Overview
Take a trip to Pretoria on your South Africa Vacation
Pretoria, located in the northern part of Gauteng province is the executive and administrative capital, as well as the de facto national capital of South Africa. Pretoria was nicknamed the “Jacaranda City” due to the thousands of Jacaranda trees planted throughout the city which can be enjoyed on South Africa vacation.
Pretoria has a very strong Afrikaner history and is known for its apartheid past. The city was founded by Marthinus Pretorius, a leader of the Voortrekkers in 1885 and became the capital of the South African Republic in 1860. When South Africa left the British Commonwealth to become a republic in 1961, Pretoria remained as the administrative capital.
As apartheid gripped the country, Pretoria was a symbol of political repression and white conservatism. It was in the Palace of Justice in the city centre that the historic Rivonia Trial took place. During the trial, Nelson Mandela and a number of prominent members of the black liberation struggle were charged with treason and were imprisoned.
Despite Pretoria serving as the headquarters of the apartheid state, the Union Buildings (also in the city centre) hosted the inauguration of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first democratically elected president, in 1994. This historic event helped lay the groundwork for the Pretoria that exists today.
A laidback city with a historic atmosphere and an appreciation for nature, Pretoria has much to offer tourists during Pretoria tours on a South Africa vacation.
Despite Pretoria serving as the headquarters of the apartheid state, the Union Buildings (also in the city centre) hosted the inauguration of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first democratically elected president, in 1994. This historic event helped lay the groundwork for the Pretoria that exists today.
A laidback city with a historic atmosphere and an appreciation for nature, Pretoria has much to offer tourists during Pretoria tours on a South Africa vacation.
At a Glance
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Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, EnglishCurrency
South African Rand (ZAR)Trending Trips
Unforgettable Journeys.5 Trips Found
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5 Trips Found
Cape, Rail & Safari: A South Africa Journey
Limpopo, Kruger National Park, Gauteng, Pretoria, Western Cape, Cape of Good Hope, Cape Town, Boulders Beach, and Table MountainDiscover Cape Town with private-guided touring, journey on Rovos Rail, and enjoy a luxury safari in the Greater Kruger National Park region.
11 days
From US$7,518/p.p.
Request a Quote
Deluxe Cape Town, Luxury Train & Safari
Mpumalanga, Kruger National Park, Gauteng, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Western Cape, Cape of Good Hope, Cape Town, Boulders Beach, and Table MountainLuxury, private guided highlights featuring the unique Rovos Rail train journey, and five-star Sabi Sands Game Reserve.
12 days
From US$11,801/p.p.
Request a Quote
South Africa Elegance: Rovos Rail & Safari
KwaZulu Natal, Gauteng, and PretoriaIndulge in an extraordinary luxury journey through South Africa, blending stunning rail travel with thrilling safaris and relaxing beach days along the coast.
9 days
From US$9,087/p.p.
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Ultimate Luxury Train Journey: Cape to Dar es Salaam
Gauteng, Pretoria, Victoria Falls (City), and Victoria FallsExperience the ultimate luxury on a Rovos Rail journey from Cape Town to Dar es Salaam, traversing breathtaking landscapes and iconic sights across southern Africa.
17 days
From US$17,659/p.p.
Request a Quote
Luxury Train Journey: South Africa to Namibia
Gauteng and PretoriaExperience a luxurious rail journey through Southern Africa. From Pretoria to Walvis Bay, explore iconic sights, indulge in gourmet meals, and enjoy wildlife encounters.
12 days
From US$16,443/p.p.
Request a Quote
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perfect trip idea?
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Turn your travel dreams into reality with Goway. Our customized vacations take travellers to all corners of the world.
Cape, Rail & Safari: A South Africa Journey
Limpopo, Kruger National Park, Gauteng, Pretoria, Western Cape, Cape of Good Hope, Cape Town, Boulders Beach, and Table MountainDiscover Cape Town with private-guided touring, journey on Rovos Rail, and enjoy a luxury safari in the Greater Kruger National Park region.
11 days
From US$7,518/p.p.
Request a Quote
Deluxe Cape Town, Luxury Train & Safari
Mpumalanga, Kruger National Park, Gauteng, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Western Cape, Cape of Good Hope, Cape Town, Boulders Beach, and Table MountainLuxury, private guided highlights featuring the unique Rovos Rail train journey, and five-star Sabi Sands Game Reserve.
12 days
From US$11,801/p.p.
Request a Quote
South Africa Elegance: Rovos Rail & Safari
KwaZulu Natal, Gauteng, and PretoriaIndulge in an extraordinary luxury journey through South Africa, blending stunning rail travel with thrilling safaris and relaxing beach days along the coast.
9 days
From US$9,087/p.p.
