Overview
Take a trip to Pretoria on your South Africa Vacation
Pretoria, located in the northern part of Gauteng province is the executive and administrative capital, as well as the de facto national capital of South Africa. Pretoria was nicknamed the “Jacaranda City” due to the thousands of Jacaranda trees planted throughout the city which can be enjoyed on South Africa vacation.
Pretoria has a very strong Afrikaner history and is known for its apartheid past. The city was founded by Marthinus Pretorius, a leader of the Voortrekkers in 1885 and became the capital of the South African Republic in 1860. When South Africa left the British Commonwealth to become a republic in 1961, Pretoria remained as the administrative capital.
As apartheid gripped the country, Pretoria was a symbol of political repression and white conservatism. It was in the Palace of Justice in the city centre that the historic Rivonia Trial took place. During the trial, Nelson Mandela and a number of prominent members of the black liberation struggle were charged with treason and were imprisoned.
Despite Pretoria serving as the headquarters of the apartheid state, the Union Buildings (also in the city centre) hosted the inauguration of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first democratically elected president, in 1994. This historic event helped lay the groundwork for the Pretoria that exists today.
A laidback city with a historic atmosphere and an appreciation for nature, Pretoria has much to offer tourists during Pretoria tours on a South Africa vacation.
Despite Pretoria serving as the headquarters of the apartheid state, the Union Buildings (also in the city centre) hosted the inauguration of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first democratically elected president, in 1994. This historic event helped lay the groundwork for the Pretoria that exists today.
A laidback city with a historic atmosphere and an appreciation for nature, Pretoria has much to offer tourists during Pretoria tours on a South Africa vacation.
At a Glance
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Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, EnglishCurrency
South African Rand (ZAR)Trending Trips
Unforgettable Journeys.5 Trips Found
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5 Trips Found
Cape, Rail & Safari: A South Africa Journey
Limpopo, Kruger National Park, Gauteng, Pretoria, Western Cape, Cape of Good Hope, Cape Town, Boulders Beach, and Table MountainDiscover Cape Town with private-guided touring, journey on Rovos Rail, and enjoy a luxury safari in the Greater Kruger National Park region.
11 days
From US$7,627/p.p.
Request a Quote
Deluxe Cape Town, Luxury Train & Safari
Mpumalanga, Kruger National Park, Gauteng, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Western Cape, Cape of Good Hope, Cape Town, Boulders Beach, and Table MountainLuxury, private guided highlights featuring the unique Rovos Rail train journey, and five-star Sabi Sands Game Reserve.
12 days
From US$11,972/p.p.
Request a Quote
South Africa Elegance: Rovos Rail & Safari
KwaZulu Natal, Gauteng, and PretoriaIndulge in an extraordinary luxury journey through South Africa, blending stunning rail travel with thrilling safaris and relaxing beach days along the coast.
9 days
From US$9,278/p.p.
Request a Quote
Ultimate Luxury Train Journey: Cape to Dar es Salaam
Gauteng, Pretoria, Victoria Falls (City), and Victoria FallsExperience the ultimate luxury on a Rovos Rail journey from Cape Town to Dar es Salaam, traversing breathtaking landscapes and iconic sights across southern Africa.
17 days
From US$17,915/p.p.
Request a Quote
Luxury Train Journey: South Africa to Namibia
Gauteng and PretoriaExperience a luxurious rail journey through Southern Africa. From Pretoria to Walvis Bay, explore iconic sights, indulge in gourmet meals, and enjoy wildlife encounters.
12 days
From US$16,681/p.p.
Request a Quote
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perfect trip idea?
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Turn your travel dreams into reality with Goway. Our customized vacations take travellers to all corners of the world.
Cape, Rail & Safari: A South Africa Journey
Limpopo, Kruger National Park, Gauteng, Pretoria, Western Cape, Cape of Good Hope, Cape Town, Boulders Beach, and Table MountainDiscover Cape Town with private-guided touring, journey on Rovos Rail, and enjoy a luxury safari in the Greater Kruger National Park region.
11 days
From US$7,627/p.p.
Request a Quote
Deluxe Cape Town, Luxury Train & Safari
Mpumalanga, Kruger National Park, Gauteng, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Western Cape, Cape of Good Hope, Cape Town, Boulders Beach, and Table MountainLuxury, private guided highlights featuring the unique Rovos Rail train journey, and five-star Sabi Sands Game Reserve.
12 days
From US$11,972/p.p.
Request a Quote
South Africa Elegance: Rovos Rail & Safari
KwaZulu Natal, Gauteng, and PretoriaIndulge in an extraordinary luxury journey through South Africa, blending stunning rail travel with thrilling safaris and relaxing beach days along the coast.
9 days
From US$9,278/p.p.
Request a Quote
Ultimate Luxury Train Journey: Cape to Dar es Salaam
Gauteng, Pretoria, Victoria Falls (City), and Victoria FallsExperience the ultimate luxury on a Rovos Rail journey from Cape Town to Dar es Salaam, traversing breathtaking landscapes and iconic sights across southern Africa.
17 days
From US$17,915/p.p.
