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.
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.
Languages
Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, EnglishCurrency
South African Rand (ZAR)Travel, Your Way!
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