Pretoria Hotels

The administrative capital of South Africa, Pretoria (or Tshwane, as it is now called) is a modern metropolis of significant historical and political prominence. The city’s most famous sights are the landmark Union Buildings, the statue of Boer President Paul Kruger, and the purple-coloured streets (from the flowers of Jacaranda Trees) at the end of spring. It is also home to some of the country’s largest shopping malls, like Menlyn Park, a thriving nightlife scene, world-class sport stadiums, parks and beautiful Victorian architecture amidst high-rise office towers. It’s a mere 30 minutes from Johannesburg International Airport, and approximately 50 km north of Johannesburg. It lies in a warm, well sheltered, fertile valley, surrounded by the hills of the Magaliesberg range, and has a population of around two million people. Interestingly, the largest diamond ever discovered — weighing a staggering 6kg! — was found close to Pretoria. The Pretoria Zoo is also one of the largest in the world, with more than 4,000 species of animals.