Purple jacarandas & national monuments
Pretoria
Pretoria · Jacaranda capital of government
South Africa's administrative capital is a stately, tree-lined city that erupts in purple jacaranda blossom each spring. Grand government buildings, the moving Freedom Park and monuments to the nation's turbulent past make it a thoughtful counterpoint to nearby Johannesburg.
Top sightsSights
Union Buildings
The seat of government and a giant Mandela statue on terraced gardens.
Voortrekker Monument
A colossal granite monument to the 19th-century Boer trek.
Freedom Park
A memorial and museum honouring the struggle for liberation.
Church Square
The historic heart ringed by grand colonial architecture.
National Botanical Garden
Native flora and birdlife on a rocky ridge.
What to eatFood
Boerewors
A coiled farmer’s sausage grilled on the braai.
Melktert
A cinnamon-dusted milk-custard tart.
Pap and vleis
Maize porridge with grilled meat, a staple pairing.
Good to know
- Visit in October–November for the jacaranda bloom.
- It pairs easily with Johannesburg, under an hour by Gautrain.
- The Gautrain links directly to OR Tambo airport.
Getting there
Served by Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport (JNB); the Gautrain reaches the city in under an hour.
Next city
Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)