Before the days when they were deemed alien invaders, an abundance of Jacaranda trees made Pretoria famous, but the luxuriant purple blooms were not the city’s only hallmarks. Like Cape Town, Pretoria is a political stronghold, steeped in political history.
You can’t visit Pretoria without seeing the Union Buildings, the official seat of the South African government. Its location was chosen particularly for its similarity to the Greek acropolis, a study in the seat of power. The site and building design were intended to inspire loyalty and unity in all citizens. Regardless of whether its intention was achieved, the unique architecture is inspiring by itself.
Far from being a throwback to South Africa’s tainted political past, the Union Buildings are also a symbol of its hope and future. In 1994, the country’s first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela, chose the buildings as the site for his inauguration.
As the offices of the president are located within the buildings, tourists are not permitted, but the gardens, which are a landmark in their own right, are open to the public and provide great view of the city.
Freedom Park is a monument to the country’s past and a gentle whisper of the promise of the future. It’s very much a work in progress with many of the elements still being constructed, nevertheless, its completed aspects are open to the public, who are encouraged to spend a day reflecting on where we’ve been as a country and what we still hope to achieve.
The Garden of Remembrance commemorates fallen struggle heroes, immortalising them in sculpture. The Wall of Names has space for 135 000 South Africa heroes, currently only 75 000 have been inscribed, which leaves plenty of room for more people to make their mark.
Uitspanplek, which translates loosely as “relaxing place”, is just that, a place for families and friends to enjoy the tranquil surroundings and rest after the hilly walkways (it’s not an easy journey, physically speaking, golf carts are available for the disabled and elderly). An interactive library is still to come.
Melrose House was built in 1886 by a wealthy businessman named George Jesse Heys, who named it after the Melrose Abbey in Scotland. It has been described as an example of the transition between Victorian and Edwardian architecture and has been dedicated to preserving a piece of the Victorian lifestyle.
Aside from its stained glass windows, paintings by English artists from the Victorian era and authentic porcelain ornaments, it offers history buffs the added attraction of being the site where the Peace Treaty of Vereeniging was signed in 1902. The treaty marked the end of the Anglo-Boer War and is one of South Africa’s most significant events.
Guided tours are available by appointment but the house is open for a number of temporary exhibitions, antique fairs, workshops, talks and shows.
The National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, also known as the Pretoria Zoo, is the largest zoo in South Africa and includes an aquarium and reptile park. More than 3000 different species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish call the zoo home. With over 6km of walkways criss-crossing the zoo, it makes for an all-day outing.
As part of its conservation and education initiative, the zoo has established an Adopt-an-Animal Children’s Club, whereby children are encouraged to “adopt” and learn about certain animals, including bullfrogs, snapping turtles, pythons, cobras, red pandas, rabbits, donkeys, impala, flamingos, swans, ostriches, piranhas, jelly fish and clown fish, among others.
If animals aren’t your thing, you may be interested in the zoos collection of exotic trees, which is the third largest collection in the world.
The Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary is home to around 170 bird species, including the blue and crown cranes, rock doves, speckled pigeons, Egyptian geese, reed cormorants, thick-billed weavers, little-rush warblers, crested barbets and hoopoes. Guided walks are available but many ornithologists and budding bird enthusiasts prefer to walk the area alone.
The areas around the Blue Crane restaurant and dam provide excellent viewing opportunities; the restaurant even offers food for visitors to feed the birds from the restaurant deck. The perimeter fence extends for approximately 2km and provides many additional bird viewing opportunities.
Jade Scully is a copywriter excited about writing copy and stories, blogging about the world and editing. She currently and regularly publishes her stories on a number of blogs. Jade loves animals and hopes to begin writing copy for the animal rescue charity TEARS as her contribution to the cause.
