Lots of Things To Do during Christmas weekend in Pretoria

25 December 2015

Pretoria was once infamously known to go quiet and eerie when people leave for the festive season, but not anymore. There are many things to do for those who remain behind to have some fun.

Activities have been carefully selected and organised to ensure no one feels left out during this Christmas weekend.

Wheather

On Christmas Eve a welcome shower in Pretoria North brought relief to the extraordinary December heat. Rain has also been predicted for Christmas Day afternoon.

Pretoria Nature Reserves

At the top of these activities that are open to the public are visits to nature reserves and parks, where for a minimal fee, visitors will have access to the sights and sounds of nature, picnic areas and the many animals which roam the semi wild of the Pretoria surrounds.

Pretoria’s top nature reserves Pretoria has a large number of nature reserves, many of them unique. Without leaving the city boundary you can see some of the …

Pretoria National Zoo

Right in the city centre is the national zoo, where both land and water animals can be seen. There is a new pair of ragged-toothed sharks, seals and a variety of fish; there are rhinos, lions, tigers and elephants, while visitors can also enjoy a view of the capital city from the cable car.

Picnic baskets and limited amounts of alcohol are allowed in.

National Zoological Gardens of South Africa (Pretoria Zoo) The 85-hectare National Zoological Gardens of South Africa is the largest zoo in the country & situated in Pretoria CBD …

Rietvlei Dam and Groenkloof Nature Reserve

If picnic areas are what your family or groups of friends are looking for, you can visit the Rietvlei Dam or Groenkloof Nature Reserve, where braai facilities and open spaces are available.

There are hiking and bike trails and game drives at these places, which can be enjoyed as the weather is set to be sunny for most of the weekend, according to the South African Weather Service.

	The Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Pretoria The Rietvlei Nature Reserve offers activities such as hiking & angling, birding & game viewing tours and more …
	The Groenkloof Nature Reserve, Pretoria Giraffes, zebra and sable antelope walk free in this 600 ha bushveld nature reserve, one of the oldest proclaimed game …

Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre

An experience with cheetahs can be had at the Ann van Dyk Cheetah centre on Saturday and Sunday, during which one can experience the speed of one of the fastest land animals.

The centre will be closed on Christmas Day but is open again on Saturday and Sunday. Visitors can watch the cheetah run at top speed from behind a fence and have a touch experience with the animal in addition to enjoying a game drive. There, they also can see a variety of wildlife such as hyenas, vultures and small antelope.

Ann Van Dyk Cheetah Centre (De Wildt Cheetah Sanctuary) Take a safari or watch Cheetahs run at full speed at the Ann Van Dyk (formerly De Wildt) Cheetah Breeding Centre and Sanctuary…

Pretoria Public Swimming Pools

The city’s municipal parks and swimming pools will be open for those who want to cool down and enjoy the water on Saturday.

Municipal Swimming Pools Pretoria We have put together a list of all the Municipal Swimming Pools in Pretoria, so whether you are training or just looking for …

The malls in the city are mostly closed on Christmas Day, save for a shop here and restaurant there, but they are all fully operational from Saturday, with gaming arcades and shops open for last minute shoppers ahead of next week, when festivities will switch to new year celebrations.

Wave Pool at Forest Hill City Mall

The wave pool at Forest Hill City mall is the first of its kind in Gauteng, and since it was opened its popularity has increased by leaps and bounds.

Those spending the Christmas weekend in the city can go there with their children for surfing and body boarding, and a stint on the mall’s Olympic-size ice rink.

Forest Hill City Mall A unique shopping experience and entertainment offering that includes the best in family entertainment.

Various other areas are offering lunches and specials for the weekend for city residents.

You can check in at an eatery near you to take a break from the festive cooking, and with the weather as good as it will be, there is no reason to staying indoors.

Day Trips from Pretoria

If you would like to take a drive, there are various options to choose from.

	Day trip to Cullinan The quaint Victorian village of Cullinan is a short 30 minutes drive from Pretoria and less than an hour from Johannesburg …
	Day trip to Hartbeespoort Dam Only a 30 minute drive from Pretoria, Hartbeespoort offers a variety of pubs, flea markets, tourist shops & roadside exhibition…