Johannesburg and Pretoria


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Johannesburg

Johannesburg is the gateway to South Africa and this is where many visitors will start their journey. You may find yourself spending time here at some stage of your holiday. There are several good museums and plenty of shopping centres to explore. Many visitors choose to base themselves in the nearby 'township' of Soweto for a fascinating cultural insight.

The administrative capital of South Africa is the city of Pretoria (or Tshwane), about 50 km north of Johannesburg. The city, known for its Jacaranda trees, hosts more than 100 parks, including bird sanctuaries and nature reserves. It is also renowned for its historical buildings, exquisite gardens, monuments and museums.

Pretoria is also home to the majestic Union Buildings which were the seat of the apartheid government and these sandstone buildings represented to many the oppression of apartheid rule. But this changed when the Union Buildings became the setting for the inauguration of Nelson Mandela as President in 1994. Again the buildings and their surrounding gardens provide excellent views of the city.

Pretoria has many interesting day trips close to the hub of the city. Take a balloon Safari over the Magaliesburg, a visit to the Nan Hua Buddhist Temple in Bronkhorstspruit, or explore South African Culture at the Lesedi Cultural Village between Pretoria and Johannesburg.

Contact Mahlatini for your personalised holiday to Johannesburg

Customer Review

Holiday to South Africa during January 2012

South Africa Review

We loved South Africa. From Table Mountain in Cape Town, Stellenbosch in the wine country, Plettenberg Bay on the Garden Route and Amakhala in the Eastern Cape we feel we managed to cram in two weeks so many wonderful aspects ofSouth Africa had to show and are desperate to return and see more of th...

Rated...

Signed:

Celia Pool

South Africa Factfile

Timezone:
EAT (UTC+2)
Language:
English, local languages
Currency:
South African Rand
Best time:
Year round destination
Flights:
9 hours from Europe
Visas:
Not needed for many Europeans, call for info
Weather:
Click here for weather information