The over ambitious plan was to see the Voortrekker monument, botanical gardens and the Union buildings. We set out for the monument by foot towards Freedom Park from where we would continue to the monument. We passed what appeared to be a market which was all but closed being Sunday but at one stall people were preparing food which looked delicious.
This house was a little different but next to a major road
We then passed through a residential area of small houses some with nicely kept gardens
When we got to Freedom Park, we realised that this would be interesting to see and not just a walking route to the monument. A tour was about to start, so we joined that. We were six, a Welsh couple and a South African couple.
Freedom Park is a monument to ALL who fought and died for democracy throughout South Africa's history. It is a presidential initiative which came out of the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
The view from the entrance over Pretoria, the closest red roofed building being the railway station
The Sanctuary area which looks out to the amphitheatre and the eternal flame
The amphitheatre
The gallery of leaders
The "Reeds"
The wall of names, here the names are listed by event, WW1, Sharpeville etc but the names are random thereby mixing racial origins.
The boulders of the sacred area, one from each provence of South Africa
The lekgotla, seating area for elders, by tradition always next to the sacred area so that the spirits of the past can guide the leaders of the present.
Moshate
The area for contemplation where we ate our lunch
The grasses on the verges made interesting shapes but who or what had knotted the grass heads together that we saw in great numbers as well?
This was our first chance to get close to a thorn bush. We must have been too high to see these when we went walking in the Drakensberg mountains. The large thorns make a pretty picture.
We didn't reach the Voortrekker monument, but here it is from the Freedom Park.
We had been walking in 30+ degrees for 4 hours and it was time for a rest so we set off back to the hotel rather than heading for the Voortrekker monument which we photographed from afar. Fortunately, on our way back, John spotted a track that the locals were using that he thought might be a short cut and indeed this came to a long footbridge over the railway tracks which gave us a much quicker way back to the hotel, we were very happy. The shortcut did not feature on any maps.
Later in the afternoon we took a taxi to see the Union Buildings a very imposing building with terraced gardens overlooking Pretoria.
Pretoria from the Union Building.
In the evening, we ate a great meal in the hotel restaurant buffet before we packed ready for an early start the next day.
Pat and John on tour