Jacaranda Season in Pretoria: Best Spots to See the Purple Blooms

Simba September 7, 2026Tours

Every October and November, Pretoria trades its usual green for purple. Tens of thousands of jacaranda trees burst into bloom across the city, turning entire streets into tunnels of lilac blossom — one of South Africa’s most photographed seasonal sights, and one of the easiest reasons to justify a day trip to the capital.

When Does Jacaranda Season Happen

Pretoria’s jacarandas typically start flowering in mid-to-late October and hold their bloom through most of November, though exact timing shifts a little each year depending on rainfall and temperature. Late October into early-to-mid November is generally the sweet spot for the fullest canopy of purple.

Best Spots to See the Jacarandas

• Herbert Baker Street & Jacaranda Street — two of the most iconic purple-canopied streets in the city, both lined almost entirely with mature jacarandas.
• Union Buildings — the gardens and surrounding streets frame Pretoria’s most famous landmark with blooming trees, a favourite for photos.
• Burnett Street, Hatfield — close to the University of Pretoria, with a strong concentration of trees along the street and surrounding suburb.
• Proes and Struben Streets, CBD — a good option if you’re combining sightseeing with time in the city centre.

Getting Around for a Jacaranda Tour

The best jacaranda spots are spread across several suburbs, not one single location — which makes a self-driven route or a metered taxi from spot to spot a bit of a hassle to coordinate on the day. A private shuttle booked for a few hours lets you move between streets at your own pace, stop for photos wherever the light is best, and skip the parking search in areas like Hatfield and the CBD where street parking gets tight.

Flying in for Jacaranda Season?

If you’re travelling in from out of town specifically to see the blooms, A2B Shuttle runs fixed-price transfers on both the Pretoria to OR Tambo and OR Tambo to Pretoria routes, with flight tracking and meet-and-greet included — so your trip to see the jacarandas starts as smoothly as it ends.

Book Your Pretoria Shuttle

Whether it’s an airport transfer into Pretoria or a few hours of point-to-point transport around the city’s best jacaranda spots, A2B Shuttle can get you there in comfort.

Ready to book? Book Now  |  WhatsApp Us  |  Call 081 465 0446