While the Pretoria suburb of Colbyn may not be well-known amongst those outside of Gauteng, it happens to be one of the capital city’s oldest suburbs. Colbyn features large, grand homes and well-manicured gardens exuding an ambience of tranquillity and peace. But this isn’t the only reason Colbyn is so special; besides being a mere 10 minutes from the inner sections of the Pretoria CBD, this history-laden suburb is virtually alongside the Union Buildings – home to South Africa’s parliament. Colbyn truly does have a magnificent geographical location; while it is peaceful and largely away from any noise pollution, it does give residents easy access to a wide variety of shops, restaurants, cafes, boutiques, and entertainment facilities. The Hatfield shopping centre is in close proximity to Colbyn where shopping addicts can have a large dose of their favourite fix, while the Loftus Versfeld Stadium is just 5km out of the CBD where you can enjoy the popular sports of rugby and soccer; furthermore, Loftus is one of the venues for the 2010 Soccer World Cup. The Pretoria Zoo is also a must-visit during your time in Colbyn as it is largely regarded to be one of the finest facilities in the world. The zoo is situated on 80 hectares of luscious green landscape, and despite being located in close proximity to the city centre, it is home to nearly 100 different mammals and a staggering 161 types of bird species. Of course, it would be totally remiss of you to be in Colbyn and not take a tour of the Union Buildings. With is stunning sandstone architecture and pristine idyllic gardens, the Union Buildings is today a symbol of hope and reconciliation for millions of South Africans.