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Day Trips

Guests and visitors interested in any of the following day trips and excursion can enquire at our front desk for prices and times.

A visit to Soweto
Soweto! Hotbed of strife! Melting pot of South African cultures. Focal point of political transformation! Vibrant, dynamic, trend-setting hub of African music, arts and culture! With its population estimated at 2 million, Soweto is many things to many people. Discover this fascinating and vibrant cosmopolitan community with us during an insightful half-day visit to this sprawling metropolis.

Soweto is the largest black urban settlement in Africa, best known for its contributions to the struggle against the Apartheid regime. But it is a far more complex society than simply a hotbed of political turmoil. It's rich cultural and historical tapestry makes for a fascinating encounter with the people of Africa.

The visit will include the Hector Pietersen Museum, the previous home of Nelson and Winnie Mandela, as well as the Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication (Freedom Square). En route, we pass the famous Regina Mundi church (home to many activist organisations during the Apartheid era), the squalid informal settlements and hostels, as well as the progress made in recent years, including the luxury homes of Soweto's wealthier residents and the upmarket Mopanya shopping mall. A day you'll never forget.

South Africa's Constitutional Court was opened by President Mandela in 1994 to mark the birth of our new democracy. He said: The last time I appeared in court was to hear whether or not I was going to be sentenced to death. Fortunately for myself and my colleagues we were not. Today I rise not as an accused but, on behalf of the people of South Africa, to inaugurate a court South Africa has never had, a court on which hinges the future of our democracy.

The Court was deliberately built in Johannesburg on the site of a high-security prison built in 1893 known as The Fort, where over time hundreds of thousands of people were jailed there - including famous figures such as Mahatma Gandhi and Albert Luthuli. Nelson Mandela paid The Fort a visit first as a young lawyer, then as a prisoner and finally as the president of South Africa.
To visit go to www.constitutionalcourt.org.za

Tour Tshwane/Pretoria, the capital city
Visit the Voortrekker monument, Church Square and Paul Kruger's House. Go to Union Buildings, the seat of government for a breathtaking view of the Jacaranda city and to visit the curio market and the exquisite gardens.

Gold Reef City a theme park built around an old mine giving visitors a feel of what life was like during the gold rush of a century ago. Visitors get taken down a mine shaft, see a gold pouring demonstration and experience tribal dancing and drumming.

Cullinan Diamond Mine offers a surface tour of Premier Mine which was opened in 1902 and where the world's largest diamond was discovered. Premier Mine has produced more than 250 gems over 100 carats and nearly a quarter of the world's diamonds of 400 carats and more. Visitors will see the big hole, the shaft and the diamond room where a selection of uncut diamonds and replicas of world famous diamonds is displayed. The Village of Cullinan also offers markets and restaurants along its main street that give visitors a glimpse into history.

Pretoria National Botanical Garden offers nature-lovers from all over the world a comprehensive showcase of many southern African plants in all their seasonal guises. Many rare and protected species are found in the gardens and horticultural research methods are continually being tried and tested. Enjoy the tea garden, Sunday picnic concerts, environmental education and a visit to the Herbarium. For more details go to www.nbi.co.za

De Wildt Cheeta and Wildlife Centre
Rare and endangered species are protected in this breeding centre and they include wild dogs, vultures, king cheetahs, hyaenas.

Lesedi Cultural Village is a multi cultural home to five African tribes: the Basotho, Ndebele, Pedi, Xhosa and Zulu. Visitors will experience their different homesteads, traditional dancing and a buffet of the finest African foods.

Elephant sanctuary www.elephantsanctuary.co.za
Walk with African elephants in the unspoiled bush only 1 hour away from Pretoria.
Plan a day visit or even an overnight stay. Educationally oriented programms.

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Longer Excursions

The Cradle of Humankind - a World Heritage Site
The fossil Hominid Sites of Sterkfontein, Zwartkrans, Komdraai and environ is known as the Cradle of Human Kind. The area of 48 000 hectares was declared a World Heritage Site in 1999 because of its outstanding universal value. Amongst the most remarkable findings to have been made is the famous Mrs Ples and Little Foot, a 4.1million year old almost complete ape-man skeleton.
To visit go to www.maropeng.co.za

Pilansberg National Park is ideal if you don't have time for a Kruger Park tour. Only two hours' drive from Pretoria, this malaria-free 58 000 hectare park is actually perched on an extinct volcano crater and is the home to the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant) and more than 365 bird species. Exclusive overnight accommodation is also available.

The Kingdom of the Lost City, Sun City
It is also known as the Kingdom of Pleasure, with 3 luxury hotels, two golf courses, extravaganza shows, a casino and a disco as well as many restaurants and movie theatres. For the environmentalists there is the Valley of the Waves water world, a crocodile farm, a bird aviary and game drives to the nearby Pilansberg National Park.

Golf
South Africa is a golfer's paradise both for professional and amateur golfers. Pretoria is the home of several well-known courses such as
• Silver Lakes
• Woodhill
• Pretoria Country Club
• Irene
• Wingate
For more information on golf courses round South Africa and to obtain their contact details go to www.handicap.co.za

Birdwatching
The Coral Tree Inn overlooks the Waterkloof Spruit which flows through a natural and environmental valley. A paradise for birds and birdwatchers alike. We attach a list that covers some 10 years of identification (using Roberts and Sasol Bird books) done by retired architect Brian Brownlee from his property close to the Coral Inn Tree. It lists the date of first sighting, The bird names are in English with the species description in Latin and the height of the bird is given at the end of the line.

To download a PDF with the entries of birds spotted in and around Coral Tree Inn, please click here. Underlined entries denotes birds spotted on the feeding tray.

The Gautrain Project
The Gautrain project is largely aimed at commercially active people and tourists that need to travel between Johannesburg, Tshwane and OR Tambo International Airport.

It is estimated that when the Gautrain is operating at full capacity it will be able to carry more than 100 000 passengers per day in each direction. The key features for this R25billion project are:
• 10 stations on an 80Km route
• 24 separate four-car train sets
• A maximum speed of 160Km per hour, which means only 42 minutes between OR Tambo International Airport station and Hatfield station in Tshwane
• Passengers can transfer easily between the Gautrain and other forms of transport
• Smart card electronic ticketing needing only one ticket for the train, bus and parking
• Tight security on trains and stations through access control and over 650 CCTV cameras plus visible policing.
• For more information and a detailed route map go to www.gautrain.co.za

Shopping at special markets
Gauteng is a true mecca for the discerning shopper who wants to go off the beaten track of the super shopping malls and hunt for bargains at specialist markets like antique fairs, artists' studios, craftworkers traders' markets, curios, bazaars for eastern silks and much more.
• Rosebank Rooftop flee market
• The Hartebeespoort Ramble
• Barter for curio from all over Africa at the crafters market at hartybeespoortdam
• Irene craft market situated on the grounds of the farm of legenday South African Jan Smuts
• The boeremark - a fresh produce early morning food market
• Duncan Yard - a market of antiques, home-made products and trendy restaurants

Restaurants - visit www.eatout.co.za for bookings and information
• Il Ritrovo: is one of Pretoria's favourite restaurants of international repute for its exquisite Italian cuisine. It is within walking distance from the Coral Tree Inn.
• La Caraffa
• Pascha's
• Cynthia's
• Zest Bistro South African Fusion
• Matsuya Japenese Restaurant
• Geet Indian Restaurant

For the contact details of these restaurant and other great recommendations, visit www.eatout.co.za

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