Potchefstroom

Discover Potchefstroom through its distinctive landscapes and tangible history: the city is home to the longest oak avenue in southern Africa, a botanical garden with more than 1,500 plant species, and several historic houses. The 72-hectare OPM Prozesky Bird Sanctuary is also one of the city’s special natural sites. When choosing your accommodation, consider which aspects of Potchefstroom are of particular interest to you during your trip.

Oak avenue, nature reserve and botanical garden

The oak avenue gives Potchefstroom a distinctive landscape feature. The OPM Prozesky Bird Sanctuary offers a second perspective on the city’s natural environment: its 72-hectare area makes it a clearly defined nature reserve. Those interested in birds and landscapes will find a different focus here than in the botanical garden.

The NWU Botanical Garden is open to the public and includes more than 1,500 plant species. Its areas include the Swamp Garden, the Vlei Garden and the Formal Indigenous Garden, as well as the Invader Display, Evolution Garden and Succulent Rockery. Their different names reflect the garden’s thematic layout. Check the university’s latest visitor information before your visit; the stated number of species may also change over time.

Exhibitions and historic houses

Art lovers will find a large exhibition space for temporary exhibitions at the NWU Gallery in Potchefstroom. This is distinct from the NWU Botanical Garden Gallery, which opened in 2008 and is open during the summer season and for smaller projects throughout the year. If you plan to visit this gallery, check the current programme in advance.

Totius House was built in 1905 for Prof. Jan Lion Cachet; the Du Toit family lived there until 1924. The house was declared a National Monument, and the Totius House Museum opened in 1977. Its collection includes a harmonium that Totius used when rhyming the Psalms in Afrikaans. The dining-room set also has a specific story behind it: Totius brought it from Holland in 1903 after his studies.

Another house is the President Pretorius Museum. Marthinus Wessel Pretorius built the house himself, with the help of an assistant. Another milestone in his life dates to 1858, when he received the Rietfontein farm as payment for his work as president. These details offer different points of connection when visiting the historic houses, without conflating their stories.

The Goetz-Fleischack House was built around 1861. It is the only surviving example of an early town house that faced New Market Square. This orientation makes the house a distinctive testament to Potchefstroom’s early history.

A practical planning note: the NWU Museum on the Potchefstroom Campus is currently being renovated and, according to the university, remains closed until further notice. As its operating status may change, check before you travel.

Discover more destinations: Wolmaransstad, Stilfontein, Orkney, Klerksdorp.

Return to the main travel overview: Dr Kenneth Kaunda.