The city of Pretoria is served by many regional roads including the R55 which starts at the interchange with the R80 and runs north-south from Pretoria West to Sandton. The R50 starts from the N1 in the south-east of the city and continues south-east towards Bapsfontein and Delmas. The R511 runs north-south from Randburg towards Brits and barely bypasses Pretoria to the west. The national highway roads of South Africa pass through the city and provide perfect links to other parts of the country. Other major highways linking Pretoria to other regional locations include N1, N3, and N14. The N1 is a major freeway running through the city, it enters from the south as the Ben Schoeman Highway and turns into the N14 to Pretoria Central.

Renting a car in Pretoria is only necessary if you want to explore other cities or parts of the country. The city is well connected by important highways to the rest of the country, which makes it easy to connect to major destinations such as Johannesburg, and Cape Town.

One of the best ways to travel around the city of Pretoria is by taxi which operates all over the city and provides a safe and reliable door-to-door service. Booking a taxi in advance is one of the best options with companies such as Heinrich’s Taxis, or Rixi Taxi with fares starting at R50 for the first two miles and R24.8 for each mile thereafter. Taxi ranks and or taxi stops are pick-up and drop-off points around the city. Some essential points include Van der Walt Street, Church Square, and Paul Kruger Street. Taxis are metered in the city, they can be expensive and can be sparse during rush hour. Uber is available in Pretoria, simply download the app pre-order and pay for your taxi online.

There are some great locations in and around the city of Pretoria. The weather in the city is perfect most of the year making it a great destination for outdoor activities such as mountain biking. There are regular bikes, mountain bikes, and electric bikes available to rent in Pretoria. The city is home to over 215 cycle routes to explore, many of the routes are uphill or downhill depending on the location. Take a bicycle ride through nature and discover the wonderful wildlife of the city through the stunning mountainous terrain. Catch a glimpse of dozens of varieties of animal species such as giraffes, ostriches, zebra, and several varieties of buck. Visitors can rent a bike for around R5 a day, there is a Park-and-Ride parking lot near LC de Villiers sports center on the Hillcrest campus, and bikes have to be returned by 6:00 pm the same day.

The Buffelsdrift Mountain Bike Park is located within the Buffelsdrift Nature Conservancy just 9.3 miles north of the city. It is one of the most popular and spectacular biking trails in the region with a mix of single-track and jeep tracks boasting full climbs, and fast down hills that vary in length from 4.3 miles to 31 miles.

The city of Pretoria offers some good areas for walking, especially in the many parks here. The city offers some pleasant places to stroll around like the central business district with many shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, and historic landmarks to explore. Some areas may not be safe to roam at night, use caution and stay in well-lit areas. Explore the beautiful verdant parks in the city such as Freedom Park, Springbok Park, Jan Cilliers Park, and Burgers Park. The National Zoological Gardens of South Africa and the Pretoria National Botanical Gardens are another wonderful place to enjoy a walk. “The Jacaranda City” is filled with 70,000 jacaranda trees growing in Pretoria, take a leisurely stroll and discover the natural beauty of Pretoria.

Pretoria is considered a safe city, one of the safest in South Africa. However, it is advised not to visit the city center at night, or walk alone after dark. Take the necessary precautions when sightseeing, use common sense, and keep your wallet out of sight from pickpockets, especially in crowded areas. At night stay in well-lit and populated areas, and use reputable transportation companies instead of taking rides from strangers. Violent crime, theft, and pickpocketing are common throughout the country. Avoid traveling alone, especially at night.

The city of Pretoria has several large malls and other retail opportunities for those looking to shop while visiting. The city is home to many designer clothing stores, shopping malls, flea markets, and souvenir shops. The main shopping malls in the city are Menlyn Park, Brooklyn Mall, Kolonnade, Wonderpark, and Irene Village Mall. Menlyn Park Shopping Center is an award-winning mall in the city and home to over 500 stores. The popular shopping center is situated in Tshwane boasting international brands and flagship anchor stores as well as dining, entertainment, and leisure opportunities. Waterglen shopping center is a one-stop destination for all your shopping needs in the city, centrally located with several stores and dining. The Lynnridge Mall boasts a comfortable and vibrant atmosphere, the perfect place to spend a day shopping. The food court is also packed with many dining options. Check out the Pretoria Zoo market that runs on weekdays from 6:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. with a great range of traditional jewelry, African crafts, and ornaments for sale. There are vendors selling decent local handicrafts like women’s rugs, and beadwork at the Union Buildings daily. Wonderpark Flea Market is open from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays with crafts, toys, and souvenirs for sale.

The official language spoken in Pretoria is English, and the three most commonly spoken languages after English are Norther Sotho/Sepedi, Afrikaans, and Setswana. English is widely spoken, especially in the service industry, it is taught in schools and used in government, business, and the media. Many people speak fluent English, especially in the service industry at hotels and restaurants. We recommend getting a good African/English guidebook and learning the basic questions like please, thank you, and numbers 1-10.

The city of Pretoria is situated between the Highveld and the Bushveld in a warm, sheltered valley, which is surrounded by the hills of the Magaliesberg mountain range. The climate is humid subtropical and enjoys a dry, sunny climate with occasional downpours that occur in the summer months of October and April. The average daily temperature in the city ranges from 65-82 F degrees. Pretoria boasts long hot rainy summers and short, dry, and mild winters. Winters in Pretoria are typically South African winters with cold, clear nights and mild to moderately warm days. Evening temperatures in curing the winter can drop as low as 36-23F degrees. The daily average annual temperatures are around 65 F degrees, the city sits at a high altitude of 4,393 feet. The city experiences the heaviest rains during the summer months from December through February.

The currency of Pretoria is the South African Rand, the US dollar is not accepted. You will need to exchange your currency for the Shilling, which can be done upon arrival at the airport currency exchange desks or banks and specialized stores called Foreign Exchange Bureaus. ATMs can be found in the city, tipping is discretionary and appreciated, and cash is usually preferred.

There are plenty of places to eat in the city of Pretoria and a plethora of restaurants and cuisines to choose from. South African cuisine is made up of various influences and traditions that blend together to create unique cooking styles and practices. Pretoria’s dining presents a fusion of South African flavors and International cuisine. The Jacaranda City offers a delightful array of dining experiences to tantalize anyone’s tastebuds with a range of cuisines to choose from including Dutch, French, Indian, Cape Dutch, Cape Malay, and Malaysian. There are popular African fast food options like Debonairs, and Steers, upmarket restaurants, authentic pubs, quaint cafes, Michelin-starred restaurants, and boutique coffee shops. South African dishes are filled with spices such as allspice, and nutmeg and meat is the centerpiece of any South African meal, think hearty stews, and rich curries. Popular dishes like bobotie, koeksisters, biltong, sosaties, al fresco braai, and melktert.

The city of Pretoria is well known for its vibrant atmosphere and nightlife due to its large student population. There is an eclectic and exciting array of restaurants, bars, pubs, and more to choose from for a memorable night out on the town. The city boasts some prestigious nightclubs, laid-back lounges, quirky bars, and exciting pubs and bars. This capital city has no shortage of evening entertainment with live music to enjoy, and other fun evening activities like a sunset safari at teh National Zoological Gardens of South Africa. There are several areas of the city to choose from when it comes to nightlife in Pretoria, check out the famous suburbs of Hatfield, Constantia Park, Faerie Glen, Lynwood, and Time Square. Get out and enjoy some of these amazing places to absorb Pretoria’s sparkling nightlife.