Alas, it’s already the 5^th of February and say what? You haven’t made any plans for Valentine’s Day as yet? Oh dear…don’t despair! If a romantic getaway is what you had in mind to spoil that special someone, I have some ideas that may be of help.  Don’t stress if you don’t have a passport, under our picturesque beautiful South African skies, you will find so many romantic destination options to choose from and in this post, I am going to share what I think is South Africa’s most romantic cities.

I know…I know…January may have been a bit of a struggle and here I am talking about a getaway. Well, let me let you in on a secret, this romantic getaway may be cheaper than you imagined…but before I get into that, allow me to share with you what I think are two of South Africa’s most romantic cities.

Johannesburg

From the beautiful city lights to world class architecture of modern buildings, Johannesburg has it all – okay, maybe not the beach, but there’s so much to see and do in this Metropolitan, you will be spoiled for choice.

The City of Gold has many hidden gems.  Many of these places are around an hour’s drive from the CBD itself. In no particular order, here’s some of my recommendations…I could possibly write an entire travel guide but this is a blog post…so I’ll just note a few…and if you decide to book a cheap flight to Johannesburg, here’s some romantic ideas to consider…

Kloofzicht Lodge

You will not be disappointed if you book a night’s stay here or two.  If you want to sweep someone of their feet, or simply remind someone of how much they mean to you, you can’t go wrong by making a reservation here.

We had the privilege of staying here more than once. It feels like it’s so far away from the city, but it isn’t.  Beautiful views, delicious food with perfect wine pairing in a romantic setting over candlelit dinner – they’ll even include petals if you arrange that beforehand. Did I mention mouth-watering cocktails that you’ll be tempted to post on Instagram? If a couples spa treatment tickles your fancy, I suggest you make a booking before hand to avoid disappointment. Read my full review here.

Just when that special someone thought the weekend away could not get any better…surprise them with a:

Hot Air Balloon Ride

Does this not shout out “Romantic” or what? Guess what, you don’t have to even leave Kloofzicht – all the arrangements can be made from there. We went on the Sunrise Hot Air Balloon ride and it was magical! The views are incredible – imagine being airborne with the one you love, locked in embrace, whispering sweet nothings to each other with that look of love in your eyes.

Here’s some photos from our experience:

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Forum Homini Hotel & Roots Restaurant

I won’t say much here as I’ve done a full review, which you can view here. What I do want to say, is that if you’re looking for a very “private” place – where you just want to be lost with your loved one and caved in all weekend away from the rest of the world, then this is the place for you. When you decide to come out – to eat – the Roots Restaurant offers a fine dining experience of note!

The above accommodation venues are in the vicinity of the Cradle Of Humankind, so there are loads of day time activities, if that’s what you would prefer doing – as well as a variety of Game Drives in the surrounding area.

Cape Town

The beautiful Mother City – I’ll never get enough of! I’d go there on any occasion.  One of my most memorable romantic stays, was when we spent a week at:

Cape Town Marriot Hotel Crystal Towers

Just be warned, if you’re in the very early stage of a relationship and not completely intimate or perhaps not comfortable being naked in front of anyone – the rooms are open plan. The hotel is modern, chic, luxurious and an absolute pleasure to stay at. The food is divine, whether you choose in-room dining or eat at the restaurant. The location is perfect, with so much to see and do.

Here’s some photos of our stay in case you need a little more convincing…

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ROMANTIC PICNIC

For something romantic to do during the day, a gourmet picnic in the Cape Winelands is a must. It’s almost like a scene in a movie, with the beautiful mountain as a backdrop, surrounded by the tranquility of nature, lying on a picnic blanket and some cushions, under a tree, uncorking some wine…with the one you love.  Just writing this, makes me want to go back…soon.

ROMANTIC DINNER WITH A DUCK PARADE

If you do decide to go out for dinner, a little outside of the CBD, you will find Vergenoegd Wine Estate. A dinner experience with fine wines, with their popular duck parade, makes it a memorable romantic experience.

ROMANTIC DRIVE TO THE BEACH

If you’re feeling adventurous and want to go further away from the CBD, about a 2 hours drive away, is the beautiful town called Arniston. I’d certainly recommend this and a drive to the Cape Agulhas as a romantic drive to the beach.  I personally feel that Arniston Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in South Africa…which I’ve been to. I also love the white sand dunes and the fact that it’s not so busy like many other tourist attractions in the Cape.

Here are some photos we took in Arniston:

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So, about that secret that I mentioned that I was going to let you in on…well, wherever you’re planning to spend this Valentine’s Day – believe it or not, it will be more affordable that you can imagine! If you’ve always wanted to go to the Cape, now’s the time, with these Cheap Flights to Cape Town.

TravelStart is having an incredibly BIG flight sale!

save big, TRAVEL BIGGER!

With  massive savings on domestic, regional and international flights on major airlines to big destinations you know and love, trust me, you will not want to miss out.

This sale starts on 5 February and will run until 9 February 2018

So sign up to the TravelStart Newsletter as new and bigger deals to sought after destinations  will be released daily and if you snooze, you lose.  Seriously, you will. If you’ve ever experienced a TravelStart sale – you will know that they get sold out fast (understatement).

Disclaimer: This post was done in collaboration with TravelStart, all views and opinions are my own.

What do you think is the most romantic city in South Africa and why?