Local Attractions
City Overview: Pretoria is the capital of South Africa and also is home to several foreign embassies, including the U.S. The Union Buildings house the administration of the country and have also been the setting for the presidential inaugurations of Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and the South African president, Jacob Zuma. These sandstone buildings offer beautiful views over the city.
Kruger Museum: President Paul Kruger, a former leader of South Africa, lived in this splendid house near Church Square from 1884 to 1901. It was the first Pretorian residence with electricity and telephone. It is furnished in the original style and shows many exhibits from the life of this very popular Boer president, including his state coach and his private railway carrier. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. More Information
National Zoological Gardens of South Africa: Commonly known as the Pretoria Zoo, the National Zoological Gardens on South Africa is regarded as one of the leading zoos in the world. This park includes an aquarium and reptile park in addition to the zoo. The Pretoria Zoo boasts 209 mammal species, 202 bird species, 190 fish species, four invertebrate species and 93 reptile species. There is an area geared towards kids, a cableway, a picnic area, a cafeteria and a souvenir shop. More Information
Tswaing Nature Reserve: Just north of Pretoria, the Tswaing Nature Reserve is incredibly beautiful. It houses not only a number of wild animals and a large variety of birds, trees and plants, but it is also the place of an ancient crater, the impact of a huge meteorite. The crater is estimated to be between 30 and 50 meters in diameter. More Information
