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$7,204/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$12,124/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$9,278/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$16,447/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$16,893/p.p.
Request a Quote
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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.
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$7,204/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$12,124/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$9,278/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$16,447/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$16,893/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
32°C / 89°F
7mm / 0.3"
Weather data is based on monthly averages.Popularity rating
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ExcellentBased on 5,251 ReviewsVery nice!🥰😘💙❤️🇪🇸🇭🇷Andrea MarićWe recently traveled to Portugal and had the most wonderful experience. As our first venture overseas, we decided to search online for travel assistance. We happened across Goway Travel and are so glad we did!
Michael Keon, our Destination Specialist, is extremely proficient and knowledgeable in his profession. "Thorough" is an understatement. He assisted every step of the way from the moment we stepped on our flights, transfer arrangements, hotel accommodations, train travel and multiple tours/outings tailored to our specific needs/wish list.
He provided unparalleled guidance and support during the planning process and was always available to discuss any questions/concerns. His communications were always prompt and concise.
Without a doubt, our best trip to date...there will be no hesitation to contact Mr. Keon for future travels.
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Joanna MaysWhat made this experience great was Cedric Wai. Had a client going to Asia and this is Cedric's wheelhouse since he is from there.
Everything was wonderful. Everything went smoothly. The individual tours were wonderful and all the guides were exceptional. A lot of traveling-the flight was very good on Cathay Pacific would highly recommend their airline seats were comfortable and spaced well. Being on an airplane for 16 hours sucks in general, but other than being a little sore from being stuck in one place all was good.
Thank you so much for all your help and the trip was wonderful and everything that it should be! Next trip will be much more relaxing, sitting still for a while on a beach somewhere ha ha!Careen SullivanAndrea Paredes helped me plan a last minute Colombia trip for my clients who had never been! They loved every minute of it. The hotels, history, excursions, and flights went very smooth. They were so happy with all their tour guides. Deanna Frisbie BorregoMy destination specialist, Katie Stephenson was amazing from the onset. Her customer service, communication style and planning skills was so timely and top notch.
Our trip was to Fiji, New Zealand and Australia, from Aug 4-22, 2026. The way she planned and booked the trip makes the experience convenient and enjoyable. The flexibility of payment makes the decision faster and attractive. Everything we need to know including contacts were readily available within our travel documents itinerary.
Overall, I'll say it's money well spent and a lifetime experience particularly for my kids.FestusI'm a new travel agent and used Goway to help plan a group trip to the UK. Ani, from Goway was so great! She was very detailed oriented, she had great communication and was very thorough in the planning. I felt confident that my clients would be taken care of. My clients had an amazing trip and loved all of it! SieKyeAthul Ajay was our travel agent and he was excellent from the beginning to the end of planning our trip. Great at communicating and replying back too. Sabrina GaffoglioIsabella Luu made the arrangements for our trip to Scotland and all aspects of the trip and stay were excellent. Our assistance at the airports were very good as all were alerted to our needs. Our ride services were excellent. Isabella was always available to answer any questions that we had in a knowledgable and prompt manner, which is always very important to me.Audrey HenryHad an excellent tour of Australia, thanks to our travel specialist Katie Stephenson. She was patient as we kept modifying our plans. Got support from Goway and Katie when there was a need to rebook a tour midway through, all handled easily by Goway.Ron PrestonWe went on a highly customized comprehensive (though quick tour) of England and a bit of Scotland through Goway. Ingrid Aird did an amazing job of planning and arranging every detail with her deep experience, insight, thoughtfulness and creativity, tuning into the needs of each traveler; and she did so even though our decision to travel was rather spontaneous and last minute! Our family had the best time! We look forward to working with Ingrid and Goway again!Vilja Breiling
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