If you are looking for a German club in Pretoria, somewhere German is spoken and an evening is about more than small talk, you are in the right place. Castra Praetoria is one of only three Schlaraffia chapters in southern Africa. We welcome German-speaking men and their guests from Pretoria, Ashlea Gardens, Tshwane, Centurion, Midrand, Johannesburg and greater Gauteng.
Not just another German club
South Africa has many German-speaking clubs: shooting clubs, choirs, school associations, regulars’ tables. Castra Praetoria is none of these. At the centre of our evenings is a game, a light-hearted play in medieval dress in which profession, titles and everyday life stay outside, and humour, art and friendship set the tone.
It sounds unusual at first and usually makes perfect sense after one evening. Three minutes are enough for a contribution: a poem, a song, an anecdote. Anyone who would rather just listen is just as welcome.
More than four decades in Pretoria
Castra Praetoria was founded in 1980, with the Castellum Auri Africae (355) in Johannesburg as its mother chapter; a little later the Grosse Gold Grube (394) followed as a sister chapter. Our running count of meetings is now past 1,050: more than four decades of uninterrupted play in a country that has seen more change in that time than most.
Our members come from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and South Africa, joined by expatriates who stay for a few years and visiting Schlaraffen from all over the world. The evenings are held in German, the common language of all Schlaraffen; this website is also available in Afrikaans and English, so that neighbours and friends can see what we are about.
Where we meet: Ashlea Gardens
Our Burg, as the meeting place is called, is at 12 Umgazi Road in Ashlea Gardens in the south of Pretoria, a few minutes from Menlo Park. Parking is available. We meet twice a month on Tuesdays at 7 pm; the current dates are on our events page.
New in Pretoria? Many of our members once arrived in the country without knowing anyone. A guest evening is the easiest way to find company that goes beyond small talk.
Friendship when life gets quieter
Retirement, the loss of a spouse or of old friends, or years of caregiving can leave a silence that is hard to fill. Schlaraffia is not therapy and not a support group, it is simply good company: an evening of art, humour and warmth among men who are glad you came and notice when you are missing. A guest visit is the gentlest first step.
🦉 Who it is for. Men who value humour, culture and genuine friendship – with German roots or simply a love of German language and culture, whatever their age or profession. A guest visit is free and without obligation.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a German club in Pretoria?
Yes. Schlaraffia Castra Praetoria (392) is a German-language cultural and friendship society for men in Pretoria, founded in 1980 and one of three Schlaraffia chapters in southern Africa.
Where and when do you meet?
Our Burg is at 12 Umgazi Road, Ashlea Gardens, Pretoria. We meet twice a month on Tuesdays at 7 pm; the current dates are on our events page.
Do I have to speak German?
Our evenings are held in German, but guests are welcome whatever their background, and friends who do not speak German can read about us in English and Afrikaans.
Is it a club like the German choirs or shooting clubs?
No. Schlaraffia is a cultural society with a game of its own, devoted to humour, art and friendship. It is something different from the other German-speaking clubs in Gauteng.
How can I visit?
A guest visit is free and without obligation. Just get in touch and we will invite you to one of our evenings.
More about the idea behind it
Read more about friendship, art and German-speaking custom on our network site schlaraffiafriends.com (opens in a new tab).
Come and get to know us
A guest visit is free and without obligation – the best way to sense whether this German club and friendship society fits you.
