Know as the administrative capital of
South Africa,
Pretoria
lies about 50 km north of
Johannesburg.
The population, just under a million, Pretoria life goes at a
much slower pace than in the hectic Johannesburg.
It is quite easy for the visitor to find his or her
way through the city, which is laid out like a chess
board. Pretoria lies 1367m above sea level, which
makes it about 400m lower than Johannesburg. It
is surrounded by protecting mountains.
The climate is subtropical with hot, wet summers and relatively
mild, dry winters. Like Washington and Canberra, Pretoria
is largely a forgotten capital city but its grand buildings
(including many foreign embassies) give the city
an unexpectedly dignified and stately presence.
Pretoria is renowned for its colourful
gardens, shrubs and trees, particularly beautiful
in spring when the 50 000 jacarandas envelop the
avenues in mauve. Pretoria has more than 100 parks,
including bird sanctuaries and nature reserves.
