Pretoria is generally a sunny town, with warm to hot temperatures usually expected. While a relatively small town, we are by no means quiet. There is always something happening here, leading to a very dynamic population. The university is situated in Hatfield, an area of Pretoria mainly populated by students, making it a very fun place to be.
The university of Pretoria medical school is located on the Prinshof Campus, in the same area as Tshwane District hospital and Steve Biko Academic hospital, both of which are home to our students and their training.
One meal per day will be provided for you. The money for the meal will be loaded on a temporary student card which will be issued to you upon arrival. The meal can then be bought at the cafeteria located on campus, within walking distance from the hospital.
Lodging will be provided in the form of a guest house either on campus, or within a 2km radius from campus. Bedding and washing facilities will be available at the guest house.
The only method of public transport from campus to surrounding areas are busses or taxis which run from selected locations and bus stops. The Gautrain is also available for longer distances and run from the Hatfield or Pretoria station.
Link for bus services: http://www.tshwane.gov.za/sites/Residents/TshwaneBusSerivces/Pages/Bus-Routes-Timetables.aspx
Gautrain link: http://www.gautrain.co.za/
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Union Buildings
South Africa’s Union Buildings, the official seat of the national government, house the offices of the president and are located in Tshwane. They are a South African national monument. Visit this landmark as the sun sets for a beautiful sight!
More information: http://www.gauteng.net/attractions/union_buildings |
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Voortrekker Monument
It is a unique Monument which commemorates the Pioneer history of Southern Africa and the history of the Afrikaner and is situated in a beautiful setting. Today it is the most visited heritage site of its kind in Gauteng and one of the top ten cultural historical visitor attractions in the country. The Monument also manages the Blood River Heritage Site.
More information: http://www.vtm.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/MonumentPanoramak.jpg |
A South African sim card can bought with very little effort, and will keep you reachable at all times.
There are also tons of banks and ATM’s located all around, which means you will not be stranded without cash. All major banks provide facilities for exchanging money. There also places to exchange money at the airport.
All recreational drugs are illegal in South Africa, and certain areas prohibit smoking, especially indoors. Alcohol is definitely not illegal, except next to the road, or while driving.
Electricity is provided in the accommodation and is not something you need to concern yourself with. We do occasionally experience load-shedding, but this rarely happens, and if it does, we will make sure you are equipped with a flash-light or other light source.
Hatfield and the surrounding area is mainly a student town, so the night life is definitely something to experience. The social program provided depends on the month of visit and can also include things like craft beer tasting, visits to the Voortrekker monument, a picnic at the Union Buildings, or hikes in the nature reserve.