Pretoria, located in Gauteng is South Africa’s administrative capital. This South African metropolis is popularly known as the Jacaranda City because of the thousands of jacaranda trees lining its streets, parks and gardens. During the months of...more
Pretoria, located in Gauteng is South Africa’s administrative capital. This South African metropolis is popularly known as the Jacaranda City because of the thousands of jacaranda trees lining its streets, parks and gardens. During the months of October and November the city becomes a vision of purple because of the plethora of blossoming trees surrounding the city. The city of Pretoria, although quiet in comparison to Johannesburg, is home to a number of interesting sights. Those visiting Pretoria will be able to see its significant old building as well as its fascinating museums and will get to experience its many outdoor activities. The most impressive sights in the city include the Union Buildings, Burgers Park, Transvaal Museum, the Vootrekker Monument and Freedom Park. Muslims travelers will be able to find adequate Muslim friendly-facilities in Pretoria, as the city is home to a small percentage of Muslims.
Travelers visiting Pretoria will find many places of interest and activities to partake in when in the city. The Pretoria Botanical Gardens is a must see, as it houses a wide variety of fauna and flora and visitors to the garden can relax and enjoy its very soothing and calm atmosphere among the many native south African trees.
The National Zoological Gardens is the ideal place to visit for some family fun. This zoo is not only the largest zoo in South Africa it is also the only one with a national zoo status. The zoo offers plenty to explore and is home to a large and diverse collection of trees and exotic animals. It is the perfect place for the adventurous, as the zoo offers camping tours, night tours, aquarium tours and even sleepovers. Visitor will have the unique opportunity to see the wildlife like never before.
Travelers could also visit the Union Buildings in Pretoria; it is one of the most beautiful architectural masterpieces in the city and is surrounded by spectacular gardens. The building houses the office of the president of South Africa and is the official seat of the government of the country.
The city is also home to various museums and galleries. Not to be missed is the Transvaal Museum which has natural history displays. Also worth visiting is the Cultural History Museum.
Outdoor activities in the city include a visit to the Groenkloofe Nature Reserve, Wonderboom and the Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary. A steam train ride around the city will prove to be a fun activity for the whole family. Pretoria has several malls for those who wish to do some shopping when in the city.
OR Tambo International Airport, in Kempton Park, is the closest major airport to Pretoria. It is located approximately 45 kilometres from the city center. The airport was formerly known as the Johannesburg International Airport and now serves as the primary airport for domestic and international travel in South Africa and is also Africa’s busiest airport. The airport is easily accessible by road, and travelers could take the bus or taxi to get to Pretoria. They can also use its rail service as it has a rail link connecting the airport to Pretoria. Lanseria Airport is another airport travelers could use. It is located approximately 35 kilometres from Pretoria and is a domestic airport.
Muslim travelers will be able to locate halal food in Pretoria. The halal restaurants in the city are usually halal certified or Muslim owned and are known to serve an array of cuisines ranging from Indian, Chinese, western and even fast food. Barceló’s, Mcafe, Chicken Licken, Oriental Palace, Jimmy’s Killer Fish and Chips, Kauai, Burger Arena, Spur Steak Ranches and Pride of India are a few of the many halal restaurants in Pretoria. However, Muslim travelers should confirm the halal status of the food before dining at any of these restaurants.
Muslim travelers will be able to find prayers facilities in Pretoria. Darus Salaam Center Mosque, Jumuah Masjid, Masjid Noor/Metro Masjid, Queen Street Masjid and The Central Mosque are a few mosques in Pretoria that Muslim visitors could use when necessary.