Pretoria
Capital of South Africa
Pretoria is a capital city in South Africa with a population of about 742,000 as of 2011. Visitors often come to see the Union Buildings and the Voortrekker Monument.
What to see
The city features several significant landmarks, including the Union Buildings and the Voortrekker Monument. Other places of interest include Church Square, the Ditsong National Museum of Natural History, Freedom Park, and the Kruger House. Visitors can also explore Melrose House, the Pretoria National Botanical Garden, the Pretoria Zoo, and the natural formation known as Wonderboom.
When to go
Pretoria experiences warm days throughout most of the year. The summer months from December to January are the warmest, with daily highs around 27 °C, but they also bring the most rain, with about 126 mm falling over 16 days. The period from May to August is cooler and drier. June and July are the coldest, with daily highs of 18 °C to 19 °C and lows dropping to 5 °C or 6 °C, and very little rainfall.
Getting there
The nearest airport is Lanseria International Airport, located 34 km away.
Top sights in Pretoria
Weather by month
The warmest month is January, with an average high of 27 °C. The wettest is January, with about 126 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 27 | 27 | 26 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 |
| Average low, °C | 17 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| Rainfall, mm | 126 | 104 | 92 | 35 | 14 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 17 | 72 | 98 | 123 |
| Rainy days | 16 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 16 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Pretoria (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
Also worth a look
- Church Square, Pretoria
- Ditsong National Museum of Natural History
- Freedom Park
- Kruger House, Pretoria
- Melrose House
- Pretoria National Botanical Garden
- Pretoria Zoo