Pretoria

Pretoria

ZA

Population741,651

Pretoria ( prih-TOR-ee-ə, pree-; Afrikaans: [prəˈtuəria] ) is the administrative capital of South Africa, serving as the seat of the executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies to the country. Pretoria straddles the Apies River and extends eastward into the foothills of the Magaliesberg mountains. It has a reputation as an academic city and centre of research, being home to the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), the University of Pretoria (UP), the University of South Africa (UNISA), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and the Human Sciences Research Council. It also hosts the National Research Foundation and the South African Bureau of Standards. Pretoria was one of the host cities of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Pretoria is the central part of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality which was formed by the amalgamation of several former local authorities, including Bronkhorstspruit, Centurion, Cullinan, Hammanskraal and Soshanguve. Some have proposed changing the official name from Pretoria to Tshwane, which has caused some public controversy. Pretoria is named after the Voortrekker leader Andries Pretorius, and South Africans sometimes call it the "Jacaranda City", because of the thousands of jacaranda trees planted along its streets and in its parks and gardens.

Places to Explore

Curated experiences in Pretoria

Ditsong Museums of South Africa

Ditsong Museums of South Africa

Ditsong Museums is an amalgamation of eight museums in the Pretoria and Johannesburg environs in the Gauteng Province. The museums …

Pioneer

Pioneer

Pionier Opelug Museum (Afrikaans for the Pioneer Open-air Museum), is a cultural and "living" museum in the eastern suburbs of …

Pretoria Art Museum

Pretoria Art Museum

The Pretoria Art Museum is an art gallery located in Arcadia, Pretoria, South Africa. The museum in Arcadia Park occupies …

Kruger House

Kruger House

Kruger House is the historical Pretoria residence of the Boer leader and President of the South African Republic, Paul Kruger. …

Fort Schanskop

Fort Schanskop

Fort Klapperkop Museum

Fort Klapperkop Museum

National Cultural History Museum

National Cultural History Museum

The Ditsong National Museum of Cultural History is a museum that showcases the various stages and forms of culture in …

National Museum of Natural History

National Museum of Natural History

The Ditsong National Museum of Natural History, formerly the Transvaal Museum, is a natural history museum situated in Pretoria, South …

old arts

old arts

The Old Arts Building, on the main campus of the University of Pretoria, was one of the first structures built …

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