What is still undiscovered in a country that feels so widely travelled, so deeply photographed and so frequently shared?
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With the premiere of Hidden Gems South Africa on BBC Lifestyle this Wednesday, that question takes centre stage. The six-part series reframes how local travel is explored on screen, shifting the focus from familiar highlights to the quieter, often overlooked places that sit just beyond the mainstream itinerary.
Produced by PD Production, the show follows six local travel creators as they journey across the country in search of what it calls “hidden gems”. These are not simply scenic stops. Each destination is treated as a complete experience, shaped by its setting, its people and the finer details that make trips unforgettable.
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It is a simple premise, but as I discovered when I spoke to producers Nico Nel and Trevor Kaplan, it is one that has been quietly taking shape for some time.
The idea, Nel explained, did not arrive fully formed. Instead, it grew out of years spent travelling for other productions, often stumbling across places that felt like discoveries in their own right. Much of that experience comes from their work on Listing Coastal and related lifestyle formats, where filming regularly took them beyond the obvious travel hubs. “We’ve been throwing around travel formats for probably the last year,” he told me. There was no shortage of inspiration, but finding a format that worked in practice took time. Eventually, the pieces aligned. The concept suited a smaller production team, the creative relationship with BBC Lifestyle allowed room to experiment, and the right group of influencers came on board. “All the cards just fell on the table at the right time,” he said.
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Those influencers are central to the show’s energy, but their selection was more about nuance than numbers. Kaplan was candid about what mattered most. “We needed people we could travel with,” he said. Filming means long days in close quarters and the dynamics have to work. Beyond that, they needed people who believed in the concept. “That buy-in was essential.”
Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied
Nel added that variety was just as important as chemistry. South Africa’s travel landscape is anything but uniform and the voices on screen needed to reflect that. “It’s a very diverse bunch of people,” he said, describing a mix that spans hiking, luxury travel and everything in between. That range allows viewers to connect from different entry points, whether they are drawn to rugged trails or curated escapes.
Finding that balance meant starting close to home. Rather than casting widely, the team reached out to creators they already knew or had worked with, then followed recommendations from there. Nel described it as a process guided by instinct. “There’s a list of a thousand travel influencers,” he said, “but we needed people who are still hungry.” The kind of individuals willing to invest in the format and help shape it.
Of course, all of this leads back to the central idea of the series. What actually makes a hidden gem? Kaplan approached it practically. “We needed accommodation, we needed food and we needed some form of activity,” he said. When those elements come together, a destination begins to feel complete. But even then, the definition remains fluid. “What I would consider a hidden gem might not be the same as what somebody else would consider a hidden gem.”
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That subjectivity is not something the show tries to resolve, but rather leans into it. Nel acknowledged that their own perspectives are only one part of the picture. “The hidden gem thing is such a subjective element,” he said, which is why the audience plays a role in deciding the outcome. Through weekly voting, viewers are invited to choose the destinations that resonate most with them.
The result is a format that feels almost conversational. It opens up space for debate and personal preference, the kind of discussions that spill into everyday life. “When you’re on a weekend having a braai, you can talk about it,” Nel said. It is a show designed to be shared and discussed.
That same sense of balance carries through into the destinations themselves. Kaplan explained that the team was intentional about including a wide spectrum, from more affordable stays to aspirational escapes. “We wanted a cross section,” he said, not just in budget but in scenery and experience. The series moves between bush and city, remote and accessible, offering a broader picture of what travel in South Africa can look like.
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What stood out most in our conversation, though, was how often both returned to the role of people in shaping a place. Nel spoke about the shift from focusing on locations to engaging with the individuals behind them. “After a beautiful weekend, you tell people about the guide or how friendly the staff was,” he said. Those are the details that stay with you, the ones that turn a trip into a story.
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Kaplan agreed, noting that there is something compelling about experiencing those same interactions in real life. The idea that you might visit one of these places and meet the same people creates a sense of continuity that goes beyond the screen.
When I asked about their own standout moments, both were careful not to reveal too much, but their answers hinted at the range within the series. Kaplan described one destination that stood out for its level of luxury, the kind of place that feels just out of reach and therefore all the more memorable. He also spoke about an inner-city location that surprised him in a completely different way. “It was a very emotional gem,” he said, something that challenged his expectations.
Nel, meanwhile, was drawn to the journey itself. “The further you travel, the better the gem is,” he said, describing long drives that end in something remarkable. It is that sense of arrival, after hours on the road, that makes the experience feel earned.
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As the conversation turned to the audience, there was a shared curiosity about what viewers would respond to. Nel admitted that while they have their own predictions, it could go in any direction. “We want to understand what people value,” he said. Whether that is affordability, accessibility, food or something less tangible. Kaplan added that each destination offers a different mix of elements and that finding one that delivers across all three will likely come down to personal preference.
By the end, the takeaway felt both simple and persuasive. Both producers spoke about a desire to encourage local travel, to remind viewers that meaningful experiences do not require leaving the country. “You don’t have to go very far to find a gem,” Kaplan said.
Nel offered a final thought that lingers. Many of the places featured in the series, he pointed out, are already well known to international travellers. It is often locals who have yet to discover them. It leaves you with a gentle shift in perspective. The next great trip might not be somewhere far away. It might be somewhere closer than you think, waiting for you to notice.
Catch Hidden Gems: South Africa, every Wednesday, on BBC Lifestyle. Proudly sponsored by Lekkeslaap.co.za in association with Toyota SA.
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