Valentine's Day in Cape Town

In Cape Town the date falls in summer, and everything rests on the long light evening: the sun sets around eight and the sunset is watched from height — the city lies between Table Mountain and the ocean. All five programmes in this selection are private, built for two and run with no other travellers.

Two short trike routes close the evening — an open three-wheeled motorcycle with a driver at the controls. The climb up Signal Hill takes two and a half hours at 127 dollars: the hill stands above the centre, and from there both the harbour and the mountain are in view. The Chapman's Peak road is longer — three hours at 159 dollars; the route is cut into the cliff above the water, with places to pull over.

The daytime option is the wine valleys an hour away: eight hours in Franschhoek or Paarl at 120 dollars, with tastings at two or three farms. One more entry is an hour with a professional photographer at the city's viewpoints, 414 dollars. GetExperience lists 5 programmes in Cape Town for this date, from 120 to 414 dollars. February is high season here: the 14th goes early, so book a few weeks ahead.