I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! returns in South Africa – where to travel in the country right now

Beloved TV duo Ant and Dec returned to our screens on Monday night for the highly anticipated all-stars series of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and have swapped the iconic Australian jungle backdrop for the South African wilderness.

In the new spin-off series, some of the most memorable campmates from the I’m A Celebrity… history books – including reality TV star Gemma Collins, Olympian Mo Farah, previous King and a Queen of the Jungle Harry Redknapp and Scarlett Moffatt – land in South Africa to battle it out in trials to become the show’s first-ever Legend.

Amongst all the drama and stomach-churning challenges, the ITV show shines a light on some of South Africa’s most awe-inspiring landscapes.

We spoke to Kgomotso Ramothea, who is from South Africa and is CEO at ATTA (African Travel and Tourism Association), to get her top recommendations on the best places to visit in SA right now…

KwaZulu-Natal

“KwaZulu-Natal is one of the places where the weather is beautiful all-year round, and you can do the three Bs; the bush, the Berg (Drakensberg Mountains) and the beach,” says Ramothea.

The KwaZulu-Natal province is situated on the east coast along the warm Indian Ocean waters, making it ideal for beach holidays.

“Situated on the Indian Ocean, the beaches here are sandy and have nice temperatures, so are great to swim in all-year round,” says Ramothea.

This fascinating area also encompasses the Drakensberg Mountain Range which includes the highest mountains in Southern Africa.

“This area is great for hiking and provides incredible views,” says Ramothea.

There are also plenty of world-class game reserves to explore in KwaZulu-Natal that are home to the Big Five – the lion, elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros and leopard – that many tourists travel miles across the world to see.

“Within the bush, there is the oldest proclaimed National Park in Africa, The Hluhluwe Imfolozi, where you can see a large population of rhinos,” says Ramothea.

She also recommends that those looking for an authentic culinary experience to visit Durban, the largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third-largest city in South Africa, which is famous for its liberal use of spice.

“Durban is known for its strong curry flavours because it’s got the biggest proportion of Indian population outside of India,” says Ramothea. “I would also recommend trying the bunny chow,  a vegetable or meat curry served in half a loaf of bread. It’s very famous in that part of the country.”

Johannesburg

Her second recommendation is Johannesburg, a destination she encourages travellers not to overlook.

“Most people just come to Johannesburg to connect and move on to their next destination, but I recommend leaving the airport and exploring Soweto,” says Ramothea.

Vilakazi Street in Orlando West, Soweto, is particularly famous.

“It is famously the only street in the world where two Nobel Peace Prize winners, Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, have lived,” highlights Ramothea. “There’s a lot of history over there about how the area came about and became a very central point in the change in the democratisation of South Africa.”

If you visit this historic landmark, Ramothea recommends driving a bit further out to visit the Cradle of Humankind UNESCO World Heritage Site too.

“The Cradle of Humankind has one of the largest concentration of fossils from prehistoric humans that tell us the evolution story of humans,” says Ramothea. “If you go to Maropeng, there’s an interactive site where you can learn more about some of the fossils that have been preserved and found in the region.”

Adventure-hungry travellers looking for unique experience can also book Bill Harrop’s Original Balloon Safaris, which operates from Skeerpoort Country Base within the Cradle of Humankind, about 45 minutes’ drive from the northern suburbs of Johannesburg.

“Bill Harrop’s is one of the oldest balloon safari operators, and these tours provide incredible panoramic views of the Magaliesberg mountains,” says Ramothea.

 Northern Cape

“My third recommendation is the Northern Cape area. This is one of the most interesting places in South Africa because it’s predominantly desert,” says Ramothea.

“During the spring months, which is around September in South Africa, a bloom of wildflowers carpets the entire region.”

Northern Cape is also a popular destination for star gazing.

“The stars feel really close because the skies are clear here due to the lack of pollution, which makes it really ideal for astrotourism or nighttime tourism, as we call it,” says Ramothea. “There’s the opportunity to interact with locals who can tell you stories about the stars that you see.

“It’s a great place to go to if you really want to feel disconnected from everything.”

Meanwhile, the Northern Cape province in South Africa is also home to the native San people.

“The San people are typically hunter gatherers and the Tswalu game reserve has a programme where you are guided by a member of the San community, and  get to learn about their culture,” says Ramothea.