The City of Tshwane is a large, sprawling metropolis – its 6 368km² spread makes it the third-largest city in the world after New York and Tokyo. Despite its size, Tshwane has a warm and welcoming presence.

With a population of more than 2.5-million, the City of Tshwane is made up multiple cities as well as large tracts of rural areas; from the CBDs of Pretoria, Centurion and Akasia to the townships of Soshanguve, Mamelodi, Mabopane, Atteridgeville, Ga-Rankuwa; from the outlying districts of Winterveld, Hammanskraal, Temba and Pienaarsrivier to the rural areas of the Crocodile River, Cullinan and Bronkhorstspruit.

The City is the birthplace of South African democracy, with all presidents being inaugurated at the historic Union Buildings.

Tshwane is also home to 134 foreign embassies and missions, the largest concentration in the world outside of Washington, DC.

The City of Tshwane has proven to be a leader in academic excellence and scientific research and development. Some 90% of all research and development in South Africa is conducted here by institutions such as Armscor, the Medical Research Council, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the Human Sciences Research Council and educational institutions such as the University of South Africa and Tshwane University of Technology.

Tshwane is recognised in the fields of manufacturing, technology, electronics and defence design and construction. The presence of motoring giants Nissan, BMW, Ford and Tata in the nearby industrial areas has led to Tshwane becoming known as the motor capital of South Africa.

It is also renowned for its natural heritage, being the only city in the world with a big-five game reserve within city boundaries - the 90 000-hectare Dinokeng Big Five Game Reserve. It is also home to the first game sanctuary in Africa, the 500-hectare Groenkloof Nature Reserve, which was proclaimed in 1895.

In Soshanguve, 40 kilometres to the north of the Tshwane city centre, lies one of South Africa’s most remarkable geological features: the Tswaing Crater, a 220 000-year-old meteor impact site. The Tswaing Meteorite Crater Museum is the only ecotourism destination of its kind in Africa.