3-DAY CAPITAL CITY TOUR

Roam with the Lions at the Dinokeng Game Reserve

Approximately 30 minutes’ drive away is from Pretoria lies Dinokeng Game Reserve, the only Big Five game reserve in the world to be located within a city’s boundaries. Besides the Big Five (white rhinoceros, leopard, elephant, lion and buffalo) that are now roaming free after more than 100 years, the grassland here is also home to zebra, hyena, giraffe and eland, as well as numerous bird species.

Spend the afternoon at the Wonderboom Nature Reserve and Tswaing Meteorite Crater Reserve.

This is one of the few city-owned reserves where you can escape on a hike in a nature reserve so vast you feel you have left civilisation – yet you would have driven no more than fifteen minutes from the Pretoria central business district. Other than experiencing the fauna, flora and bird species, here you can visit the +1 000 year-old Wonderboom fig tree, which according to legend grew this big because the chief of an indigenous tribe lies buried beneath its roots.

Tswaing, which means “place of salt” in Setswana, is the site where a meteorite half a football field in size slammed into the Earth 220 000 years ago, forming a crater 1.4km in diameter and 200m deep. The crater is one of about 170 impact craters in the world and one of four known impact craters in South Africa.

Check in for dinner and overnight at one of the lodges at the Dinokeng Game reserve  The Reserve has diverse accommodation options, with an offering to suit every taste.

Check in for dinner and overnight.

Check in for dinner and overnight at one of the lodges at the Dinokeng Game reserve . The Reserve has diverse accommodation options, with an offering to suit every taste.

The Cullinan Diamond Mine gained its popularity in 1905, when the largest uncut diamond (at 3106 carats) was found there. The Cullinan Mine is still fully operational to this day, and offers surface or underground tours which culminate with a visit to the diamond market (situated within the mine) for an unforgettable diamond and jewellery shopping experience.

Immerse yourself in adventure at Adventure Zone Cullinan

Make a stop at the Nan Hua Temple

Your drive from Cullinan back to Pretoria takes you past the suburb of Bronkhorstspruit. While here check out the Nan Hua Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in Africa (covering 600 acres) for some spiritual immersion and rejuvenation. It will take your breath away.