The winner of many prestigious international garden city awards, Pretoria has an atmosphere reminiscent of a magnificent large garden.

The wide and well-planned streets are lined with jacaranda trees that blooms bright purple in October.

The administrative capital of South Africa is also lovingly known as the "Jacaranda City".

The Union Buildings with its terraced gardens on the Meintjieskop hilltop houses the offices of the president of South Africa.

Other administration offices include consulates and embassies, many of them operating from gracious old homes.

The city of Pretoria has four universities, a number of scientific institutes and an abundance of open spaces with parks and a zoo.

The National Zoological Gardens of South Africa is the only zoo in the country with national status and also has the largest inland marine aquarium in the country.

The Greater Pretoria Region has close to 100 nature reserves and bird sanctuaries.

Do a short horse trail at the Voortrekker Monument or through the Premier Reserve, while taking a careful look at white rhinos and a number of eland.