Africa Deluxe Tours Plan your tour

City

Pretoria

##Pretoria Pretoria is the executive Capital of South Africa. Pretoria was named after the Voortrekker (Boer pioneer) leader Andries Pretorius. It falls under the metropolitan municipality of Tshwane. The debate around changing the name of the city to Tshwane is ongoing (2013).

Overview

#Pretoria Pretoria is the executive Capital of South Africa. Pretoria was named after the Voortrekker (Boer pioneer) leader Andries Pretorius. It falls under the metropolitan municipality of Tshwane. The debate around changing the name of the city to Tshwane is ongoing (2013).

Pretoria lies at an altitude of 1,350 m above sea level in the transition belt between the Highveld to the South and the typical Bushveld (Middle veld) to the North. It is surrounded by hills of the Magaliesberg Mountain Range. The region was originally (around the 1600’s) inhabited by the Southern Ndebele tribe. During the difaqane wars among the different tribes refugees under Mzilikazi arrived in this region. Ultimately, in 1855 the city was founded under the leadership of Andries Pretorius.

Today the larger Pretoria (Tshwane municipality) has a population of 2.95 million (2011). The main language spoken is Sotho followed by Pedi, Afrikaans, Tswana, Tsonga, Zulu and English.

Popular attractions in Pretoria include the Voortrekker Monument, Church Square, the Kruger House, the Union Buildings, and the University of Pretoria. Other nearby attractions include the Premier Diamond Mine, the Lesedi Cultural Village and the Hartbeespoort Dam.

Tours that visit Pretoria

Things to see

Gallery