Visit neighbouring Pretoria for an unforgettable day-outing!
The Union Buildings, the seat of the South African government, was opened in 1913.
The imposing buildings are located in Pretoria, atop Meintjieskop at the northern end of Arcadia, close to historic Church Square and the Voortrekker Monument. The large gardens of the Buildings are nestled between Government Avenue, Vermeulen Street East, Church Street, the R104 and Blackwood Street. Fairview Avenue is a closed road where only officials can enter to the Union Buildings. Though not in the centre of Pretoria the Union Buildings occupy the highest point of Pretoria and constitute a South African national heritage site.
The Buildings are one of the centres of political life in South Africa; “The Buildings” and “Arcadia” have become metonyms for the South African government. It has become an iconic landmark of Pretoria and South Africa in general and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city and an emblem of democracy.
History and Architecture
These buildings, built from light sandstone, were designed by the architect Sir Herbert Baker in the English monumental style and are 285 m long. They have a semi-circular shape, with two wings at the sides, this serves to represent the union of a formerly divided people. The clock chimes are identical to those of Big Ben in London. The east and west wings, as well as the twin-domed towers, represent two languages, English and Afrikaans, and the inner court symbolises the Union of South Africa. These buildings are considered by many to be the architect’s greatest achievement and a South African architectural masterpiece. The Nelson Mandela statue in Sandton City’s Nelson Mandela Square was commissioned originally to stand on the spot where Nelson Mandela gave his inaugural address.
The building was sited on a disused quarry, which now makes up the amphitheatre. The matching statues on top of the domed towers are Atlas, holding up the world, sculpted by Abraham Broadbent. The statue on the domed rostrum in the amphitheatre between the wings is Mercury, a mythic Roman messenger and a god of trade, sculpted by George Ness. The closest suburb to the Union Buildings is Arcadia, which means “Playground of Gods”. Pretoria has the second largest number of embassies in the world, after Washington, D.C., most of which are located in or near Arcadia.
Marthinus Wessel Pretorius, later to become the first president of the Transvaal Republic, was the original owner of the farm ‘Elandsfontein’ on which Meintjieskop stands. In 1856 Andries Francois du Toit (1813–1883), in exchange for a Basuto pony, acquired part of the farm, which he named ‘Arcadia’ and on which the Union Buildings were later constructed. He was also Pretoria’s first magistrate and was responsible for the layout of the city. During this period he sold his land to Stephanus Jacobus Meintjies (1819–1887), after whom the hill is named.
In 1909 Herbert Baker was commissioned to design the Government Building of the Union of South Africa (which was formed on 31 May 1910) in Pretoria. Pretoria was to become the administrative centre for the new government. In November 1910 the cornerstone of the Union Building was laid.
On 10 May 1994, the inauguration of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first democratically elected president after the end of Apartheid, and his vice-presidents heralded the beginning of a new era in South Africa’s history.
A part of his historical speech included the following:
“Today, all of us do, by our presence here, and by our celebrations in other parts of our country and the world, confer glory and hope to newborn liberty.
Out of the experience of an extraordinary human disaster that lasted too long, must be born a society of which all humanity will be proud.
Unfortunately, visitors cannot enter the buildings themselves, but you can wander around the immaculate gardens to photograph the many statues, including those of Genl. Louis Botha on his horse and Pres. Nelson Mandela.
Voortrekker Monument
The majestic Voortrekker Monument is situated in the northern part of South Africa in the Pretoria (Tshwane) region in a nature reserve. It is a unique Monument that commemorates the Pioneer history of Southern Africa and the history of the Afrikaner and is situated in a beautiful setting. Today it is the most visited heritage site of its kind in Gauteng and one of the top ten cultural historical visitor attractions in the country. The Monument also manages the Blood River Heritage Site.
Apart from all the amenities that can be found there, including food and beverages, a gift shop and many outdoor activities are available. These include hiking, biking and running trails and even horse rides.
Visiting hours
Open Monday to Sunday from 8 am to 5 pm
Admission
Adults R60, students/pensioners R35, family ticket R120
Pretoria Botanical Garden
PHOTO: SUNSET OVER THE WETLAND IN THE PBG
This 76 ha urban oasis is a pristine getaway situated in the eastern suburbs of South Africa’s administrative capital, Pretoria.
A 35 m high quartzite outcrop divides the Garden in two sections. Its frosty south-facing section and the north-facing, warmer section present two different worlds to the visitor and botanist. A paved nature trail gives access to the fascinating natural vegetation on the ridge, which boasts a diversity of indigenous fauna and flora.
Fifty hectares of the total area is devoted to developed garden, using almost exclusively South African plants. All the flowering plant species to be seen, including 50% of the country’s tree species, make this Garden a botanical tapestry. Visitors are offered a glimpse of different biomes such as savanna and forest biomes. Different theme gardens are continuously being developed.
Wildlife & Biodiversity at Pretoria NBG
The Garden, which is surrounded by urban development, offers a much needed green area and corridor for wildlife in the eastern suburbs of Pretoria. The ridge that runs through the Garden, the natural grassland and lawned areas containing beds of indigenous plants, offer a habitat for many animal species. A concerted effort is made to record the biodiversity treasures within the Garden’s boundaries. Various biodiversity surveys have already been or are being conducted, e.g. insect diversity that includes a butterfly, spider and frog survey.
The Garden is a favourite birding spot and over 220 bird species have been listed. Interesting birds that have been recorded include hawks, falcons, kestrels and even the Verreaux’s Eagle. These birds prey on the dassie population and can sometimes be seen flying above the ridge in search of their favourite prey.
Mammals such as the slender mongoose, scrub hare and common duiker often visit the natural grassland for food or for shelter and visitors often spot them in the late afternoon and evening. South African lesser bushbabies frequent the Acacia-dominated woodland. Other nocturnal animals such as greater cane rats love to feed on grass roots. Several bat species have been recorded including the Cape serotine bat, the yellow house bat and the rusty bat.
Various species of skinks, yellow-throated or plated lizards and rock monitors have found a place to live within the Garden. Visitors might even be lucky enough to see a spotted-necked otter around the wetland area. More than 50 butterfly species have been recorded and an interesting phenomenon takes place during the months of December to February when the mass migration of the brown-veined white butterfly takes place. Thousands of butterflies can be seen passing over the Garden in a north-easterly direction towards Mozambique.
There is an example of a cultural village as well
Entrance fees
- Adults: R30
- Students: R18
- Children: R14
- Under 6 years: Free
- SA Senior Citizens (with ID): Free Tues
- BOTSOC members: Free
- Please note: Special entrance fees apply on concert days and days on which other special events are held depending on the event.
Address
- 2 Cussonia Ave
- Brummeria
- Pretoria
- South Africa
- Postal Address:
- Private Bag x101, Pretoria, 0001
- GPS Co-ordinates:
- 28°16’19.8″E 25°44’18.2″S
- Long 28.27218 Lat -25.73838