The best places to propose in Johannesburg

At the launch site of Bill Harrop’s “Original” Balloon Safaris (R560 Skeerpoort, 2146), about forty-five minutes outside of Joburg, you’ll begin this proposal before dawn. 

You arrive to cool air and that magical dusky glow as the balloon slowly inflates. Follow the glow and wind your way through the lantern-lit pathways to find the crew readying muffins and hot coffee to calm your nerves.

Then, as the sky starts to shift to pale blue, you’re floating. You hover gently above the tree-tops of the Magalies River Valley, the horizon wide, the air still. The pilot takes you aloft above the ancient valley and the sun edges over the ridge to illuminate the Cradle below. When you land, a breakfast table and a bottle of bubbles are waiting in the field.

If this doesn’t earn a “yes,” nothing will.

The city looks different from 234 metres up. At Alto234, the rooftop bar crowning The Leonardo, the view stretches from the Sandton towers to the far-off trees of the northern suburbs. At around 6 pm, you’ll find that the noise of the city fades into the background as the skyline glows gold, and the air hums with that just-before-sunset electricity. 

For the perfect backdrop to pop the question, Alto234 even offer proposal packages. You’ll be treated like royalty with the setting of dreams: a red carpet, flowers, and candles all leading to a private area where the city lights flicker below you and the sun slowly paints the sky in streaks of orange and purple. Canapes and Moet round out the experience as you step out onto the deck, and you pop the big question with Johannesburg glowing at your feet.

It’s over the top in the best possible way. And secretly, who doesn’t want that kind of story?

ALSO READ: The best rooftop bars in Johannesburg

Not every proposal needs to come with a hefty price tag. Sometimes, it’s just a bit of thoughtfulness, a quiet corner, and some exceptional timing. The Johannesburg Botanical Garden in Emmarentia might not sound like a glamorous proposal spot at first glance, but wait until you see it at golden hour.

Walk past the dog-walkers and joggers and find your way to the rose garden. In the warmer months, you can stroll through the blooms until you find a secluded patch of lawn near the fountain. 

Spread a blanket, unpack a small picnic, and watch how the light catches on the petals. When you ask, it’ll just feel right: no crowd, no pressure, no big gestures – just a resounding yes. 

Time Out Tip: Go just before sunset when the crowds thin out. The light turns everything soft and gold, and even the hadedas sound romantic….ish. But leave the champagne for afterwards, as alcohol isn’t allowed in the park.

For something out of the ordinary, Forum Homini Boutique Hotel in the Cradle of Humankind is hard to beat. Set within the Letamo Game Estate, the hotel seamlessly blends into the landscape, featuring grass-covered roofs and curved stone walls that evoke a prehistoric appearance from the outside. Inside, the suites are pure indulgence. There are private fireplaces, double indoor-outdoor showers, and deep stone tubs big enough for two.

Dinner happens at Roots, one of Gauteng’s most celebrated fine-dining restaurants. It’s a tasting-menu format that changes with the seasons, paired with South African wines and a view across the small dam. You could time your proposal between mains and dessert on the terrace, or after dinner with candles waiting back in your suite for something more private.

Make sure to let the team know ahead of time. The team handle proposals regularly and can help you plan everything from flowers to music to a private table overlooking the water. It never hurts to have extra hands on board for such an important night!

If you’re after the kind of story that gets retold for years at every anniversary and referenced in all the speeches at the wedding, you can literally take your proposal to new heights. Several local operators offer private helicopter flights over Johannesburg and the Magaliesberg, with the option to land for a champagne picnic or rooftop toast.

Helivate Helicopter Services (based in Krugersdorp) runs scenic flights over Joburg, Hartbeespoort and the Magalies range. SA Helicopter Charters in Midrand offers tailored “engagement flights,” including landing permissions at select helipads, wine estates or lodges within an hour’s flight. You can work with them to plan a specific route; maybe a skyline circuit over Sandton at sunset, ending with a surprise landing at your chosen spot where the question awaits.

The logistics are surprisingly straightforward: you’ll need to pick your route, confirm the landing venue’s approval (some hotels and estates have private helipads) and arrange the celebration setup in advance. Most operators include a photographer option if you want to capture the moment forever.

Yes, it’s dramatic. But who doesn’t love that?