Johannesburg Excursions
Pretoria skyline © South Africa Tourism
Pretoria
Only half an hour's drive beyond Johannesburg's northern suburbs
lies South Africa's administrative and diplomatic capital city,
Pretoria, founded by the pioneering Afrikaans Voortrekkers who
built the city as the capital of their Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek
in the mid-19th century. Pretoria is an attractive, green city,
with purple-hued Jacaranda trees lining its streets that are
presided over by the Union Buildings, designed by Sir Herbert
Baker. They perch like an acropolis on a hilltop and house the
offices of the President and senior government officials. There are
numerous other historic buildings too, including the Voortrekker
Monument, a memorial commemorating the pioneers' penetration of the
interior. Pretoria is also home to South Africa's National
Zoological Gardens, which is one of the world's finest zoos.
Website: www.pretoria.co.za
