Pretoria is the de facto capital of South Africa. While it’s not the main financial centre or home to beautiful beaches, it is nonetheless worth a visit for anyone wanting to learn more about South Africa’s fascinating history and many cultures.
Pretoria was founded in 1855 and so by world standards is a very young capital city. Despite its recent origins, it has plenty to offer in the way of history. Possibly the two most recognisable buildings in the city are the Union Buildings and the Voortrekker Monument.
The Union Building and Voortrekker Monument
The Union Buildings were designed by Sir Herbert Baker and were completed in 1913. The buildings occupy one of the highest points in the city and as such serve as an important and impressive landmark. They currently house the offices of the president and form the official seat of the South African government. Not only are the buildings themselves beautiful, but they are fronted by spectacular terraced gardens which are planted almost exclusively with indigenous plants.
Also of historical significance is the Voortrekker Monument, a large granite monument built to honour the thousands of pioneers that left the Cape Colony and trekked through the interior of South Africa in search of fertile farming land, and to escape English rule. Designed by Gerard Moerdijk and completed in 1949, the interior contains the biggest marble frieze in the world. The frieze is made up of 27 bas-relief panels depicting the history of the Great Trek.
Of particular importance to the monument is the cenotaph situated in centre of the Cenotaph Hall. At midday on December 16 each year, a ray of sunshine shines through an opening in the dome of the monument and falls on the centre of the cenotaph. This event is attended each year by hundreds of Afrikaner South Africans.
The Jacaranda City
Pretoria is nicknamed the Jacaranda City due to the hundreds of Jacaranda trees that line the streets of the city. Each year in October, the trees burst into a frenzy of purple as they flower. This spectacle lasts for about two weeks and marks the beginning of the summer. Jacaranda trees are not indigenous to South Africa, and due to a ban on planting non-indigenous plants, the ones that are dying off cannot be replaced.
Outside the City
The areas surrounding Pretoria also offer plenty to entertain and interest visitors. The village of Irene, about 25 minutes south of the city centre has some interesting historical sites including Smuts House Museum and a Boer concentration camp cemetery.
Smuts House was the home of Jan Christiaan Smuts, one of South Africa’s greatest statesmen. The house is set on farmland and it’s possible to take a short hike through a small pine forest. The house has been well preserved to reflect the life of General Smuts and provides much colourful history around this fascinating man. Twice a month the grounds play host to the Irene Village Market, a market dedicated to hand-made products, antiques and a wonderful deli market where it’s possible to sample some delicious home-made food.
The village of Irene was also the site of one of the concentration camps that were set up to house Boer women and children driven off their land by the British during the Anglo-Boer war. Today there is a cemetery and remembrance garden to commemorate those that lost their lives during their internment in the camp.
When it comes time for refreshment, there is no better place in Irene than the Irene Diary Farm. At over 100 years old, this diary farm is still a working farm, producing milk and the most delicious cream. For any visitor, the scones and cream are a must – a moment of heavenly indulgence!
Heading north out of Pretoria one finds the home of yet another fascinating character in South Africa’s history – Sammy Marks. Sammy Marks was a Lithuanian Jew who came to South Africa in 1868 and worked his way up from being a peddler in the mining town of Kimberly to being one of South Africa’s greatest business men. He was the founder of a distillery, canning factory, a glass factory and a brick and tile works. This Victorian house has been beautifully preserved and restored to show a splendour which is surprising considering the isolation of the house when it was built.
Booking.com
Pretoria is a lovely, quiet city that eases travellers into some of the most interesting aspects of South Africa’s history. It’s an ideal base for those travelling to some of the country’s many wildlife reserves and other areas of interest.
Author Paul Linus
Pretoria was founded in 1855 and so by world standards is a very young capital city. Despite its recent origins, it has plenty to offer in the way of history. Possibly the two most recognisable buildings in the city are the Union Buildings and the Voortrekker Monument.
The Union Building and Voortrekker Monument
The Union Buildings were designed by Sir Herbert Baker and were completed in 1913. The buildings occupy one of the highest points in the city and as such serve as an important and impressive landmark. They currently house the offices of the president and form the official seat of the South African government. Not only are the buildings themselves beautiful, but they are fronted by spectacular terraced gardens which are planted almost exclusively with indigenous plants.
Also of historical significance is the Voortrekker Monument, a large granite monument built to honour the thousands of pioneers that left the Cape Colony and trekked through the interior of South Africa in search of fertile farming land, and to escape English rule. Designed by Gerard Moerdijk and completed in 1949, the interior contains the biggest marble frieze in the world. The frieze is made up of 27 bas-relief panels depicting the history of the Great Trek.
Of particular importance to the monument is the cenotaph situated in centre of the Cenotaph Hall. At midday on December 16 each year, a ray of sunshine shines through an opening in the dome of the monument and falls on the centre of the cenotaph. This event is attended each year by hundreds of Afrikaner South Africans.
The Jacaranda City
Pretoria is nicknamed the Jacaranda City due to the hundreds of Jacaranda trees that line the streets of the city. Each year in October, the trees burst into a frenzy of purple as they flower. This spectacle lasts for about two weeks and marks the beginning of the summer. Jacaranda trees are not indigenous to South Africa, and due to a ban on planting non-indigenous plants, the ones that are dying off cannot be replaced.
Outside the City
The areas surrounding Pretoria also offer plenty to entertain and interest visitors. The village of Irene, about 25 minutes south of the city centre has some interesting historical sites including Smuts House Museum and a Boer concentration camp cemetery.
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Smuts House was the home of Jan Christiaan Smuts, one of South Africa’s greatest statesmen. The house is set on farmland and it’s possible to take a short hike through a small pine forest. The house has been well preserved to reflect the life of General Smuts and provides much colourful history around this fascinating man. Twice a month the grounds play host to the Irene Village Market, a market dedicated to hand-made products, antiques and a wonderful deli market where it’s possible to sample some delicious home-made food.
The village of Irene was also the site of one of the concentration camps that were set up to house Boer women and children driven off their land by the British during the Anglo-Boer war. Today there is a cemetery and remembrance garden to commemorate those that lost their lives during their internment in the camp.
When it comes time for refreshment, there is no better place in Irene than the Irene Diary Farm. At over 100 years old, this diary farm is still a working farm, producing milk and the most delicious cream. For any visitor, the scones and cream are a must – a moment of heavenly indulgence!
Heading north out of Pretoria one finds the home of yet another fascinating character in South Africa’s history – Sammy Marks. Sammy Marks was a Lithuanian Jew who came to South Africa in 1868 and worked his way up from being a peddler in the mining town of Kimberly to being one of South Africa’s greatest business men. He was the founder of a distillery, canning factory, a glass factory and a brick and tile works. This Victorian house has been beautifully preserved and restored to show a splendour which is surprising considering the isolation of the house when it was built.
Booking.com
Pretoria is a lovely, quiet city that eases travellers into some of the most interesting aspects of South Africa’s history. It’s an ideal base for those travelling to some of the country’s many wildlife reserves and other areas of interest.
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Author Paul Linus
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