Pretorē

Pretorē Pretória
Pretorē from the eastern confluence of the Pretoria River.
Nickname:  The Border Town
Country	the Cape
Province	Pretoria
Government
• Type	Mayor–council government
• Body	Pretoria Court of Auditors
• Presiding Officer	Paul Mikus
• Auditor-General	Jorge Sandos
Population
• Total	4,122,983
• Metro	10,202,225

Pretorē, (Cartadanian: Pretória), commonly known in Ænglish as Pretoria, is the eponymous capital of the Capetian province of Pretoria and is the Cape's second-most populous city with a metropolitan area population of 10 million. Located at the confluence of the two largest tributaries of the Pretoria River, Pretorē is a national and continental centre of culture, commerce, transportation and finance, and is the most diverse and multicultural city in the largely monocultural Cape.

Understand

Covering over 2000 square kilometres, the urban boundaries of the city of Pretorē stretch over 50kms through the central Pretoria River Basin. Pretorē is anchored by a urban core featuring a dense central business district and an old town, surrounded by post-war reconstruction and suburban development. While central Pretorē remains laid out on a colonial Cartadanian road system, the rest of the city follows an easy-to-understand grid system, with north/south and east/west streets roughly aligned to the shores of the city’s three rivers.

It is important to note the existence of Primora and North Pretorē, both separate suburban municipalities to the immediate north and south of Pretorē. International travellers should note that Pretorē Kalma International Airport is located in Primora and will subsequently have a Primora address.

Pretorē and her suburbs are collectively known as the Pretoria Basin Area, or simply “the Basin Area”, and hosts a population of 10 million. Distances between the central city and surrounding suburban cities can be vast, as the urban area sprawls across the basin and down the Pretoria River.

Historically nicknamed “the Border Town”, Pretorē served as a major trading centre located at the border between the former Cartadanian Natalia Colony and the Kiravian Cape Colony, downriver from the mountainous territories of the Cahok nations. This status led to historic immigration pre and post-independence from across Levantia and Alshar. As such, Pretorē has been suggested as the most multicultural city of the largely monocultural Cape, with over 100 different ethnolinguistic groups represented in the city.

Visitor Information

Pretoria Basin Area Tourist Centre, 2/F, Terminal 5, International Arrivals Hall, Pretorē Kalma International Airport
City of Pretorē Visitor’s Centre, 1/F, Central Hall @ Pretorē Pretoria Station

Get in

By plane

Pretorē Kalma International Airport (IATA: PKI) (not to be confused with Cape Town’s Melvyn Kalma Airport) located 31kms south of central Pretorē in Primora, is the region’s primary airport and the Cape’s second largest. It is a hub for Capetian flag carrier Republican. Kalma International Airport hosts two terminals:

• Terminal 2 serves primarily domestic and continental flights, such as the former Air Crona.
• Terminal 5 serves Republican and other major international carriers, such as Azul Airlines.

Free Wifi is offered in both terminals, and a free, 24/7 automated people mover connects the two.

Once you’ve arrived, your onward transportation options include car rentals (all the major companies), taxis, limousines, rideshares, and rail-based transit:

From Terminal 5’s Pretorē Kalma Airport station:

• Pretoria Strakiterma’s Peregrine Falcon service - a modern limited express service with 30-minute headways that takes you to Pretorē Pretoria Station (~₴100 Saers) downtown within 25 minutes between the hours of 5:00am and 2:00am. As with other provincially-operated Strakiterma (Capetian for “speed service”) commuter rail services, seats are unreserved, however, the Peregrine Falcon trainsets are composed exclusively of regular first-class carriages and sold/ticketed as such. Stops include Primora Central Station (for Primora transit), Kartika Station (for the southern terminus of the Pretorē Metro), and Daxiatown.

• Pretoria Strakiterma’s 24/7 local service to Pretoria Station and onward to suburban terminals in North Pretorē. The S-Bahn-like service is best suited for travel to the city’s charming inner suburbs, with a variety of stops along the line as it enters and exits central Pretorē. 15-minute headways, and no worries, as all trains north are bound for Pretoria Station (~₴60 Saers) via Primora Central (~₴41 Saers). Do note that the train can get busy during rush hour, and can become standing room only.

• Cape National Railways Southern Line for intercity services - local or sub-express trains bound for Stanlin and Cape Town stop at Kalma Airport. Check cnr.kp/en for an up-to-date timetable and schedules.

Commuter buses operated by the Strakiterma stop at Terminal 2, for suburbs east and west of the airport.

By train

All intercity trains bound for Pretorē are bound for the confusingly named Pretoria Station, located downtown at the base of Chief’s Highway. If you’re going to Pretorē by train, Pretoria Station is likely where you’ll disembark. Constructed by the federal government in 1910 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the new republic, Pretoria Station is widely regarded to be one of the grandest and most impressive railway stations in the world. The atrium of the imposing Central Hall rises to a height of almost ten stories, and is considered a primary example of beaux-arts architecture. Unfortunately, the Central Hall has become a tourist attraction throughout the years, with station activity mostly taking place in its three Metro-level underground concourses (one intercity, one for Strakiterma through-services, and one for terminating southern Strakiterma including airport services) that connect to the Blue Line of the Pretoria Metro.

Both CNR intercity and Strakiterma concourses can be accessed from the Central Hall, from the Metro, or the street level.

Pretoria Station is within walking distance of the CBD and most major downtown hotels. If you’re not staying downtown, you can travel onward from the Pretoria Metro’s Blue Line into the CBD, old town, and inner suburbs, or taxis and rideshares.