I have to go to Pretoria for work now which I think will be a really good thing! Thanks to the message bored, I have discovered the free shuttle service betwen Purple Palm and North South, which I WILL be using. So thanks for that. I tell you, I would rank this website, for being the only website that has made such a different in my travels and life. Thanks to one tip I ended up spending a year in Bolivia at an animal sanctuary, one of the best experiences of my life. Anyway this just is a thank you for all those who make traveling so much nicer because you take the time to reply.
Anyway, is Pretoria safe to walk around? Is there anything that is a must see?
And should I book my safari to Pilanesberg National Park from Pretoria or Joburg, does it make a difference?
And if I am short on time, should I really spend a day in the cradle of man kind??
Oh and does anyone have phone numbers or email for either North and South or Purple Palms? I hate these outsourcing hotel firms, that try to book your room for you, they just end up stealing your money some way or another....
Walking around pretoria city during the day should not be an issue, aslong as you dont carry a huge backpack or camera.
Ive walked around at night aswell but would not advice this at all. Ive seen a friend of mine get stabbed at night.
Safe places to visit during the night would be Hatfiel Square which has cheap booze and lots of students and people just drinking and havig a good time.
It does not make a difference where you book pilansberg visits from.
As for cradle of human kind... its nice and all, but if you are a adventurous person i would stronly suggest you call the caving club as there are free caving trips every wednesday night from 19h30 - whenever, usualy not later than 22h00. I am apart of the club and can tell you, the seniors know whats going on.
Here are the phone numbers on the website.
http://www.purplepalms.co.za/<BR><BR>Things to see... it depends who you ask.
If you ask me, i would suggest a visit to the magalies mountain sanctuary. http://www.mountain-sanctuary.co.za/<BR>Also a nice place to chill is hartebeespoortdam.
Basicly in pretoria i would visit the voortrekker monument, it has a nice view when you go to the roof.
Everyone knows where it is, so finding it should not be a problem.
Hi there
I actually live in Pretoria and contrary to popular belief it does have a lot of interesting things to do and places to experience. Try Journeys2Africa.com where they feature a Travel Guide on Pretoria but also an entire section of Travel Guides. The site also offers Tours to the Pilanesberg and the Cradle of Mankind. All in all a very informative site. Give it a try see what happens..
Just looking at this thread, as I'm deciding whether to visit Pretoria myself on my way back to Jo'burg in May 2010 after a couple of weeks driving through Kruger NP. Main reason - I'm wondering if there are some animals I'm not likely to see in the wild (aardvark, aardwolf, hyrax...) that I might see in the zoo (which I understand is a very good zoo, and also professionally interested in looking at their interpretive displays etc.). Any comments? Also, how easy is it to park somewhere close to the zoo, or alternately how safe is that district to walk through in the daytime if we stayed at accommodation a kilometre or two away (there doesn't seem to be anything really close, or none I've yet found)?
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