Luxury holidays to Johannesburg and Pretoria reveal the variety and vibrancy of South Africa’s Gauteng Province. Despite being separated by only 40 miles, the two cities are wildly different. Sprawling Johannesburg is cosmopolitan and modern and is a hub for shopping, art, museums and restaurants. Pretoria, Jo’burg’s quieter neighbour, is famed for its historic buildings, quiet resorts and leafy streets.
Luxury holidays to Johannesburg and Pretoria reveal the variety and vibrancy of South Africa’s Gauteng Province. Despite being separated by only 40 miles, the two cities are wildly different. Sprawling Johannesburg is cosmopolitan and modern and is a hub for shopping, art, museums and restaurants. Pretoria, Jo’burg’s quieter neighbour, is famed for its historic buildings, quiet resorts and leafy streets.
The beauty of booking a holiday to this part of the world is that you can benefit from easy access to both cities, no matter where you base yourself. You can drive from Pretoria to Johannesburg in under 40 minutes. Stay in Jo’burg or Pretoria, and you can explore both cities and take your pick of exciting neighbourhoods.
Head to Johannesburg City, and you’ll find glittering skyscrapers, modern luxury hotels, and the über-cool central neighbourhoods of Braamfontein and Maboneng. These neighbourhoods are hotspots for trendy new bars and restaurants.
Away from the centre, the suburbs of Sandton provide the ultimate luxury urban retreat. Here you’ll find spa hotels, designer boutiques, green spaces and plenty of world-class restaurants.
Travel north to Pretoria and visit the city’s eastern suburbs of Waterkloof and Brooklyn. These neighbourhoods offer a quiet, scenic stay complete with jacaranda-lined streets, golf courses, and quaint museums. In Pretoria, you can spend your days exploring historic monuments like the Voortrekker Monument, admire government buildings, or visit nearby nature reserves.
Throughout the year, there’s plenty to do and see in Johannesburg and Pretoria, so you don’t need to tailor your trip to the weather.
The warmest, wettest weather occurs during the South African summer (December to February) while in the winter months (June to August) there is less rainfall and the temperatures dip. To see these cities’ jacaranda trees in full bloom, visit in spring (October and November) while autumn (March to May) or early spring is ideal for going on safari at nearby game reserves.
Take a luxury holiday to Johannesburg and Pretoria and encounter cuisines from around the globe. At luxury hotels, a range of international dishes will be on offer at onsite restaurants. In the bars, lounges and poolside terraces you can sample light bites, cocktails and some excellent local wines.
Away from your accommodation, you are free to explore the cities’ excellent restaurants and cafés. Johannesburg is considered the foodie capital of South Africa. As such, it’s full of trendy modern restaurants serving steaks, curries, local specialities, and everything in between.
You should check the entry requirements for South Africa before you book your holiday – you can do this at GOV.UK. While travelling, it’s a good idea to carry identification and keep photocopies of official documents.