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10 Loved-Up Locations to Visit on Valentine's Day in South Africa

Ah, Valentine’s Day.

That time of year where public areas transform into a sea of pink and red hues, roses and heart-shaped boxes overtake grocery stores, and everyone is scrambling to find dates or fill their Newsfeeds with virtual PDA.

Sooo with the big V Day coming up in just over four weeks, and it still being Januworry, the odds are (unless you’re a superhuman type A), you haven’t even thought about where you want to go with your hun bun.

Don’t worry. I am here to help!

I’ve done my romance homework. I’ve prepared mentally by watching Noah Centino movies and physically by eating two slabs of chocolate.

Get ready to swoon!

Here are some of the most loved-up destinations to visit on Valentine’s Day in South Africa!

Table of Contents

Cape Town: The Crowd Pleaser
Plettenberg Bay: The Luxe Nature Lover’s Getaway
Knysna: The Perfect Place to Propose
Blyde River: The Scenic Road Trip
Kruger National Park: The Romantic Bush Escape
Cape Winelands: The Day Drunk Getaway
Cederberg: The Digital Detox
Drakensberg: The Hiking Escape
Tulbagh: The Geodome Experience
Umzumbe: The Stay-in-a-Freaking-Glass-Treehouse

Cape Town: The Crowd Pleaser

camps bay — Splurge on a luxury villa in Camps Bay

You can’t go wrong with Valentine’s Day in the Mother City.

She’s got your back no matter what your date likes.

• Woo your boo with champagne sunsets on top of Table Mountain
• Splurge on a private villa in Camps Bay or stay at the exclusive Tintswalo Atlantic
• Go on a romantic cruise around Table Bay
• Kayak past dolphins, sunfish, and whales before dining at one of the top restaurants in the city

If you’ve left your V Day planning to the last minute and have started stress-eating, Cape Town is a quick and easy win.

Robberg nature reserve — Wake up to your beau and these gorgeous views in Robberg Nature Reserve!

Plettenberg Bay: The Luxe Nature Lover’s Getaway

Does your beau (or you) love nature with some pampering?

Drive down to the exquisite Garden Route and visit one of my favourite towns in South Africa, Plettenberg Bay.

Stay at Emily Moon River Lodge and max out your credit card on luxury accommodation, delicious food, and incredible views of the Bitou River.

Cool off in their TWO gorgeous swimming pools, get day drunk on G&Ts, and get your nature on with a romantic kayak trip at sunset.

If you want more privacy (or a more affordable option), book a night or three at the Fountain Shack. It’s a remote cottage nestled inside Robberg Nature Reserve with sweeping views of the Indian Ocean and the Robberg Peninsula.

Only reachable on foot, it’s the intimate Valenday’s Day in South Africa destination of your dreams!

teniqua treetops bathroom — A treehouse and a bubble bath? Tres romantique!

Knysna: The Perfect Place to Propose

I don’t know what it is about treehouses, but I find them incredibly romantic, and Knysna is home to one of the best in South Africa.

Teniqua Treetops is the ultimate romantic, eco-friendly getaway. Curl up next to the heater with your partner, sip on some hot chocolate, and soak up each other’s company.

Or squeeze into the bathtub, which overlooks the breathtaking gorge below, and go ham with the bubble bath.

You’ll have all the privacy you need to reconnect with one another, nowhere to hide when you accidentally fart, and all the ambiance for an unforgettable proposal.

Trust me.

My friend did it, and he got a yes.

couple at Blyde River Canyon — These views say it all!

Blyde River: The Scenic Road Trip

It is no easy feat to convince my boyfriend to get in front of the camera.

The fact that the beauty of Blyde River Canyon lured him out from behind the lens is testament enough to the romance of the Panorama Route.

While the weather is dicey here (you want to study that weather report before you book your accommodation or you’re going to spend Valentine’s Day in the clouds – literally), if the sun is out, hop into your car for a swoon-worthy road trip.

You can have picnics at the base of waterfalls, watch the sunset over some of South Africa’s most breathtaking landscapes, and stay in affordable or bougie-as-hell accommodation.

Kruger National Park: The Romantic Bush Escape

It doesn’t have to be your honeymoon to plan a ridiculously romantic trip to the Kruger. With its plethora of game lodges ranging from budget to ballin’, you can afford the safari Valentine’s Day of your dreams.

Couples on a budget can choose to stay in one of the self-catering chalets and go on a self-drive through the park or book a private tour.

