Eastwood, Pretoria

Eastwood is one of the older more established suburbs of Pretoria, lying in the more sought after eastern parts, just outside the centre of the Jacaranda city. Staying here places you in an ideal spot from which to explore parts of the city, the outlying areas, and still have access to restaurants, shopping malls and the nightlife of suburbs like Hatfield, Brooklyn and Lynnwood.

Eastwood's proximity to the Union Buildings means that its homes are, for the greater part, large, set on equally vast properties, with tailored lawns and immaculate gardens. The Presidential Golf Course lies on the other side of the suburb from the Union Buildings, whilst Venning Park Pretoria Rosarium, with its pretty rose garden and equally pretty tea garden, called the Rose Cafe, are just a couple of blocks away from the suburb. Previously known as Eastwood Square, the three hectare garden is more commonly known simply as the Rose Park due to its 3 000 rose bushes.

A number of high commissions and embassies make this part of Pretoria their home, whilst Loftus sport grounds, a soon-to-be Gautrain station, the Pretoria Eye Institute, and the Claude Malan Museum are all within walking distance. The Pretoria Art Gallery is virtually around the corner, in Arcadia Park - ignore the unyieldy architecture of the building as some of the collections are well worth viewing.

Head into the city centre to visit the zoo, and Church square, or out to Silverton to the Pioneer Open Air Museum, which covers some three hectares of the Moreleta Spruit. It's a particularly fine example of a Voortrekker farmstead with a carefully restored horse mill, threshing floor and farm implements that gives one a bird's eye view into the those times.