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valentine’s
By Megan Kinnaird
Preparing For
A
s a 20-something-year-old
dying to express to that special
someone just how much they
mean to you, planning Valentine’s Day
on a limited budget always seems like a
daunting task. We’re here to tell you that
it can be done, and quite easily in fact. All
you need is a bit of planning, a smidge of
cash, and an adventurous spirit.
Forget crowded restaurants where the
level of intimacy and personal touch is
zilch. This year, take advantage of the
glorious summer sunshine and spend
your Valentine’s Day outdoors. There’s
a reason romantic poets won’t stop
harping on about the beauty of nature.
Much like there is a reason Dante
Alighieri wrote “nature is the art of God”.
Taking that lucky someone out into
nature to declare, or reaffirm, your love
is the best way to do it. Valentine’s Day
picnics are personal, beautiful and, let’s
face it, cheaper than splashing out on a
fancy dinner.
The three spots we have chosen to
highlight are accessible, affordable and
well within an average budget.
12
Silvermine Nature Reserve
Cape Town
The Silvermine Nature Reserve, just a
20-minute drive out of the city, forms part
of the Table Mountain National Park. It
costs only R30 to get in, and the reserve
boasts beautiful picnic spots surrounding
the massive reservoir, extensive birdlife for
those nature-lovers and hiking/biking trails
for the adventure-couple.
Walter Sisulu Botanical
Gardens
Johannesburg
Situated only 6km from the city centre, the
Johannesburg Botanical gardens are one
of eight botanical gardens in South Africa.
Part manicured lawn and part nature
reserve, the focal point of the gardens is
the waterfall, a popular leisure spot among
locals.
There are three dams to walk around
within the gardens if you fancy strolling
hand-in-hand with your sweetheart, like a
character out of some cheesy RomCom.
The Silvermine Nature Reserve
You won’t be able to miss the 220
species of birds and range of 600 plants,
but make sure to look out for small
mammals such as antelope and jackals.
In terms of fame, the site was voted
by Huffington Post as the second best
botanical garden in the world, which, as you
know, is no mean feat.
For all this, a minimal fee of R27 is
required at the entrance. And for a
student, well, that is really only the cost of
two beers anyway.
Durban North Japanese
Gardens
Durban
Complete with a valley of lakes,
waterfalls, cobbled pathways, and
weeping willows, the Japanese Gardens
on Tinsley Road are the setting for that
picturesque kind of picnic. Walk over
rustic bridges and settle-down on lush
green lawns for a day that’ll make you
think of Mulan or Memoirs of a Geisha.
There are even traditional koi ponds
and frog statues to complete that
“conventionally” Japanese ambience.
And even better, for the “conventional”
student, is the lack of entrance fee.