Private Pretoria City & Lion Park Tour from Johannesburg

4.7 (44 reviews) from travellers who booked this experience

DailyPrivate

Private Pretoria City & Lion Park Tour from Johannesburg

Overview

This private Pretoria city and Lion Park tour from Johannesburg is a full day for your group only, with your own guide and air-conditioned vehicle. We pick you up at your hotel in the morning and drive north to Pretoria, South Africa's administrative capital, to see its main sights: the Union Buildings on their hill, historic Church Square and the Voortrekker Monument, along streets lined with jacaranda trees. In the afternoon you continue to the Lion & Safari Park for a two-hour drive in an open vehicle among lions, including the rare white lions, as well as cheetahs, giraffes, zebras and antelope. Entrance fees are included and the pace is yours. It suits families, couples and friends who want a relaxed day of history and wildlife near Johannesburg.

Highlights

A private day with your own guide and air-conditioned vehicle
The Union Buildings and their terraced gardens with views over Pretoria
Church Square and the historic heart of the capital
The Voortrekker Monument on its hilltop south of the city
A two-hour open-vehicle drive at the Lion & Safari Park, home of white lions
Jacaranda-lined streets, in purple bloom in October and November
Entrance fees, hotel pickup and Wi-Fi in the vehicle included

Full Description

Pretoria: the Jacaranda City

Pretoria, about 55 kilometres north of Johannesburg, is the administrative capital of South Africa and the seat of the government. Founded in the mid-nineteenth century, it has a calmer, greener character than its busy neighbour, with wide avenues, embassies, parks and stately public buildings. Its nickname, the Jacaranda City, comes from the jacaranda trees that line so many of its streets.

Is Pretoria worth visiting? For anyone interested in South African history and architecture, it is an easy and rewarding day trip from Johannesburg. In October and November the jacarandas burst into purple flower, covering whole streets in colour, and this is the best time to visit Pretoria for photographs.

The Union Buildings and Church Square

The Union Buildings stand on Meintjieskop hill overlooking the city. Completed in 1913 in sandstone, with two wings joined by a curved colonnade, they house the offices of the presidency and are a key landmark of the country's history; the formal terraced gardens below are open to visitors and offer wide views over Pretoria.

Church Square is the historic centre of the city, surrounded by grand nineteenth and early twentieth century buildings, including the old parliament building and the Palace of Justice. Your guide explains the story of the country from the early settlers through the era of apartheid to the democratic South Africa of today, and you can stop wherever you like for photographs.

The Voortrekker Monument

The Voortrekker Monument is a massive granite structure on a hill south of Pretoria, completed in 1949 to commemorate the pioneers who left the Cape Colony in ox wagons in the 1830s and 1840s and moved into the interior. Inside, a marble frieze tells the story of their journey, and a beam of sunlight falls through an opening in the dome onto a central cenotaph every year at noon on 16 December.

From the roof and the surrounding grounds, which form part of a nature reserve, there are panoramic views over the city and the highveld. The entrance fee is included in your private tour, and your guide gives balanced context about the monument's place in the history of South Africa.

The Lion & Safari Park and its white lions

The Lion & Safari Park lies in the countryside north-west of Johannesburg, about an hour's drive from Pretoria. Its large enclosures are home to prides of lions, including white lions, whose pale coat comes from a rare recessive gene and not from albinism. You also see cheetahs, wild dogs, hyenas, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and several antelope species.

The included two-hour drive in an open vehicle with a ranger takes you through the different camps, often close to resting lions. It is the easiest way to see big cats near Johannesburg if you do not have time for Kruger, and children especially love it. After the drive, our guide brings you back to your hotel in Johannesburg.

Itinerary

Pickup at your hotelOur guide collects you from your hotel in Johannesburg at about 09:00 in a private air-conditioned vehicle.
Union BuildingsAbout 30 to 45 minutes in the terraced gardens with views over Pretoria.
Church Square and the city centreA drive and short stop in the historic centre, with the story of Pretoria and South Africa.
Voortrekker MonumentAbout an hour at the monument and its viewpoint, entrance included.
Lunch breakTime for lunch at a place of your choice on the way (not included).
Lion & Safari ParkA two-hour open-vehicle drive among lions, white lions, cheetahs and other animals.
Return to JohannesburgDrop-off at your hotel around eight hours after pickup.

What's included

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Johannesburg
Private English-speaking guide
Transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle
Entrance fees to the main attractions
Lion & Safari Park entry
2-hour open-vehicle safari drive
Wi-Fi in the vehicle

Not included

Lunch and drinks
Personal purchases
Tips

Meeting point

We pick you up from your hotel in Johannesburg at about 09:00 in a private air-conditioned vehicle, and we drop you back at the same hotel at the end of the day. Our team confirms the exact pickup time with you on WhatsApp the day before.

Important information

Bring your passport or ID.
Wear comfortable shoes and bring a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses.
Lunch and drinks are not included; our guide suggests places to eat, including halal options on request.
Stay inside the vehicle during the lion park drive and follow the ranger's instructions.
Winter mornings (June to August) are cold on the highveld; bring a warm jacket for the open vehicle.
The order of the visits may change with traffic and opening times.
Keep valuables secure and out of sight in the city.

Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.

Is this tour private?

Yes. The vehicle and the guide are for your party only; no other guests join you.

Can we change the itinerary or the pace?

Yes. You can spend more time at the sights you enjoy, add photo stops or adjust the order within the day.

How many people fit in the vehicle?

The vehicle is matched to the size of your group. Tell our team how many travellers you are and we arrange the right vehicle.

Is the price per person or per group?

The tour is priced per person for your private group. The booking panel on this page shows the current price.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off at your hotel in Johannesburg are included.

What is included?

A private English-speaking guide, transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle, entrance fees to the main attractions, Lion & Safari Park entry, a two-hour open-vehicle safari drive and Wi-Fi in the vehicle.

How long is the tour?

About eight hours, starting around 09:00.

Is it suitable for children or reduced mobility?

Yes, children love the lion park. The main sights are reachable by vehicle with short walks; tell our team about any mobility needs.

Will we see white lions?

White lions live at the park and are usually seen, but they are animals and sightings cannot be guaranteed.

What should I bring?

Your passport or ID, comfortable shoes, a hat, sunscreen, a camera and a warm layer in winter.

When is the best time to visit Pretoria?

October and November, when the jacarandas bloom purple. The tour runs all year.

How do I book and confirm?

Choose your date in the booking panel on this page and send your request; our team confirms on WhatsApp within minutes.