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Pretoria

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Pretoria Skyline
Pretoria Skyline

Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa, is in Gauteng.


Contents

[edit] Understand

[edit] History

The area known today as Tshwane Metro Councill, with Pretoria (City) at its centre, was occupied by the Sotho people for many centuries. During the 15th century the Ndebele people also migrated into the area and settled along the banks of what is today called the Apies River. Around 1820 the Matabele under the leadership of Mzilikaza also entered the region, leading to local conflicts between the Matabele newcomers and the already established Sotho and Ndebele tribes as well as the European Voortrekkers who were steadily moving northward through the country. These conflicts came to an end when the Matabele were defeated by the Voortrekkers in 1837 at Mosega.

By 1855 there was no known tribe in what is known as Pretoria area today. Only nomadic groups passed through this area, with a leader/person Tshwane (so it is alleged) one of the them. Pretoria was founded in 1855. Initially the capital of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek was Ohrigstad, but Pretoria became the capital of the then ZAR. Later on Pretoria became the capital of the Transvaal province (old ZAR) after the Anglo-Boer War. The city was named after Andries Pretorius, the boer leader at the Battle of Blood River where the Voortrekkers defeated the Zulus under King Dingaan. In 1856 the area today know as Arcadia was acquired in exchange for a pony and added to the town.

In 1899, during the Anglo-Boer War, Winston Churchill was captured and held as a POW in Pretoria until his eventual escape to Mozambique. British forces captured Pretoria in 1900 and held control over the city until the signing of the Peace of Vereeniging treaty in 1902.

When the Union of South Africa was established in 1910, Pretoria was elected the capital and is still the administrative capital of the Republic of South Africa today.

[edit] Climate

Pretoria is located in a summer rainfall area with hot days regularly followed by short and intense afternoon thunderstorms. The thunderstorms are often accompanied by lightning and occasionally result in hail. Summer temperatures range between 16°C at night to 30°C during the day. Winters are mild and dry with temperatures averaging between a minimum of 5°C and a maximum of 20°C.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By car

Five highways join in the Gauteng region, making it accessible from all cities in the country. This would include the N1, N3, N4, N12 and N14 national highways.

[edit] By air

The closest international airport is OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. The Albertina Sisulu Highway or R21 leads from there to Pretoria. Airport shuttles are available on the airport or can be pre-booked:

  • <listing name="JIATA Taxi Assosiation" address="P O box 1899

Kempton Park South Africa 1620 " phone="+27 (0)11 390 1857" email="" fax="" hours="" price="" url="http://www.taxi-pretoria.co.za">Johannesburg based company. Will get you from piont A to point B.</listing>

  • <listing name="Your Choice Tours" address="" phone="+27 (0)84 580 4802" email="info@yct.co.za?Subject=shuttle (ref wiki)" fax="" hours="" price="" url="http://www.yct.co.za">Reliable shuttle service.</listing>
  • <listing name="Ants Events and Tours" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="+27 (0)82 557 9604" url="http://www.antsevents.com/" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Very reliable and friendly. Contact +27 (0)12 346 2400 or e-mail: info@antsevents.com</listing>

[edit] By bus

Major bus companies like Greyhound, Translux, Intercape Mainliner and the BazBus offer connections to all big cities in South Africa.

[edit] By train

The train station is on the corner of Andries and Railway streets, just south of the city centre.

There are frequent commuter trains to Johannesburg, other outlying towns and many suburbs of Pretoria. The railway system is unreliable and notoriously unsafe, and is best avoided.

There are inter-city trains to Johannesburg (south), Polokwane, Musina (north), Witbank, Nelspruit and the Mozambique border (east).

A high-speed rail link [1] is being constructed between Pretoria, Johannesburg and OR Tambo International Airport, east of Johannesburg. It should be at least partially complete by 2010.

[edit] Get around

Either use a taxi, rent a car, use the municipal bus service or, if you really must, use the minibus taxis.