Request a Quote
Ultimate Luxury Train Journey: Cape to Dar es Salaam
Gauteng, Pretoria, Victoria Falls (City), and Victoria FallsExperience the ultimate luxury on a Rovos Rail journey from Cape Town to Dar es Salaam, traversing breathtaking landscapes and iconic sights across southern Africa.
17 days
From US$17,659/p.p.
Request a Quote
Luxury Train Journey: South Africa to Namibia
Gauteng and PretoriaExperience a luxurious rail journey through Southern Africa. From Pretoria to Walvis Bay, explore iconic sights, indulge in gourmet meals, and enjoy wildlife encounters.
12 days
From US$16,443/p.p.
Request a Quote
Don't see the
perfect trip idea?
Request a custom quote.
Turn your travel dreams into reality with Goway. Our customized vacations take travellers to all corners of the world.
What do the experts say?
Skip the more commercial wineries and visit artisanal producers—you’ll find sparkling wines and small-batch reds that are absolutely world-class.
Djembe drumming at GOLD in Cape Town is an immersive African experience through their 14-dish food safari and unique live entertainment.
The game viewing in Kruger and Eastern Cape always draws me back—it’s truly superb.
South Africans are famously warm—when you’re new in town, you're often invited to a braai, our way of welcoming people through food.
South Africa is a wonderful starting point for Africa. It's got some of the top cities in the world, stunning food and wine, and exceptional value for money.
Jacaranda trees lining the street in Pretoria a...
Pretoria at sunset
Palace of justice is a stop in which you can ta...
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Place
Conditions
Daily max temperatureMonthly rainfall
PretoriaMostly Sunny
33°C / 92°F
15mm / 0.6"
Weather data is based on monthly averages.Popularity rating
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ExcellentBased on 5,291 ReviewsMy husband and I booked a tour to Portugal using Goway travel. Working with Phoebe was a pleasure. She responded promptly and professionally to all of my requests, concerns and queries. Our trip was filled with lovely details and unexpected treasures.Kristen RemsenMy trip to China was a wonderful experience, and everything was planned very well. The itinerary was well organized by Ms. Harpreet Litt. The arrangements were smooth, and the overall trip was enjoyable.
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Dear Goway Travel Team!
I wanted to reach out and share some well-deserved praise for Jacqueline, who has assisted me closely with several of my travels. She recently curated a trip for me to Croatia, the beautiful islands, and Montenegro, and it was an absolute home run.
Jacqueline has an incredible ability to listen to her clients' needs and translate them perfectly into a flawless itinerary. Her articulation, guideline execution, and professionalism are unmatched. What sets her apart is her forward-thinking approach—she always knows the exact hotspots and trends, ensuring the pace of the trip matches my speed perfectly.
Everything transitioned seamlessly thanks to her attention to detail and care. She is a massive asset to your organization, and her consideration makes every vacation stress-free. I will absolutely continue to use her for all my future travels.
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Vince Sacco Vince SaccoAbsolutely incredible trip! From beginning to end! All accommodations were excellent. If you want to experience Safaris this trip will fulfill all your expectations! A special thanks to our driver we had for our entire trip Evans! He made our trip over the top! The Hot air balloon ride in the Masai Mara is a must…it’s breathtaking!Pam SeitzI have worked with Goway several times in the past two years and every single trip has been unforgettable. Specifically, our travel advisor, Maria, has helped us book phenomenal trips to Thailand, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Ireland, and most recently, Iceland. Maria is so wonderful and easy to talk to, but what really stands out is her ability to get to know her clients so she can plan trips that perfectly align with our interests and desires. I cannot recommend her strongly enough! Her expertise, hard-work, and dedication towards each trip has given myself, my family, and friends memories to last a lifetime! Kayla CovelloJamil made our 40th birthday trip to Portugal so so very amazing and special! Great service, fabulous hotels, and wonderful day trips! Lane StricklandKatie was great, planned everything we needed, was great with changes and trip schedule conflicts. Fantastic working with her.CTI have been booking with GoWay for more than 2 years and feel so fortunate to have the best Travel Advisor, Maria Spitman, making our vacations unforgettable. I can’t say enough about Maria… she is personable, efficient, detail-oriented, and extremely knowledgeable about her specialty destinations. We have booked many trips with her, including Thailand, Spain, Portugal, Sicily, Iceland, and our most recent trip in Greece. Maria has not only curated nuanced itineraries, but has done so combining her vast knowledge of each region with our interests and needs being met perfectly. With that, it is evident that Maria learns about her clients to create vacation packages that far exceed expectations. I won’t book with anyone else! GoWay has a gem that is irreplaceable! I highly recommend seeking Maria out for all your destination needs. Darleen
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