Located just 50km north of Johannesburg Pretoria is the administrative capital of South Africa. It doesn't have the big city atmosphere of Jo'burg, but it is an attractive city.
 Situated in the centre of the city, Church Square is the focal point of the administration.
In the background is the old Raadsaal, now administrative offices for the Pretoria / Tshwane Council. On the Northern side of the Square is the Palace of Justice and old Reserve Bank, the Western facade consists of the Genral Post Office , Cafe Riche Buisling and Nederlands Ban now Tourist office.
A short walk west from Church Square, you find Kruger House. The residence of President Paul Kruger has been turned into a museum and national monument and is worth a visit.
Another major attraction is the Zoological gardens. It is not only the largest zoo in South Africa but one of the ten best in the world. More than one million people visit it every year.
Union Buildings, an architectural masterpiece sitting on the southern slopes of Roberts Heights houses the Presidents Office and the Foreign Ministry was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.
There are many famous academic institutions in Pretoria. The University of Pretoria is the largest in South Africa, associated with world renowned Onderstepoort Vetinerary Research Station. UNISA - University of South Africa is a correspondence university, one of the first of its kind in the world.
|