Written by: Hennie Fisher
Are you feeling somewhat caught between the four walls of your home in the new year? Perhaps you’re still suffering from the symptoms of travel blues, craving the freedom of the outdoors or yearning for something to do before the year ahead really gains momentum? Or maybe you’re looking for ideas to get the kids (and yourself) out of the house for a bit… Well, we’ve got some worthwhile tips for exploring Pretoria on a budget.
Whilst Pretoria might not have a famous mountain or long stretches of beach to brag with, it still has its special spots. Sometimes, one just needs to be a little more creative when searching for fun things to do. If you’re smart about finding fun, free and affordable things to do outside of your home, Pretoria and its places might just surprise you! In fact, all of the activities listed below cost less than R300!
Mountain Hiking And Aerial Trips
Since Pretoria is surrounded by mountainous terrain like the Magaliesberg, why not head out into the hills for a delightful day out in nature? Many activities in the Magaliesberg, north of Pretoria, fall under the curatorship and care of the Friends of Magalies group, in partnership with Tshwane Municipality. You can visit their website for all the details, including hiking and mountain biking trails.
Not only do they offer adventurers a fun day out in nature, but they also maintain and conserve the region and those keen on making a difference can even join them as volunteers.
Access to the trails (open between 06:00 - 18:00 daily) can either be from behind the Wonderboom High School or from the John Vorster High School. No entry fee is required, but donations can be made to Friends of Magalies to assist them to continue their great work.
Additionally, one could also purchase an annual membership for year-long access to the Magaliesberg and to support the group’s work.
Website: magalies.org
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 076 084 2666
Other Special Nature Spots For Exploring Pretoria On A Budget
Of course, Pretoria offers a variety of hikes and trails apart from the Magaliesberg. Check out Groenkloof Nature Reserve, Moreleta Kloof Nature Reserve, Faerie Glen Nature Reserve, Wonderboom Nature Reserve, Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Hennops Hiking Trail, Wolwespruit Bike & Trail Park, Buffelsdrift Trail Park, Hedianga Farm, Voortrekker Monument Nature Reserve, Pretoria National Botanical Garden, Rosemary Hill, and finally Made on Earth Hiking Trails near Erasmia.
Affordable Historic Trails
You can also head out to the Tswaing Meteorite Crater, north of Pretoria, for a wonderful trail walk and picnic where around 220 000 years ago, a stony meteorite - roughly 30 to 50 meters in diameter - struck the earth's crust at a speed of approximately 100,000 km/h, causing a massive explosion that resulted in a crater 1.4 km in diameter and 200 meters deep. The bowl-shaped depression eventually filled with rainwater and groundwater, forming a small hyper-saline lake and curious hikers can view it from up close. Entrance is R50 per adult (including your vehicle’s entrance) and it costs R35 per child. International guests will pay a slightly higher entrance fee.
At approximately a 30km drive outside Pretoria, this is a fun day’s outing. The most direct route will be via one of the main roads in Soshanguve, but you can also access the site from the N1 highway.
Cableways And Contours
Alternatively, create your own trail at the Roodeplaat Dam, with an affordable entrance fee of R30. Or, if cable car rides are your thing, head out to the Aerial Cableway Hartbeespoort. Although this activity is R25 over our R300 budget (unless it’s your birthday, when you can enjoy the experience for free provided you have proof of ID) it might just be worth saving up for.
Flying High While Exploring Pretoria On A Budget
At no additional cost at all (except perhaps a pizza for lunch), head out to the Villa San Giovanni restaurant and watch a constant stream of aeroplanes take off and land on a runway that comes right up to the floor-to-ceiling windows of the restaurant.
Or, if sky gazing is your thing, get a Pretoria City view projected in a darkened room at the Sci-Enza Camera Obscura at Sci-Enza (bookings are essential at R50 per person)
Putting The Fun Back Into Cultural and Historical Experiences
The National Zoological Gardens is always a fun outing and at only R95 for adults and R68 for children (online bookings) and R30 parking, it’s a no-brainer.
Further to this, the Pretoria Art Museum hosts fantastic exhibitions and you can brush up on your culture and history knowledge by visiting any of the other museums in Pretoria too. These include - among others - the Voortrekker Monument, the Kruger Museum and the Melrose House Museum. Stroll through the Javett Art Centre at R80 per adult, or the National Museum of Natural History which houses extensive collections of mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, fossils and geological material. There is also the National Museum of Cultural History (African Window), the South African Air Force Museum, Sammy Marks Museum, Pioneer Museum, Fort Klapperkop Military Museum, Jan Smuts House Museum, Freedom Park Heritage Site and Museum, and finally the University of Pretoria Museums.
Pretoria offers numerous affordable activities to escape the realities of life. Despite lacking beach entertainment and the majestic Table Mountain, there is a whole list of alternative ways of exploring Pretoria on a budget as you learn more about history and nature. And that all under R300, proving that enjoyable experiences are accessible and affordable if you take the time to look for them.