## Pearl Thusi, Lungile Radu explore South Africa on a budget in new SABC1 travel show

How much of South Africa can you explore with just R1,050 a day?

Pearl Thusi and Lungile Radu are about to find out in Just Travel SA, a new SABC1 travel series designed to show viewers that discovering South Africa does not always require a huge holiday budget.

The nine-part series will take the two popular broadcasters across all nine South African provinces, exploring tourist attractions, hidden gems, local food and experiences while meeting the people who know each destination best.

Produced by Black Brain Pictures, Just Travel SA premieres on SABC1 on Monday, October 26, 2026, at 6pm.

What is SABC1's Just Travel SA about?

Instead of simply showing viewers beautiful destinations, Just Travel SA adds a practical challenge: travelling at different price points.

Each 24-minute episode divides the experience into three categories.

The Smart Budget allows spending of up to R1,050 per day, while the Flexi Budget goes up to R1,250. Travellers looking for something more expensive are represented by the Luxury Budget, covering spending above R1,250 per day.

Pearl and Lungile will also explore each province with a local insider.

Some familiar faces joining them include actress Mapaseka Koetle in the Free State, actor Clement Maosa in Limpopo and reality television personality Sweet Guluva in KwaZulu-Natal.

The idea is to uncover experiences South Africans may not realise are available in their own backyard.

Why the budget angle could appeal to travel fans

That price-focused approach could be one of the show's biggest attractions.

Travel programmes often focus heavily on luxury hotels, expensive restaurants and bucket-list experiences that may look great on television but remain outside many viewers' budgets.

Just Travel SA is attempting to offer alternatives.

By putting cheaper and more expensive options side by side, viewers can potentially take inspiration from the programme and adapt trips to what they can actually afford.

The series also arrives at a time when travel costs can make even a short getaway feel expensive. Showing what R1,050 or R1,250 can achieve gives the programme a practical element beyond simply providing attractive television scenery.

Pearl Thusi sees South Africa differently

For Pearl Thusi, the Pearl Thusi travel show has already changed how she views domestic tourism.

The actress and television personality said filming the series made her realise how much South Africans may overlook within their own country.

“I think we underestimate what we have in South Africa,” she said.

Thusi added that she was surprised by how many experiences were available locally and how affordable some could be.

She also pointed out that international tourists travel long distances to experience South Africa, while many South Africans themselves have yet to discover large parts of the country.

Lungile Radu, meanwhile, highlighted the people behind the destinations, saying travel is also about meeting local communities and hearing their stories.

Bringing domestic travel to South Africa TV

The programme is backed by the Tourism Business Council of South Africa in partnership with Tourism Marketing South Africa and is intended to encourage domestic tourism.

That means the show is not only selling picturesque destinations. Its wider message is that travelling locally can support tourism businesses, communities and jobs.

For viewers, however, the appeal of SABC1 Just Travel SA may be much simpler: seeing somewhere beautiful on television and realising that visiting it might actually be affordable.

After its Monday-night premiere on SABC1, the programme will repeat on SABC2 on Thursdays at 9.30pm and will also be available through SABC Plus.

With nine provinces, three different budgets and two familiar hosts, Just Travel SA is making its pitch clear: before planning that expensive international holiday, there may be plenty left to discover closer to home.