Pretoria is situated approximately 75 km north of Johannesburg. It is surrounded by the hills of the Magaliesberg range. Since 2000 it has been incorporated into the metropolitan area of Tshwane.
Pretoria was founded in 1852 by Voortrekkers leader Andries Pretoruis and became the capital of the South African Republic(ZAR) soon afterwards.
Its main street is called Church Street. Many of its streets are lined with Jacaranda trees, that blossom purplish blue in spring.
It is the home of the National Zoo of South Africa.
The Cullinan Diamond was found near Pretoria at the Premier Mine on January 26, 1905.