Pretoria

Geographically not far from Johannesburg and Soweto but a trillion light years away culturally is Pretoria. This administrative capital of the country, viewed by some as too boring and by others as too Boer-ing, is a comparatively sleepy and refined place.

This is where the foreign embassies are based and civil servants of all types abound.

In the past Pretoria was steadfastly a Boer city and resolutely in favour of apartheid; a visit to the nearby Voortrekker monument may help explain the rationale (however loopy it may seem) that lay behind apartheid.

A visit here should also include the Union Buildings where Mandela was sworn in as President and the cities green spaces are worth a leisurely stroll. Paul Krugers modest house, a monument to this most unique of men, is also worth a look.

Africa's best zoo is situated at the National Zoological Gardens and there are several fine museums including the national Cultural History Museum and the Transvaal Museum of natural History.