LEISURE TOURS AND ACTIVITIES

Specially packaged, well-priced leisure options will become available closer to the conference – have a look at some of the options on offer in the meantime.

LEISURE DAY TOURS

PRETORIA CAPITAL CITY 1/2 DAY TOUR

Pretoria, administrative Capital of the ZAR, the Union of South Africa, the Republic of South Africa and the new South Africa. One of our stops is at the Union Buildings, home to the president’s office, from where you can delight in a panoramic view of the Jacaranda City, also the location of the inauguration of Nelson Mandela for whom a huge sculpture stands in the landscaped gardens.

FREEDOM PARK

Freedom Park is located on a 52-hectare site on Salvokop in Pretoria – a vantage point that offers visitors a spectacular panorama of our capital city and beyond. The mandate of Freedom Park is the creation of a memorial and monument that will narrate a story spanning a period of 3.6 billion years through the following seven epochs: Earth, Ancestors, Peopling, Resistance and Colonisation, Industrialisation and Urbanisation, Nationalism and Struggle, Nation Building and Continent Building.

VOORTREKKER MONUMENT

The Voortrekker Monument is s a majestic granite structure, situated in expansive grounds, where game animals graze, and a number of attractions are available. Honouring the Afrikaner’s principal historic event: The Great Trek (1835 – 1843), the Monument boasts sculpted portrayals of the journey the Voortrekkers (pioneers) and the Afrikaner endured, which makes it no surprise that the Voortrekker Monument is one of the country’s most visited museums.

NELSON MANDELA FOOTSTEPS TOUR

Pretoria, and the world, witnessed Nelson Mandela being inaugurated as South Africa’s first democratically elected president at the Union Buildings on 10 May 1994. It was also here that over 100 000 people came to pay their respects to him after his passing on 5th of December 2013. Some of Nelson Mandela’s best speeches and quotes were made in Pretoria and his presence in the city has had a profound impact on the way Pretoria has transformed over the years.

PRE AND POST LEISURE TOURS

PRETORIA / TSHWANE TOURS

Gauteng is highly urbanised, containing the country’s largest city, Johannesburg, its administrative capital, Pretoria and the historical Soweto. The most popular attractions in the province are combined in this day tour – if you only have one day to see it all, this is the tour for you. We visit the Union Buildings, Apartheid Museum, Mandela House and Vilakazi Street in Soweto. We point out Church Square and Voortrekker Monument, Sandton and Johannesburg CBD, Hector Pietersen Memorial, and Soccer City.

GOLD REEF CITY

Gold Reef City is a theme park – built around an old gold mine – which shows Johannesburg as it was at the time of the discovery of gold. Learn how Johannesburg came to be, how gold was discovered on the reef, descend 75 meters underground plus witness the magnificent flow of a live gold pour. A variety of shops, housed in original buildings and entertainment is available at the Theme Park.

THE APARTHEID MUSEUM

The Apartheid Museum illustrates the rise and fall of apartheid. Visitors walk through the 22 individual exhibition areas, which contain film footage, photographs, text panels and artefacts illustrating the events and human stories behind apartheid. The tour is self-guided, but our tour guide will be available to answer any questions.

CULLINAN DIAMOND MINE TOUR

Take a train from Bosman Train Station for a historic steam train ride to Cullinan Diamond Mine. Enjoy a tour of the mine where the world’s biggest diamond (3106 carats) was discovered in 1905! The mine has produced 255 gem diamonds of over 100 carats, and nearly a quarter of the world’s gem diamonds of 400 carats and over. On the surface tour visitors will see the big hole, the shaft and the diamond room where a selection of uncut diamonds and replicas of world-famous diamonds are displayed.

TOWNSHIP TOUR

Depart Cullinan Mine for a Vintage Tour to Mamelodi Township or Atteridgeville – The Capital of Jazz Music. The name “Mamelodi”, which means “mother of melodies”. Atteridgeville is a township located on the west of Pretoria and is often referred to as the jazz capital of South Africa. Known for its many restaurants, shebeens and taverns, Atteridgeville is a popular tourist attraction and home to many talented jazz artists and jazz lovers alike.

STERKFONTEIN CAVES

In 1947 a well-preserved skull of a species of early man known as Plesianthropus transvaalensis was discovered. The skull became known as Mrs. Ples, dating back 2.5 million years. The total of over 700 hominid specimens found here has made Sterkfontein the world’s richest hominid site. A section of the Sterkfontein caves is visited on an hour long guided tour and the excavation site can be viewed.

MAROPENG CENTRE

The main building at Maropeng, called the Tumulus, emulates an ancient burial mound from the front, and in stark contrast, upon exiting, a very modern iconic structure is revealed. An original fossil display and a boat ride on an underground lake through the four life-giving elements that combined to form the earth and shape the world as it is known today are offered in the Maropeng Visitors Centre.

WONDER CAVES

One of the most beautiful naturally decorated caves in South Africa. Since its discovery only 100 years ago, few people have entered the Caves and it is thus relatively well preserved and virtually untouched. The enormous cave chamber with a volume of 46 000 cubic metres is believed to be 2.2 million years old.

LESEDI CULTURAL VILLAGE

Lesedi – meaning The Place of Light – is a multicultural African village, an hour’s drive from Pretoria. Guests are invited to the Ndebele Village where a traditional welcome by all the people of Lesedi takes place, followed by a cultural programme. An overnight option is also available, Lesedi African Lodge offers 30 rooms, all with private bathrooms.

WILDLIFE DAY TOURS

ANN VAN DYK CHEETAH CENTRE

The Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre lies nestled in the foothills of the Magaliesberg just outside Pretoria, presenting a landscape of open African veld, many indigenous trees and a panoramic view of the north. De Wildt is renowned for its breeding success of rare and endangered species. The very rare King Cheetah was first bred here and similar success has been achieved in breeding Wild Dog, Brown Hyena, Blue Duiker, Suni Antelope and various species of vultures.

ELEPHANT SANCTUARY

The Elephant Sanctuary is a safe house for African elephants and offers an interactive elephant experience. Hands-on educational elephant interactions provide you with an intimate experience with the elephants. Dedicated staff are committed to the use of positive reinforcement elephant training methods, and as a result, relaxed elephants enjoy interacting with guests. Take a walk with these majestic giants and appreciate them in their natural habitat.

BIG FIVE GAME RESERVE DAY TOURS

MONGENA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE

Mongena Private Game Reserve is nestled within the malaria-free northern region of the 18,000-hectare Dinokeng Game Reserve, a mere 40 minutes from Pretoria and a 90-minute drive by tar road from OR Tambo Airport in the province of Gauteng, South Africa. All members of the Big Five (elephant, rhino, leopard, buffalo, lion) roam free across the Reserve.

PILANESBERG NATIONAL PARK AND GAME RESERVE

The Pilanesberg National Park and Game Reserve is only about two hours from Pretoria. This malaria-free 58 000 hectare park – the fourth largest in South Africa – is situated on the eroded remains of a 1,2 billionyear-old extinct volcanic crater, and is home to the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant), and more than 365 bird species.

 

The World Conference of Science Journalists (WCSJ) will take place at the CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa from 1 – 5 December 2025, with the theme “Science Journalism and Social Justice – our role in promoting resilience”.

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