Pretoria » City Info » Geography

Pretoria is located around 50km north of Johannesburg in the northeast of South Africa. It lies in a transitional belt running between the Highveld plateau to the south and the lower-lying Bushveld to the north. Because of an altitude of about 1,350m above sea level, the city enjoys a warm climate. Hills of the Magaliesberg range surround the city with a sheltered and fertile valley.

Coordinates: 25°44′46″S 28°11′17″E

Climate

The city is bestowed with a moderate dry subtropical climate. The climate is characterised by hot and rainy summers for an extended period and cool, dry winters over a short period. Pretoria has an average annual temperature of about 18.7°C (65.66°F), which is a bit high, despite the 1350m altitude. The main reason for a warm climate is because of its sheltered valley position. The valley acts as a heat trap and prevents the flow of cool southerly and northern-easterly air masses throughout the year. The city receives rainfalls in summers. However, the drought-like situation prevails in the winter months because of the unpleasant climatic condition resulting from sharp frosts. Pretoria rarely receives snowfalls, maybe once or twice in a century.

Pretoria has a pleasant climate throughout the year. However, the temperature falls in the evening as compared to the daytime. To be on the safer side, always carry woollen clothing and jackets.

The temperature in summer between October and March is around 30°C (86°F) and stays warm throughout the day. Between November and February, the city receives thunderstorms during noon, but it doesn't last long. It experiences cold waves in July and August when the temperature is around 20°C (68°F) during the daytime. The evenings in winter are cold.

The best time to go to Pretoria is late September to mid-November, which is the blooming season of Jacaranda trees. But mid-October is known as the prime time for blooms. The city turns purple, and thousands of tourists flock to Pretoria to see the purple canopy.