Riviera, Pretoria

Once you've booked your Riviera accommodation explore our pages for info on attractions and what to do in Riviera.

The conveniently situated suburb of Riviera lies virtually behind the famous Union Buildings, to the north of Pretoria. The broad jacaranda-lined streets in Riviera and comfortable homes with their manicured gardens are little different from other suburbs in the city, but you’re centrally placed and getting around is easy, particularly as you’re only 10 minutes from the centre of the city.

The beautiful and familiar Union Buildings, designed by Herbert Baker, lie at the crest of a hill, their sprawling gardens spread below - a fitting descent from the seat of parliament into the city. The buildings themselves are some of the world’s most striking examples of sandstone architecture built in the English monumental style and are 285 metres in length. The statue of Nelson Mandela, which now stands in Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton, was originally intended to stand on the spot where Nelson Mandela gave his inaugural address to the nation. And the gardens invite a stroll, their terraces planted exclusively with indigenous plants; and there is a 9000 seat amphitheatre.

Just to the west of the Union Buildings and Riviera, the National Zoological Gardens, now a research facility, is definitely worth a visit. It is regarded as one of the leading zoos of the world, and the 80 hectares is the largest zoo in the country. It includes an aquarium and a reptile park as well as the third largest collection of exotic trees.