Order A Date Factory Box!

We came across this company years ago and love what they have to offer couples who are looking for a unique at-home date night experience. Date Factory makes date night easy by planning, packing and shipping a complete date night in a discreet box, right to your doorstep. There's a wide selection of date night boxes to choose from, ranging from themed date nights and digital dates, to specialty boxes and something a little more sexy, if you get what we mean! To find out more about these date-in-a-box experiences, click here.

Movie Night

What's better than cuddling up on the couch to watch your favourite movies together? You don't need much to pull off this sweet date night idea besides a few warm blankets, comfy pillows and a hoard of snacks. If you've watched your must-see list of movies together a thousand times, turn the volume down and see if you can remember the dialogue from memory. Or, make it more of a challenge by rewriting the script together. Come up with the most ridiculous lines you can think of. The aim of the game is to make each other laugh, so get as silly as you can with it.

Stargazing

When last did you take the time to look up at the stars with your special someone? Lay out a cozy blanket in the garden and get snuggled up together for this ultimate free date night experience. If you happen to have a bottle or two of bubbly, bring it along to amp up the romance factor. Alternatively, try your hand at making a few refreshing mocktails. If you really want to impress your sweetheart, whip up a tasty picnic feast to enjoy together under the moonlight. Ooh la la!

Online Cooking Classes

There are a mass of online cooking classes happening at the moment. Sign up for one with your partner and get cooking! This is not only a great way to learn a new skill together, but there are bound to be a couple of laughable moments as you learn together. Don't be afraid to make a mess either. There is nothing quite as satisfying as smearing a dollop of brownie batter on your partner's nose when they aren't looking.

Romantic Dinner

Put your new cooking or baking skills to the test by organising a romantic candlelit dinner for two in your living or dining room. While you may not be able to surprise your significant other (because they're always around!), you can nevertheless make this date night one to remember. Throw on your best outfit and serenade them with their favourite songs or a playlist dedicated to your relationship. Get them up and dancing with you after dinner or just spend time talking.

Game Night

When you've been together for a long time, a certain rivalry may start to emerge between you. It's harmless fun, but it's the perfect way to keep entertained while keeping safe indoors. Pull out the board games and let the competition begin! Whether it's good old card games, Monopoly or online multiplayer games, this date night is likely to show you a whole other side of your partner. Artsy couples, get out your felt markers to play the doodle challenge. Basically, your partner draws something against your back and you have to guess what it is. Hint: if you've never said 'I love you' before, this is a super sweet way to do it.

Have fun, lovebirds! 

Tankwa Karoo National Park – Northern Cape

Light pollution tends to drown out the beauty of the night sky, which is why if you want to get one of the best stargazing opportunities possible, you need to make your way to Tankwa Karoo National Park. You'll be left feeling a little, er, star-struck after seeing the beauty of star constellations and the Milky Way stretching across the sky. What makes stargazing here ideal is the fact that the region is large, secluded and miles away from electricity. No city lights to ruin this amazing experience.

Eastern Cape Highlands – Eastern Cape

The Eastern Cape Highlands on the border of Lesotho is filled with plenty of remote valleys and mountain passes free of light pollution, which means one thing; clear skies and celestial delights as far as the eye can see. It's said that you can catch the Milky Way and the Southern Cross in their night skies. Not only will you experience the gorgeous views, but you can also enjoy some outdoor fun by the day. This is an ideal location for 4x4 lovers looking for a thrill. Tackle the 1:6 gradient of the third highest mountain pass in South Africa, Joubert’s Pass, or Naude’s Neck which is ranked the highest in the country.

Maropeng Visitor Centre – Gauteng

This location isn't particularly 'out there' like the above-mentioned destinations, but it does offer stargazing as one of its main attractions if you don't have the time to do a bit of a road trip. Sterkfontein is easily within driving distance from the city and they regularly host stargazing events where resident astronomer, Vincent Nettmann, takes you through a laser-guided sky tour. And for the part we've all been waiting for – you can view the stars through a range of big aperture telescopes.

The Wits Johannesburg Planetarium – Gauteng

Another given to the list of stargazing destinations, the Wits Johannesburg Planetarium in Braamfontein is a great option if you can't take a trip chasing the night sky across the country. This planetarium is the biggest in Africa and hosts interesting and educational shows with the use of large projectors that create visions and pictures of the galaxy for you to see. Not only will you get a truly unique glimpse into the universe, but you'll also get the opportunity to learn about the planets, various star constellations and the amazing celestial objects that have been discovered over the years.

Karoo National Park – Western Cape

It seems that any desert-like area with little to no electricity is your best bet to see the most amazing views of the night sky, which is why the Karoo National Park is a must on the list. This area is vast and has very little electricity around, making it an ideal stargazing spot. And if you're worried about wild predators lurking in the darkness while you're viewing the stars through your telescope, don't worry, the area is known to have few predators yet plenty of small animals and birds. You can either go solo and explore on your own or head out on a guided night tour.

Kruger National Park – Mpumalanga

We all love the Kruger National Park. When the everyday rush of city living gets a little too much, we all escape to the bush to reconnect with nature and unwind. Cue the Kruger with its wild animals, guided tours, safari drives and starry skies. Plenty of old San hunting legends and stories come from the stars and constellations, namely the Aldebaran star, the Orion's Belt asterism, the Pleiades open star cluster, the Betelgeuse star and the Milky Way. To get a glimpse into the San stories, grab your telescope and spend an evening searching for the right stars and constellations.

Tswalu Kalahari – Northern Cape

For the ultimate escape to the Savannah, book a getaway at Tswalu Kalahari, the Malori. The Malori is a sleep-out deck that offers guests a stay like no other – sleeping safely in the wilderness under a diamond sky. Other than the raised platform and the thatch overhang surrounding you, the rest of the deck is open, allowing you to witness the most beautiful African sunsets and night skies. All you have to do is pull your king-sized bed draped in Egyptian cotton out onto the deck, climb onto it and look up ... stargazing at its best.