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Pretoria — travel, stays & events guide
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Pretoria, South AfricaOpen-Meteo forecast.
Pretoria city overview
Pretoria is a city in South Africa shaped by its region, population, local economy, landmarks, climate and civic history. This overview summarizes the city itself: where it sits, what defines it, which places anchor its identity and why it matters within the wider country.
City facts
Known forPretoria, Capital city in South Africa, Pretoria planning base 3, Pretoria planning base 4
Population~742kcity context
RegionSouth AfricaSouth Africa
Time zoneAfrica/Johannesburglocal time
Founded1838historical origin
City history
The elder Pretorius had become a national hero of the Voortrekkers after his victory over Dingane and the Zulus in the Battle of Blood River in 1838.
The elder Pretorius also negotiated the Sand River Convention (1852), in which the United Kingdom acknowledged the independence of the Transvaal.
It became the capital of the South African Republic on 1 May 1860.
The peace treaty that ended the war was signed in Pretoria on 3 August 1881 at the Pretoria Convention.
The city surrendered to British forces under Frederick Roberts on 5 June 1900 and the conflict was ended in Pretoria with the signing of the Peace of Vereeniging on 31 May 1902 at Melrose.
Between 1910 and 1994, the city was also the capital of the province of Transvaal. (As the capital of the ZAR, Pretoria had superseded Potchefstroom in that role.) On 14 October 1931, Pretoria achieved.
When South Africa became a republic in 1961, Pretoria remained its administrative capital.
The founding of Pretoria as the capital of the South African Republic can be seen as marking the end of the Boers' settlement movements of the Great Trek. Boer Wars During the First Boer.
The Second Boer War resulted in the end of the Transvaal Republic and start of British hegemony in South Africa.
The Pretoria Forts were built for the defence of the city just prior to the Second Boer War.
Though some of these forts are today in ruins, a number of them have been preserved as national monuments. Union of South Africa The Boer Republics of the ZAR and the Orange River Colony.
Pretoria then became the administrative capital of the whole of South Africa, with Cape Town serving as the legislative capital and Bloemfontein as the judicial capital.
Worth seeing
Pretoria
Pretoria is a practical Pretoria planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Capital city in South Africa
Capital city in South Africa is a practical Pretoria planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Pretoria planning base 3
Pretoria planning base 3 is a practical Pretoria planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Pretoria planning base 4
Pretoria planning base 4 is a practical Pretoria planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Pretoria planning base 5
Pretoria planning base 5 is a practical Pretoria planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Pretoria planning base 6
Pretoria planning base 6 is a practical Pretoria planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Stay overview
Compare Pretoria before booking Pretoria hotels. Start with the places you will repeat most, then check airport timing, parking, nightly price and event demand before choosing the final base.
Hotels & areas
Compare accommodation options in and around Pretoria by area, not only by nightly price. A cheaper room can become expensive when airport transfers, parking, attraction routes, late arrivals or event-week demand add time and cost.
Compare stays in Pretoria, South AfricaFlights & airports
Main airport TBC arrival plan
- Pretoria airport accessMain gateway TBC.
Compare airport access against hotel location, arrival time, rental car pickup, late flights and onward driving before choosing the first night base.
Rental cars
Pretoria day-trip car use
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Compare rental carsTravel tips
Best time to visit
Check weather, school holidays, daylight, local festivals and major event calendars before locking in hotel rates or non-refundable tickets.
Transport notes
Choose a base around the trips you will repeat most: airport, station, old town, waterfront, venue district or day-trip route.
Crowds
Prices can jump around festivals, conventions, school holidays, cruise days, ski weeks, race weekends and large sports events.
Booking detail
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Upcoming events
No upcoming Pretoria events in the shared event index yet.