Are you head over heels, but always on the lookout for ways to deepen your love even more? Or is your day-to-day life incredibly busy, leaving you desperate to find some time to reconnect with your partner?
Whatever your reasons, having regular dates is good for de-stressing, improving communication and strengthening relationships. Creating memories together through experiences has been proven to keep the romance alive long-term.
Fortunately, for us, Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday this year, which means you have a chance to impress your loved one with a romantic weekend getaway without having to worry about booking a couple of days off from work.
South Africa has no shortage of ideal spots for all kinds of special occasions, be it a birthday, anniversary, Valentine’s Day, or even just a surprise trip just for the fun of it. Below are a few suggestions which will sweep your partner off his/her feet.
Glamping in Pat Busch Reserve (Robertson)
If your partner loves getting out in nature, but the idea of spending a few nights in a sleeping bag is putting them off, you could try glamping, a luxurious way of getting into the great outdoors while keeping the comforts of home. AfriCamps Boutique Glamping at Pat Busch Mountain Reserve in Robertson is the ideal place to spend a weekend with your partner.
Each glamping tent is tucked away in the Cape fynbos which is filled with various animals such as buck, fallow deer, Nguni cows and even a very shy leopard.The Reserve is also home to a rare Protea Flower that was thought to be extinct for almost 50 years but has reappeared at the Reserve. Each tent comes with a private outdoor wood-fired hot tub and an aircon and fireplace to make you feel right at home.
Olifantsbos Cottage (Cape Point)
Olifantsbos offers the unique opportunity to stay in the Cape Point Nature Reserve. Here you and your partner will be able to get the full natural experience, starting off by seeing one of the most beautiful sunrises over False Bay. It doesn’t get more romantic than that, right? Each cottage offers a fully-kitted, gas-fuelled kitchen and cozy bedrooms and a patio with a boardwalk all the way to the coastline, allowing you to have long romantic walks on the beach.
Not everyone knows about these cottages so, you could use this opportunity to have the Reserve to yourself after all the day guests have gone home. Just be sure to bring along your South African ID so you could qualify for a discount into the Cape Point Reserve.
Thonga Beach Lodge (KwaZulu-Natal)
If candlelit dinners, long romantic walks along the beach and relaxing spa treatments sounds like your type of Valentine’s Day, head on over to the Thonga Beach Lodge in Mabibi, KwaZulu- Natal. Set above a private, sandy beach and nestled into a stunning coastal dune forest, each suite offers gorgeous ocean and forest views, as well as complete privacy for you and your partner. This beach lodge also has an expansive wooden deck, where couples can enjoy scrumptious meals, or they could dine on the beach deck and take in the refreshing ocean air of the Indian Ocean.
Kwafubesi Tented Safari Camp, Mabula (Limpopo)
Tucked away deep in the Mabula Private Reserve in Limpopo, you’ll find a wonderful location suitable for a peaceful getaway perfect for a Valentine’s Day getaway. The Kwafubesi Tented Safari Camp is perfect for couples who would like to escape the busy CBD for a while. Each luxurious tent has a private deck overlooking the grassy plains where guests have the opportunity to watch herds of animals graze while enjoying a nice warm cup of hot chocolate. Each tent also has an en-suite bathroom and electricity to ensure that guests are always comfortable.