But if you’re searching for the ultimate in luxury and privacy, Kruger National Park has a collection of lodges that ooze opulence and sensational views of the bush.

• Stay at the Lion Sands Ivory Lodge and Treehouses and sleep with the stars above you
• Spoil yourselves with outdoor champagne baths (Yes, this is a thing!)
• Dine on delicious cuisine
• Cool off at your private pool with elephants in the distance

boschendal wine farm — Photo by: Boschendal

Cape Winelands: The Day Drunk Getaway

Valentine’s Day in South Africa doesn’t need to be over-the-top. Keep things simple with a weekend trip to the Cape Winelands.

Hop on board the Franschhoek Wine Tram and get day drunk at the wine farms. Buy a few of your favourite vintages, go out to dinner, or order in Uber Eats and binge-watch Netflix.

Here are some of my favourite wine farms, which have amenities like restaurants, boutique accommodation, and spas.

Romantic Wine Farms in Franschhoek

Boschendal***
Babylonstoren
Tokara***

Romantic Wine Farms in Stellenbosch

Neethlingshof***
Lanzerac Wine Estate
Spier***

Romantic Wine Farms in Constantia

Beau Constantia***
Constantia Glen
Buitenverwachting

Romantic Wine Farms in Elgin

Lothian
Oneiric
Idiom***
Iona***

***Highly recommend

wolfberg arch in the cederberg, south africa

Cederberg: The Digital Detox

Are you and your boo ruled by WhatsApp notifications, email alerts, and cat videos on YouTube?

Force yourself into rehab with a romantic digital detox in the Cederberg.

Located 200 km from Cape Town, it’s one of the most beautiful parts of the Western Cape.

You can spend your weekend exploring the otherworldly landscape with one of the various hikes (try to get a permit for Wolfberg Arch!), camping underneath the stars, and walking past San rock paintings en route to Stadsaal Caves.

And if you both love space, pack your camera and tripod. The Cederberg is one of the best places to photograph the night sky!

Drakensberg: The Hiking Escape

Want to escape Johannesburg for Valentine’s Day? Drive down to the breathtaking Drakensberg Mountain Range.

Nestled amongst the towering peaks are boutique lodges, the highest waterfall in Africa, and a wonderful lack of Wi-Fi.

Is your partner hinting at a romantic getaway that involves their passport? Take them over the Lesotho border and straight to Afriski.

While there won’t be any snow, you can go hiking, mountain biking, or tackle 4×4 trails.

But if you want to impress your date with jaw-dropping views and a sunrise they’ll never forget, drive up to the top of Sani Pass by Sani Pass Backpackers.

You can walk on top of the escarpment at sunrise and watch dawn break over the valley below.

It’s mother fluffin’ magical.

Tulbagh: The Geodome Experience

La Bruyere Farm is the proud owner of the successful experimental stay in Tulbagh, the Geodome.

Nestled against the Witzenburg mountain range, it screams romance.

Wake up surrounded entirely by trees without another human being in sight. Float down the river and cool off from the heat of the day.

Cook up a storm in the fully equipped kitchen and watch the sunset over the valley from your private deck.

It’s what all romantic getaways aspire to be.

mantis and moon glass treehouse — Photo by: Mantis and Moon

Umzumbe: The Stay-in-a-Freaking-Glass-Treehouse

Fun fact: My first date with Greg was a week-long road trip down the East Coast of South Africa.

Our first stop? Umzumbe.

I had recently started my backpacking trip from the Drakensberg to Cape Town, and when I showed Greg a picture of Mantis and Moon’s glass treehouses, I convinced him to drive all the way from Johannesburg to the South Coast.

Talk about romantic energy!

Plus, it only costs R 750.00 to spend a night surrounded by the jungle as you fall asleep to the sound of the ocean in the distance.

It’s the ultimate Valentine’s Day getaway on a budget.

Where are you whisking your boo away to for Valentine’s Day? Got any romantic recs I should check out? Hit ya gurl up in the comments!

Psst…Want more South Africa travel inspiration for your romantic rendezvous this Valentine’s Day? Check out my other posts:

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10 Loved-Up Locations to Visit on Valentine’s Day in South Africa

Cape Town: The Crowd Pleaser

Plettenberg Bay: The Luxe Nature Lover’s Getaway

Knysna: The Perfect Place to Propose

Blyde River: The Scenic Road Trip

Kruger National Park: The Romantic Bush Escape