Gauteng / Gauteng Visitorials / Visitorials: We Love South Africa

I Love Colbyn Because …

Updated Saturday, 22 December 2018

Hi, I’m Lola Patrick from Colbyn in Pretoria.

COLBYN IS BEST KNOWN FOR being the quietest, safest, most well-treed old Eastern suburb of Pretoria, minutes from the main routes.

Colbyn

GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN AT the Union Buildings around the corner from us, a Sir Herbert Baker masterpiece.

THE BEST city PICTURES CAN BE TAKEN AT the Union Buildings overlooking the city basin – especially in spring when the Jacarandas are in full bloom.

OTHER HAPPY SNAPS AT the Voortrekker Monument or the new Freedom Park would be quite memorable.

WHEN THE WEATHER’S GOOD, I LIKE TO hike the Moreletta Spruit and sit on top of the Lynnwood Ridge looking over the suburbs cracking a chilled bottle of sparkles.

WHEN THE WEATHER’S BAD, I LIKE TO stay home at Moindis curling up with a book in front of the crackling fire with a Moroccan tagine or cinnamon pancake.

I THINK THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT IS all year long, BECAUSE Pretoria has the most temperate climate in the country.  Winters are fairly mild here.

Colbyn

MY FAVOURITE BREAKFAST SPOT IS Pure. They are a brisk, short walk from us but it would be difficult to beat our own scrumptious spread.

FOR LUNCH, I SUGGEST stunning Indian curries at Namaskar, my favourite restaurant within walking distance. Try their Lamb Vindaloo; any curries in fact – the best authentic curries in town. Their naan bread is to die for.

BEST LATE NIGHT SNACK FROM Mefhil in Hatfield – or we’ll whisk something up for you.

MY FAVOURITE hiking SPOT IS here in the Colbyn Wetland.

FOR A NIGHT OUT ON THE TOWN TRY Kream at Brooklyn Bridge.

Colbyn

IF YOU WANT TO MEET LOCALS, GO TO Hatfield Square.

Colbyn’s BEST KEPT SECRET IS the ancient peat field and protected wetland.

MY FAVOURITE THING TO DO WITH FRIENDS IS watching a show at Brooklyn Theatre at Lynnwood Bridge which is very close by. The classical music concerts at Musaion at the University of Pretoria are fantastic or a picnic basket and wine at The Barnyard in Menlyn … either are great.

TO RELAX AND RESTORE MY SOUL, I LIKE TO get a body massage at Sweet Face Thai Massage.

IF YOU’RE FEELING ADVENTUROUS, TRY walking with elephants at the Elephant Sanctuary at Hartebeespoort Dam.

Schoemansville

MY FAVOURITE DRIVE IS going to Cullinan to walk around the quaint shops and perhaps watch a show at Jan Harmsgat’s Agterplaas.

MY FAVOURITE ‘shopping centre’ IS Duncan Yard with yummy finger food at Deli on Duncan.  There are super meals and great ambiance at Papas restaurant. I also love the funky clothes, antique furniture, deco stores and gifting in arty surrounds with the odd cockerel pecking around a tractor sculpture!

MY FAVOURITE bird WATCHING SPOT IS the Austin Roberts Bird Park adjacent to the Blue Crane Restaurant.

MY FAVOURITE MUSEUM IS … well I have quite a few actually! the Pretoria Art Museum, the Transvaal Museum and the African Window Museum while the Tina Skukan is our favourite art gallery. CHECK OUT THE interesting finds at Eau-la-la arts and trends cafe.

MY FAVOURITE BUILDING IS the boat on the UP campus.

Colbyn

TRAVELLING WITH CHILDREN? A FUN OUTING IS is doing canopy tours in the Hartebeespoort area or taking a micro-light flight over the Cullinan Diamond Mine where the largest diamond ever had been found. This “gat” is larger than the Kimberley hole!.

BEST CHEAP AND CHEERFUL OUTING IS grabbing a bobotie vetkoek and munching it all the way up the steps to the top of Voortrekker Monument or jiving to 50’s music at Bellbottoms browsing for old records and antiques.

WHEN MONEY’S NO OBJECT, I’D LIKE TO buy a diamond and tanzanite beauty at Jenna Clifford’s at Menlyn Centre.

Menlo Park

THE MOST UNUSUAL THING I SEE HERE IS peace and quiet on the city doorstep and tropical lime-green and turquoise parrots that frequent our garden!

MY FAVOURITE WEEKEND GETAWAY IS a a spa treat at ZAU in Cullinan, surrounded by funky bottle top and wire sculptures.

WHEN I WANT TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, I treat an HIV/Aids orphan from ABBA house in Colbyn to home-made ice-cream from Royal Danish down the road.

I Love Colbyn BECAUSE living here is like being on holiday.

Useful Colbyn Links

Desirable Digits

Pure – +27 (0)12 342-1443
Namaskar – +27 (0)12 342-9081
Mefihl – +27 (0) 362-8080
Kream – +27 (0)12 346-4642
Sweet Face Thai Massage – +27 (0)12 362 2630
Deli on Duncan – +27 (0)12 362-4054
Papa’s – +27 (0)12 362-2224

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