• Don Arcadia I, 599 Pretorius Street, Arcadia, ☎ +27 (12) 341-0098. Don Arcadia I has 46 hotel suites in total, 4 of which are Studio Suites, 34 are one bedroom Suites and 8 two-bedroom suites.

• City Lodge , ☎ +27 (0)11 557-2600, e-mail: info@citylodge.co.za. From around R400 sharing.

• The Farm Inn, Lynnwood Road, ☎ +27 (0)12 809-0266, e-mail: farminn@farminn.co.za. From R510pps. Provides a unique South African experience.

• Ithiliens Grace Guest House, 47 Kamperfoelie Street, Amandasig (easily accessible from all major highways), ☎ +2779 892 2376, e-mail: info@ithiliensgrace.co.za. From R280 up to R900.

• The Village in Hatfield _, 1252 Arcadia Street, Cnr. Glyn & Arcadia Streets, Hatfield (N4 into PTA-Hatfield, near Duncan Street), ☎ +27 (0)12 362-3737, e-mail: villagebandb@mweb.co.za. From R500 single.

• The Waterhouse Guesthouse, 439 Stonewall Street, Faerie Glen (easily accessible from all major highways), ☎ +27 12 991 2823, e-mail: info@thewaterhouse.co.za. From R670 single up to R1400 double.

• Morning Star Express Hotel, 327 Visagie Street, ☎ +27 12 442 0600. From ZAR 482.46. A/C spacious rooms equipped with TV with cable channels, double bed and bathroom. Some of its facilities and services are restaurant, Wi-Fi internet, massage service, and 24-hour front desk.

Splurge

• Ellensgate Guest House, 849 Church Street (Entrance at Eastwood Street), ☎ +27 (0)12 342-4089, fax: +27 (0)86 572-6549, e-mail: info@ellensgate.co.za. From R860pps (b&b).

• Protea Hotels , ☎ +27 (0)21 430-5000, e-mail: info@proteahotels.com. From R500pps.

• Sheraton Pretoria Hotel, cnr, ☎ +27 (0)12 429-9999, e-mail: pretoriasouthafrica.reservations@sheraton.com. From R1750pp.

• Southern Sun , ☎ +27 (0)11 461-9744, e-mail: contactus@southernsun.com. From R750pps. Wide range of accommodation from budget to splurge

• Villa Sterne, 212 Johann Rissik Drive Waterkloof Ridge, ☎ +27 (0)12 346-2255, e-mail: reservations@villasterne.com. From R650pps.

Connect

Complete GSM coverage with GPRS, 3G and HSDPA and Edge available almost everywhere.

Buy a local simcard for your overseas mobile phone at most supermarkets for 1-5 R. Then let your self get phoned from home ( call by call). Have your own handy with simcard with you in case of emergancies

WiFi

Always-On [5] , +27 (0)11 575-2505, provides prepaid WiFi access in a number of locations in and around Johannesburg. Simply connect to the access point and you will be given the opportunity to pay for access by credit card. Pricing starts at around R15 for 10 minutes or R60 for 100 MB.

Coverage areas include:

• Cafe Dulce. Centurion Mall.
• City Lodge. Courtyard in Arcadia.
• Holiday Inn. Arcadia
• Mugg&Bean. Just about all of them.
• Villa Sterne Boutique Hotel and Health Spa. Waterkloof Ridge
• Wimpy. many wimpy branches now offer wi-fi

Stay healthy

Hospitals

• Unitas Hospital, Clifton Avenue, Lyttelton, Centurion, ☎ +27 (0)12 421-6700. Caters for 24 hour accident and emergency treatment.

Stay safe

Pretoria is considered to be a relatively safe city by South African standards and violent crime against tourists is somewhat rare. That said, basic common sense should still be used. Avoid walking around after dark, even in a group. The city centre becomes deserted after nightfall, so it would not be wise to hang around at these times. Hatfield Plaza is busy with shoppers, students, tourists, police and car minders there is very little chance of any real trouble happening, but it can be annoying and daunting for tourists as the beggars are quite insistent. That said, the Hatfield area is usually perfectly safe. In case of trouble, here are important telephone numbers.

From a fixed line

• 107 - Emergency
• 10111 - Police [6]
• 10177 - Ambulance
• 082911 - Netcare911 [7]

From a mobile phone

• 112 - Emergency
• 911 - Netcare911 [8]

Cope

Embassies and High Commissions

• Canada .

• Greece, 1267 Pretorius Street, Hatfields Office Park, Block G 1st Floor Hatfield, ☎ +27 12 342 7136, +22 12 342 7137, Emergency: +27 71 352 7326, +27 72 449 5196, fax: +27 12 430 4313, e-mail: gremb.pre@mfa.gr,embgrsaf@global.co.za.

• United States .

• Turkey .

• Serbia, 163, Marais street, Brooklyn 0181, P.O.B 13026, Hatfield, ☎ +27 12 346 6191, fax: +27 12 460 6003, e-mail: info@srbembassy.org.za.

Go next

A balloon ride from Hartebeespoort Dam

• Irene is a small town to the south of Pretoria with a day spa and a dairy farm.
• Mpumalanga Escarpment in a weekend
• Rietvlei Nature Reserve, a small and quiet nature reserve with a number of wildlife species and lots of bird watching opportunities.
• Visit Hartebeespoort Dam. There are hot air balloon rides over the Savanna, a cable car, a golf course and watersport.