The Photos Outlast the Night
Your outfit gets worn once. The car goes back to the hire company. By the next morning, the night is a blur. But your photos will hang in the passage at home for the next twenty years.
So where you take them matters more than it seems. Between your outfit, your date, the transport and the budget, the photo venue is usually the last thing anyone sorts out. Don’t let that be you.
When I asked around Pretoria, the same three names kept coming up: Kleinkaap, the Voortrekker Monument and Jan Smuts House. They’re good choices, but they’re far from the only ones. So I went looking, and found 26.
If you’re the one choosing where your farewell photos happen, this list is for you. Share it with your date, your friends, or whoever is paying.
Below you’ll find what to think about before you book, then the venues grouped by feel: landmarks and museums, farms and gardens, and coffee shops and venues with indoor options.
What to Think About Before You Book
The look you’re after
Formal or relaxed? A black-tie farewell suits grand architecture and manicured gardens. A more casual crowd will feel at home on a farm or in a coffee shop. Choose a venue that matches the night.
Light and mood. Bright and airy, dramatic shadows, or soft and romantic? Natural light changes through the afternoon, so ask the venue, or your photographer, when their spaces look best.
Getting there and getting permission
Access and parking. Heels and long gowns don’t mix well with gravel paths and long walks. Check how close you can park to where the photos happen.
Permission and fees. Most venues charge for photography, especially gardens and heritage sites. Book ahead rather than turning up on the day.
Time. Allow 1 to 2 hours for the shoot, and check the venue gives you that much.
The car. If your farewell car is part of the photos, confirm it can get in and whether extra waiting time costs more. Still looking for one? See 6 Matric Farewell Vehicle Rentals in Pretoria.
Your group
How many of you? Just you and your date, or a group of friends? Make sure there’s room. The farewell venue itself usually handles the big group photos.
Somewhere to change. At outdoor venues especially, ask if there’s a room to change or freshen up.
Plan B and budget
Bad weather. Spring storms happen. Ask whether there’s a covered or indoor space you can use.
Budget. Where venues publish photo-shoot rates, they run from R350 per shoot (Smuts House) to R950 an hour (House of Fleur). Extras like a horse or carriage cost more, and many venues don’t publish rates, so contact them for exact prices. Each venue name below links to its website.
Landmarks, Museums and Statement Venues
A 22-hectare equestrian farm in Mooiplaats, Pretoria East. Hire the location on its own (from R400 an hour), add a groomed horse with a handler (from R800 an hour), or book a horse and carriage. Restrooms and changing facilities are included.
Best for: horse lovers and something different.
Facebook, Location
A formal gown in front of a fighter jet is hard to beat for contrast. The South African Air Force Museum is at Air Force Base Swartkop, and it encourages visitors to take photos.
It isn’t set up for booked shoots, so call ahead to check what’s allowed on your date.
Best for: bold, statement shots.
Facebook, Location
3. Rovos Rail
Farms, Gardens and Country Venues
Greenery, golden light and space to move around.
10. Irene Dairy Farm
11. Jan Smuts House
General Smuts’s home, set in wooded grounds with an arboretum. The museum lists matric farewells among its photo shoots: R350 per shoot during opening hours, plus R150 after hours. It’s closed on Mondays. The Oubaas Trail: The Short Hike at Smuts House Museum That Clears Your Head
Best for: classic, timeless photos with history behind them.
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13. Avenue on Iris
14. Rosemary Hill
17. Lavender SA
18. Buyuk Chamlija
A 76-hectare garden in Brummeria, split by a quartzite ridge, with lawns, water features and walkways under big trees. Adult entry is R100 from September to March, payment is cashless, and photo shoots must be pre-booked by email with the garden.
Best for: natural settings and bigger groups.
Facebook, Location
Coffee Shops and Venues with Indoor Options
Good when the weather is unsure, or when you want something more modern.
21. Sorcery Coffee
A specialty coffee roaster with two Pretoria cafés: Hillcrest, and Sorcery Ruins in Wapadrand. The Ruins café charges R700 an hour for photo shoots.
Best for: casual, modern photos.
Facebook, Hillcrest Location, Wapadrand Location
23. Hello Timber
24. Lace on Timber
25. Campagne Living
Or Skip the Venue Altogether
A friend’s or family member’s property with a great garden, an old tree or a striking wall can work just as well, and costs nothing. You lose a bit of the sense of occasion, but you gain time and money for the night itself.
Here’s my take after putting this list together: don’t overthink it. Pick a venue that suits your style, book early, leave enough time, and enjoy it. The best farewell photos are the ones where you’re actually having fun.
Frequently Asked Questions – Matric Farewell Photo Venues in Pretoria
How much do matric farewell photo venues in Pretoria cost?
Less than you might think. Of the venues that publish their rates, the cheapest I found was the Smuts House Museum at R350 a shoot. Campagne Living charges R700 per couple, Sorcery Ruins R700 an hour, and House of Fleur R950 an hour. Add a horse or a carriage and the price goes up. Plenty of venues don’t publish rates at all, so pick up the phone before you fall in love with a spot.
Do I need to book in advance?
Yes. Don’t just rock up in your outfit. Irene Farm needs a permit arranged beforehand, the Botanical Garden wants shoots pre-booked by email, and Campagne Living wants proof of payment at least 24 hours before. Many of these are wedding venues, and a wedding on the day comes first. Book as soon as you know your farewell date.
What are the best photo venues in Pretoria if it rains?
Spring storms in Pretoria are no joke, so have a Plan B. Kleinkaap in Centurion has indoor venues as well as its gardens, and Campagne Living has a hothouse. The Ditsong Museum of Natural History gives you grand old architecture under a roof, and Sorcery Ruins in Wapadrand takes bookings for coffee-shop shoots. Whichever you choose, ask about the indoor option when you book, not on the day.
Can parents and friends join the shoot?
Usually, but it can cost extra. Campagne Living’s matric rate covers up to four couples, with R200 for each extra couple. At public spots like the Botanical Garden or Freedom Park, everyone tagging along pays the normal entry fee. Tell the venue your head count when you book so there are no surprises at the gate.
Can I bring a vintage or luxury car for the photos?
Ask first, every time. Some venues will even supply the car. Terrouges Équestre has classic cars and a horse and carriage, and Campagne Living will put a 1955 MG Magnette in your shot for R300. If you’re bringing your own ride, check that the venue lets cars onto the grounds and where you can park for photos. Still looking for one? See my guide to 6 Matric Farewell Vehicle Rentals in Pretoria.
