Potchefstroom is a city of 43,000 people (2011) that is part of JB Marks Local Municipality in North West Province. It is a university town with several museums and historical sites.

Understand

Building Potchefstroom University

Early on, Potchefstroom was destined to be an academic city after a series of Anglo-Boer war events ended up making Pretoria the capital of the South African Republic. And today, it is home the tertiary institutional giant, North-West University, along with many other schools.

Potchefstroom is an industrial, service and agricultural growth point of North West province. Industries include steel, food, and chemical processing. The chicken industry is an important agricultural sector.

Get in

It is 120 km (75 mi) west-southwest of Johannesburg and 45 km (28 mi) east-northeast of Klerksdorp.

See

• 1 Potchefstroom Museum, ☏ +27 18 299 5070. 09:00-16:00 daily. relates the history of the town through four important men who shaped Potchefstroom, Pretoria, and the surrounding area; as well as the Great Trek, the story of the Boers migration through the lands that eventually became South Africa. Also here is the Goetz/Fleischack Museum. (updated Aug 2020)
• 2 President Pretorius Museum, Thabo Mbeki Way, ☏ +27 18 299 5037. A Cape-style home, believed to have been built in 1868 by Marthinus Wessel Pretorius, president of the South African Republic and founder of Pretoria. (updated Aug 2020)
• 3 NWU Botanical Garden and Art Gallery, ☏ +27 18 299 2753. M-F 10:00-16:00. Plants and art featured on this site with the North-West University. Also on campus is the NWU Gallery and Totius House Museum. (updated Aug 2020)
• 4 Dell Cheetah Centre, Vaal Rock, Parys, ☏ +27 82 691 5537. Tours offered M-Sa at 10:00 or 14:00,. Guided tours of cheetahs in their sanctuary habitat. R 120 Adult, R 60 Child. (updated Aug 2020)
• Old Fort and Cemetery. An earthwork quadrilateral, c. 1881, west of the Potch–Klerksdorp rail line and south of the main Potch–Klerksdorp road. British soldiers built the fort during the Anglo-Boer War in 1880, and were besieged by the Boers for 95 days. A number of soldiers and civilians who died during the siege are buried in the adjoining cemetery. 
• South African National Artillery Memorial. The national memorial site, on Ventersdorp Road in Kanonierspark, for all artillery soldiers who died in combat during World War II. 

Do

• 1 OPM Prozesky Bird Sanctuary. Daily 06:00-18:00. A marsh where you can look for birds and perhaps otter. (updated Aug 2020)

Buy

• 1 Mooirivier Mall, Nelson Mandela Dr, ☏ +27 18 293 2004. M-Sa 09:00-18:00, Su 10:00-15:00. A modern day mall. (updated Aug 2020)

Sleep

• 1 Sunset Manor Guest House Potchefstroom, 4 Kanaal St, ☏ +27 82 550 2645. Pool, free breakfast, wifi, a/c. Very private. R 862. (updated Aug 2020)