Johannesburg & Pretoria

Today started out with an early flight from Durban to Johannesburg. Our flight was 45 minutes long, however, after getting our luggage and checking into the hotel we did not start out day until 1:00pm. When we stepped off the plane we were welcomed by the surprisingly cold temperature. After we checked into the hotel we got a little taste of home by having lunch at Subway. After finishing up our good ole American flavored subway sandwiches, we headed to the Voortrekker Monument, our first stop on our tour of Pretoria. The monument represented the Afrikaans, which is a mix of the Dutch, French, and Germans history in South Africa and their battle with the British and the Zulu. Although the monument represented the darker times in South Africa’s history, the building and monument remains because President Nelson Mandela thought it was an important part of South Africa’s history that must be told, known, and forgiven. After visiting the monument we continued our educational driving tour to Church Square, the Kruger house and the Union buildings. The Kruger house was a gift from the former President Stephen Paul Kruger to South Africa. Kruger held office from 1883-1902. This gift to South Africa is now utilized as a museum and a major part of Pretoria’s economy. Today, while a short day, was an important education trip both by seeing Pretoria and experiencing the Johannesburg afternoon traffic.



Jo-Burg





Voortrekker Monument