  • <listing name="Tempest Car Hire" phone="+27 (0)12 663 1368" email="reservations@tempestcarhire.co.za" fax="+27 (0)12 663 1387" url="http://www.tempestcarhire.co.za">Affordable car rental service available at all major locations in South Africa.</listing>
  • <listing name="HeinRich's Taxis" address="" phone="+27 (0)12 341 2290" email="kochhw@intekom.co.za?Subject=taxi (ref wiki)" fax="" hours="" price="" url="http://www.taxi-pretoria.co.za">Safe and professional taxi service.</listing>
  • <listing name="Rixi Taxi" address="" phone="+27 (0)12 362 6262" email="" fax="" hours="" price="" url="">Safe and professional taxi service. Not the cheapest means of getting around.</listing>
  • <listing name="Municipal bus routes and timetables" url="http://www.tshwane.gov.za/bus.cfm">Not extensive coverage or very regular, but is fairly reliable.</listing>

[edit] See

Union Buildings
Union Buildings
  • <see name="Botanical Gardens" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="+27 (0)12 843-5194" url="http://www.sanbi.org/frames/pretoriafram.htm" hours="Open 8AM to 6PM daily" price="R15 entrance fee" lat="" long="" email="pretoriagarden@sanbi.org" priceextra="R18 on special event days"></see>
  • <see name="National Zoological Gardens (The Zoo)" directions="Near the city center" price="R10 for secure parking plus R36 entrance fee. For those not inclined to walking, golf carts are available at R80 per hour" address="232 Boom Street" phone="+27 (0)12 328-3265" email="info@zoo.ac.za" hours="Open 8AM to 5:30PM daily>Aquarium, reptile park and all the larger mammals. One can also camp within the zoo on Friday and Saturday nights.</see>
  • <see name="The Union Buildings" address="2 Church Street" phone=" +27 (0)12 323-5649" >The location of the South African government.</see>
  • <see name="The Wonderboom (Wonder tree)" address="Wonderboom Nature Reserve" url="http://www.tshwane.gov.za/wonderboom.cfm">A fig tree over 1000 years old</see>

[edit] Museums and Galleries

Voortrekker Monument
Voortrekker Monument
Freedom Park
Freedom Park
  • <see name="Correctional Services Museum" url="http://www.museumpark.co.za/dcs.htm" phone="+27 (0)12 314-1766" hours="Open 9AM to 3PM Monday to Friday"></see>
  • <see name="Melrose House Museum" address="275 Jacob MarĂ© Street" phone="+27 (0)12 322-2805" email="melrosehouse@tshwane.gov.za">Where the peace treaty that ended the Anglo-Boer War as signed in 1902.</see>
  • <see name="National Cultural History Museum" address="149 Visagie Street" phone="+27 (0)11 324-6082" url="http://www.nfi.org.za/NCHM/nchmindex.htm">Learn about the people and the cultures of South Africa, from the Iron age till today. (Wheelchair friendly).</see>
  • <see name="Pioneer Museum" url="http://www.nfi.org.za/PM/pioindex.htm" phone="+27 (0)12 803-6086" email="pioneerm@nfi.co.za" hours="Open 9AM to 4PM daily" price="R7 entrance fee">An old pioneer house</see>
  • <see name="Sammy Marks Museum" url="http://www.nfi.org.za/sammy/index.htm" address="Zwartkoppies" phone="+27 (0)12 802-1150"></see>
  • <see name="Transvaal Museum" address="Paul Kruger Street" phone="+27 (0)12 322-7632" url="http://www.nfi.org.za/tmpage.html]">Where you can meet Mrs. Pless [2] when she is not on tour somewhere.</see>
  • <see name="Voortrekker Monument and Fort Scanskop" address="Eeufees Road, Groenkloof" directions="On Proclamation Hill, big cubic building, to the south west of the city, you can't miss it" phone="+27 (0)12 326-6770" url="http://www.voortrekkermon.org.za" price="R32 per person" priceextra="plus R15 per car"></see>
  • <see name="Freedom Park" alt="" address="Salvokop of Potgieter Street" directions="Located on a hill across from the Voortrekker Monument" phone="+27 (0)12 470-7400" email="info@freedompark.co.za" fax="+27 (0)12 361-0021" url="http://www.freedompark.co.za/" hours="" price=""></see>
  • <see name="Willem Prinsloo Agricultural Museum" url="http://www.nfi.org.za/WPAM/wpmindex.htm" phone="+27 (0)12 736-2035" email="prinsloo@nfi.co.za"></see>
  • <see name="Kruger House Museum" alt="" address="60 Church Str" directions="" phone="+27 (0)12 326-9172" email="" fax="+27 (0)12 328-5173" url="" hours="" price=""></see>