Request a Quote
Luxury Train Journey: South Africa to Namibia
Gauteng and PretoriaExperience a luxurious rail journey through Southern Africa. From Pretoria to Walvis Bay, explore iconic sights, indulge in gourmet meals, and enjoy wildlife encounters.
12 days
From US$16,681/p.p.
Request a Quote
Don't see the
perfect trip idea?
Request a custom quote.
Turn your travel dreams into reality with Goway. Our customized vacations take travellers to all corners of the world.
What do the experts say?
Skip the more commercial wineries and visit artisanal producers—you’ll find sparkling wines and small-batch reds that are absolutely world-class.
Djembe drumming at GOLD in Cape Town is an immersive African experience through their 14-dish food safari and unique live entertainment.
The game viewing in Kruger and Eastern Cape always draws me back—it’s truly superb.
South Africans are famously warm—when you’re new in town, you're often invited to a braai, our way of welcoming people through food.
South Africa is a wonderful starting point for Africa. It's got some of the top cities in the world, stunning food and wine, and exceptional value for money.
Jacaranda trees lining the street in Pretoria a...
Pretoria at sunset
Palace of justice is a stop in which you can ta...
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Place
Conditions
Daily max temperatureMonthly rainfall
PretoriaMostly Sunny
33°C / 92°F
15mm / 0.6"
Weather data is based on monthly averages.Popularity rating
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ExcellentBased on 5,315 ReviewsWe decided to go to France for 3 weeks in September and knew we needed help planning the trip (we made this decision in August so a very short time frame. We had traveled with Goway a few years ago and were hoping they could help. Our specialist, Farnaz Bagheri, was fantastic, she listened to what we wanted to do and where we wanted to go. She literally arranged everything with her French partners. The guides and drivers were wonderful the accommodations were excellent. Communication was easy from the first discussion to the time we got home. Farnaz planned for us an exceptional trip in a very short time frame. Promise next trip we will contact Goway much earlier. Thanks againSue BlakeOur experience was amazing! The booking process went great. We just had to pack our clothes and everything else was taken care of thanks to Goway Travel… Lori Mezzomo!!! Lori was fantastic. Everything from flights to transfers to excursions was perfect! Can’t wait to go back and i would definitely use Goway Travel again!!!Marie IdolMaria Spitman provided exemplary service to us! Her expertise, attention to detail, timely replies and kindness were unmatched. We will definitely recommend her to others who we know are considering travel to Asia. Alice StaniforthMichael Keon and his crew did a fine job coordinating our trip to Turkey. His contact in Turkey, Mr. Omer was in contact with us almost daily reminding us of our schedule and pick up info. He was terrific. Very informative and insightful guides. And large comfortable vehicles on every trip. Awesome trip. Tom and Sharon Tom and Sharon, Toronto, Canada We loved the trip itinerary and everything was organized so well! Lori was always very responsive and answered our questions promptly. Thank you for an amazing trip!Jelena PoprzenAs a travel advisor, I recently booked a group of clients on a Goway tour in China following their paddleboat competition, and I couldn’t be happier with the experience.
Christine and Tanya in the groups department were incredibly helpful and made the entire process seamless. Their support was greatly appreciated!
The feedback from my clients was overwhelmingly positive, with particular praise for the local tour guides, who helped make the trip so memorable. Everyone had a wonderful time.
Thank you, Christine, Tanya, and the Goway team, for taking such great care of my clients. I would happily recommend Goway and look forward to working with them again!customerI wanna start off by saying that Farnaz our agent was excellent!!! she planned the whole experience from start to finish. We did not have to worry about one thing the entire trip. All the hotels were great. Our transfers from hotels to fairies to airports were all available and always on time. The excursions she planned for us were all top-notch. I was a little skeptical, but just finding GOWAY online stumbling across it. But I’m so glad I made the choice to use them. I hope they definitely using the company again and especially our agent Farnaz!!! Thank you do mych for a wonderful experience! CatherineOur goal for this trip was a stress free honeymoon where we did not have to think about anything! Goway made that successful. Everything was planned and ready for us. We just had to show up. Brooke recommended fantastic accommodations that were in great locations, clean and comfortable. The tours were took with Thompson's Africa were incredible as well. Brooke was helpful throughout the entire booking process & we wouldn't have had such an incredible experience without her. We really loved our South African holiday and hope to travel there or other locations again with Goway.TaylorOctober 9, 2026, was our 50th wedding anniversary. To celebrate, I wanted to take my bride to Europe for 50 days. Also, other than the flight over, I wanted to make the trip by train. I contacted Farnaz at Goway. The trip we planned ultimately extended to 60 days. It was absolutely flawless. We had great hotels, great tours. Even though this trip was complex and had a lot of moving parts, there were no problems. Farnaz and the folks at Goway done a great job. I highly recommend them and will definitely use them on any future tripsDaniel GraffWe had a fabulous Croatia vacation with a cruise from Dubrovnik to Split, followed by land tours on Split and Opatija. Lodging was always comfortable and conveniently located. Tours and activities were perfectly suited to our interests. We have used GoWay for 2 vacations and are currently working on another. Karen
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