You’ve got just less than a month to plan one of these romantic getaways for Valentine’s Day 2025.
So book the babysitter, put your pets in a kennel, and invest in the one who’s been by your side through thick and thin.
Why do we recommend you take your loved one on one of these romantic getaways for Valentine’s Day 2025?
Because the auspicious date falls on Friday 14 February 2025, so make a long weekend out of it …
Romantic getaways for valentine’s day 2025
We’ve rounded up a selection of quirky and romantic getaways for Valentine’s Day 2025 across various provinces. Plus, each has a unique feature that makes their celebration of love a little different. Here we go …
1. Tsala Treetop Lodge
When you were a child, we bet you dreamed of sleeping in the world’s best, most awesome treehouse. Well, a suite at Tsala Treetop Lodge in the Garden Route is that treehouse! Cantilevered on stilts, adjoined by elevated walkways, they are an architectural marvel. They’re also fitted with every modern luxury convenience imaginable. You can soak away the afternoon in your private infinity pool, lulled by soothing birdsong, as you and your partner enjoy the idyllic bliss only an enchanted forest can deliver.
2. Emoya Basotho hotel and game lodge
Romantic getaways for Valentine’s day 2025 don’t get more unlikely than Emoya. This game reserve on the outskirts of Bloemfontein boasts a range of pretty, Basotho-inspired en-suite accommodation. And thanks to the rolling veld and wide-open skies, you and your partner can enjoy the most unforgettable sunsets. For a bit of fun, visit the Emoya ‘shabeen’ or ‘shanty town’ in the safe environment of the game reserve. Glugg on a Zamalek as Nyala and Giraffe saunter by your stone veranda. This uniquely South African experience will be the perfect surprise Valentine’s getaway for that special one.
3. Naries Namakwa retreat
The barren plains of the North Western interior may seem atypical of romantic getaways for Valentine’s Day 2025. But that’s exactly the drawcard here – sweet, sweet isolation for you and your partner. You’re missing wild-flower season in February, and there’s absolutely nothing except the spectacularly desolate scenery of the Northern Cape to key you into quality time with your loved one. Definitely go for Naries’ mountain suites. They’re beautifully made entirely from thatch and provide the most inspiring views of the Namakwaland below.
4. De Hoek Country hotel
An easy hour’s drive from Jo’burg or Pretoria, once you alight at this lavish country estate, the Big Smoke feels like a million miles away. Best come hungry for the five-star dining – accompanied by signature silver-service – in chef Michael Holenstein’s award-winning restaurant. You can enjoy a tranquil walk along the riverbank, or a spot of early morning hot-air ballooning over the majestic Magaliesberg. Very little beats this level of peace and opulence in Gauteng, frankly.
5. Cape Columbine Lighthouse
Nothing says unusual like a sleepover in an authentic lighthouse. In case you were wondering, only four lighthouses offer overnight accommodation in South Africa. And Cape Columbine, situated within the Columbine Nature Reserve on the West Coast, is hands down the best for canoodling couples to curl up in front of a warm fire. The on-site cottages were once the homes of former lighthouse keepers who maintained the beam before automation took over. Locals still call it the brightest light on the Diamond Coast. Why not find out for yourself?