[edit] Do

JO-ANNA, Restored and operated by Friends of the Rail
JO-ANNA, Restored and operated by Friends of the Rail


[edit] Performing arts

[edit] Outdoors

[edit] Learn

University of South Africa.
University of South Africa.
  • <listing name="University of Pretoria" url="http://www.up.ac.za/" phone="+27 (0)12 420-3111" email="csc@up.ac.za">Also known as Tukkies, or Tuks locally.</listing>
  • <listing name="University of South Africa (UNISA)" url="http://www.unisa.ac.za/" phone="+27 (0)11 670-9000" fax="+27 (0)11 471-2987" email="study-info@unisa.ac.za" address="Preller Street, Muckleneuk, Pretoria">Located in Pretoria, this university offers distance learning courses. </listing>
  • <listing name="Tshwane University of Technology" phone="+27 (0)2 382-5911" address="Staatsartillerie Road" email="general@tut.ac.za" url="http://www.tut.ac.za"></listing>

[edit] Work

[edit] Buy

[edit] Shopping Malls

There are also many smaller, local shopping centers usually with one of the larger chain stores as an anchor.

[edit] Eat

Template:Eatpricerange The renowned restaurants include Cynthia's, The Hillside Tavern and Pachas. There are also many franchised diners throughout the city.

[edit] Budget

[edit] Midrange

[edit] Splurge

[edit] Drink

  • The nightlife is concentrated in Hatfield (near the university) and Menlyn Square.
  • <drink name="Zeplin's Nightclub" alt="" address="Pretorius Street" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">Caters for the Pretoria goth/alternative community.</drink>
  • <drink name="Nile Crocodile" address="turn left off Nelson Mandela Road" phone="" email="" fax="" hours="" price="" url="">Live bands mostly alternative</drink>

[edit] Sleep

Template:Sleeppricerange Being the capital, there are many posh hotels (including the Sheraton) and guest houses and all the usual hotel chains have one or more hotels.

[edit] Budget

[edit] Midrange

[edit] Splurge

[edit] Contact

Compete GSM coverage with GPRS, 3G and HSDPA and Edge available almost everywhere.

[edit] WiFi

Always-On [3] , +27 (0)11 575-2505, provides prepaid WiFi access in a number of locations in and around Johannesburg. Simply connect to the access point and you will be given the opportunity to pay for access by credit card. Pricing starts at around R15 for 10 minutes or R60 for 100MB.

Coverage areas include:

  • <listing name="Cafe Dulce">Centurion Mall.</listing>
  • <listing name="City Lodge">Courtyard in Arcadia.</listing>
  • <listing name="JB Rivers">Lynwood</listing>
  • <listing name="Holiday Inn">Arcadia</listing>
  • <listing name="Mugg&Bean">Just about all of them.</listing>
  • <listing name="Villa Sterne Guesthouse">Waterkloof Ridge</listing>
  • <listing name="Wimpy">Doornkloof</listing>


[edit] Stay healthy

[edit] Hospitals

  • <listing name="Unitas Hospital" address="Clifton Avenue, Lyttelton, Centurion" phone="+27 (0)12 421-6700">Caters for 24 hour accident and emergency treatment.</listing>

[edit] Stay safe

[edit] Important telephone numbers

[edit] From a fixed line

  • 107 - Emergency
  • 10111 - Police [4]
  • 10177 - Ambulance
  • 082911 - Netcare911 [5]

[edit] From a mobile phone

  • 112 - Emergency
  • 911 - Netcare911 [6]

[edit] Cope

[edit] Get out

A balloon ride from Hartebeespoort Dam
A balloon ride from Hartebeespoort Dam
  • Fly out of OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg [7].
  • Rent a car from one of the many outlets. Note that the N1 North, towards Limpopo Province, is a toll road, so have some cash on hand (or a credit card).
  • Catch a bus at the station S25 45.473 E28 11.321.
  • Mpumalanga Escarpment in a weekend
  • Rietvlei Nature Reserve, a small and quiet nature reserve with a number of wildlife species and lots of bird watching opportunities.
  • Visit Hartebeespoort Dam. There are hot air balloon rides over the Savanna, a cable car, a golf course and watersport.







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