Akasia is a series of suburbs in the north of Pretoria, South Africa. The area is a combination of light industry and residential with all required amenities. Akasia represents most sectors of the community, from blue collar to young entrepreneur and a large slice includes African migrants seeking their fortune in this colourful part of Pretoria.
Many of the residents work in the Rosslyn industrial area where large corporates such as Nissan and the BMW plant are based. Main highways leading in all directions split Akasia which is bordered by the De Onderstepoort Private Nature Reserve to the east. Akasia is a 10 minute drive to Pretoria city centre.
Akasia is named after the Acacia tree (Akasia in Afrikaans), the umbrella-shaped thorn tree so common in the area.
The climate in these parts is classified as subtropical dry forest biome and annual temperatures average 17° Celsius, perfect weather for a stayover and to explore South Africa’s administration capital.
Top 6 reasons to visit Akasia
1. Visit the Wonderboom Nature Reserve to see the 1000-year old Wonderboom (wonder tree), a wild fig with an almost 6m diameter trunk. This single gigantic tree has dropped 13 trunks spread over a 55m distance, an ideal shaded picnic site.
2. With over 300 stores, a game arcade, food court and movie complex, the Wonder Park Shopping Centre in Akasia is an entertaining experience for the family.
3. Uber into Pretoria, a short 10 minute drive, to be dropped off in Church Square with its foreboding buildings and pretty park at its core. The Info Centre on the square provides brochures on the area’s history. While there, walk the 4 blocks to the 84ha National Zoological Gardens of South Africa that houses over 5000 animals, including exotic species such as Komodo dragons and koala bears.
4. The 18-hole parkland course at Akasia Country Club is considered a testing course. An alternate course is Hillside Golf Course in Pretoria North.
5. The Pretoria Skydiving Club based at the Wonderboom Airport offers tandem skydiving. Head up to 11000 feet for an exhilarating jump and a professional landing on the lush, grassed drop zone. The flight itself provides wonderful vistas.
6. Akasia has a number of chic and innovative restaurants, ask your host to recommend a good dining spot.
Transport
The nearest airport is OR Tambo International Airport, 75km from Akasia and chartered flights to the Wonderboom Airport are a mere 23km away. Car rental agencies are located at the OR Tambo airport and throughout Pretoria city or book a vehicle online. Metered taxi companies are based in and around Akasia. If you have the Uber app, order a ride via your mobile phone.
Did you know?
The Acacia tree is also known as the umbrella thorn for its dome shaped canopy that grows several metres above ground. The tree has large white thorns meant to discourage browsing but the giraffe eats them too! Elephants enjoy the dried pods and use the trunk as a scratching post.
The Wonderboom (wonder tree) may have stretched a lot further than 55m had it not been for treasure hunters seeking the Kruger millions. Holes were dug in and around the tree and many roots broken. The tree is now a protected national monument.
In 1900 and during the South African War, a shipment of gold bullion disappeared somewhere between Pretoria and Machadadorp. The missing gold is referred to as the Kruger millions and has never been located.
