The wondrous feeling of unexpected adventure is a trademark of travelling South Africa. On any given day, you may find yourself feeling the hospitality over a long lunch and local wine, kayaking with African penguins or hopping on safari through the bush.
We chat with hosts Khanh Ong and Miguel Maestre as they reflect on the food, people, landscapes and wildlife that make South Africa a joy to discover while on location filming a new episode of Luxury Escapes: The World’s Best Holidays.
Discover more about South Africa on the new season of Luxury Escapes: The World’s Best Holidays, airing Thursday 8.30pm AEDT* on Foxtel Lifestyle and on demand on Binge.
Which wildlife encounter changed the trip for you?
Khanh Ong: Baby leopards. Honestly, they were the cutest things ever. Seeing them in the wild, playing and being so curious was an insane experience.
Then we saw a leopard dragging an impala up a tree. That was obviously less cute, but equally insane. I’d seen that in documentaries my whole life, and suddenly it was happening right in front of us.
Miguel Maestre: I’ve done “jungle” on television, but nothing compares to a real South African game drive. You never know what’s around the corner. One moment, you could see nothing, then suddenly, you can see everything.
We were lucky enough to see the Big Five, including two baby leopards, elephants, lions, buffalo and rhinos, as well as hippos. After watching so many wildlife documentaries in the past, seeing these animals in real time is completely different.
No edits, no screen – just pure magic.
What was so special about a walking safari at Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge?
KO: So much. I thought it would be like a normal safari, but on foot. Then you notice all these things you would never see from a car.
There was different-coloured quartz all over the ground, huge termite mounds, animal tracks, dung and trees completely snapped and broken from nearby elephants.
Our guides could look at a footprint or some dung and know what animal it was from, where it had gone and how long it had been there. I realised pretty quickly that I would survive maybe 20 minutes without our guide out there.
MM: I wasn’t nervous because the rangers gave us such a strong sense of trust. They understand when animals can hear you or smell you, and they can read the signs around them.
That knowledge is comforting. Being so close to wildlife is almost surreal, whether you’re watching a hippo in the water or a lion standing in the long grass.
I would absolutely recommend a walking safari. It gives you a completely different connection with the bush.
How did South Africa make you feel the most welcome?
KO: Through their food. That’s how you show love. It reminded me of Vietnamese hospitality because food is how we show love too. Food comes out, drinks come out, you’re talking and suddenly you’ve been sitting there for hours.
Our two safari guides were also so passionate about the land, the animals and conservation. You could tell how much they cared about protecting it all. They told me about the multi-day hikes they do through the wilderness where you carry everything and camp out there. I immediately thought, “I need to do this!”
MM: The warmth of the people reminded me of Spain. People say hello, smile and make you feel welcome. I felt exactly that in South Africa.
JB, our ranger, went above and beyond. Even off camera, if I had half an hour free, he’d say, “Come on, let’s go.” We’d jump in the car to see what wildlife we could find. I’d go back to see JB again in a heartbeat.
Did Cape Town’s coffee culture live up to the hype?
KO: It really did, and I’m from Melbourne, so I feel like I’m allowed to be a bit picky about coffee.
I didn’t realise how big the cafe culture was there, with good coffee, bakeries and little cafes everywhere, as people sat around and enjoyed the atmosphere.
I went in with my Melbourne coffee-snob brain switched on, ready to judge. Then, the coffee was a pleasant surprise.
Which food memories are your fondest?
KO: I knew Cape Town was going to have good food, but I didn’t realise how diverse it would be. So many different cultures and influences are mixed together, which I loved.
Cape Malay food was my favourite, especially the koesisters. They were soft, spiced, coconutty and sticky. I could eat 15 – and I almost did!
MM: South Africa is such a beautiful melting pot of cultures. Every meal felt like a chance to learn something.
I fell in love with the neighbourhood of Bo-Kaap and the curries there. I loved koesisters too as they reminded me a little of Spanish churros.
The braai is much more than a barbecue – it’s fire, food and people coming together. I loved pap as a side for meat, almost like an alternative to mashed potato, and potjiekos, the slow-cooked stew made in a pot over the fire. But I’ll never forget the genius of bunny chow: curry served inside bread!
Can you choose between city and bush?
MM: I felt most connected to the safari. I’ve always been a little bit of a wild animal myself, so I felt like I belonged out there. Cape Town was full of energy, but the wilderness really spoke to my soul. I’ll always choose the wild over the city.
KO: I say: Don’t choose. Stay longer. This is a horrible question because you have to do both, but if I were forced to choose, I’d say the bush.
There are lots of great cities in the world, but waking up and seeing lions, elephants, rhinos, giraffes and leopards living their lives out there is something you can’t really compare to.
Of course, Cape Town is so cool, and the wildlife didn’t end on safari – this city has food, wine, beaches, mountains, nightlife and penguins! We kayaked out and had them swimming past us as I sat there thinking, “This is ridiculous” in the best way.
What brought you the most joy in South Africa?
MM: The light in Africa is something you have to see for yourself. At sunrise and sunset, the colours of the savannah become a combination of golden hues, wide-open land and raw wilderness.
You stand there and think, “Wow, I’m really in Africa.” It is a completely different feeling from anywhere else.
KO: Every day was new and exciting. One day we were kayaking and penguins were swimming past us; the next I was looking at baby leopards, then walking through the bush past animal dung, quartz and termite mounds – completely fascinated by it all.
I just love adventure. As you get older, so much of life is planned. You know what you’re doing tomorrow and where you need to be. In South Africa, my favourite part of the whole trip was waking up every morning thinking, “What are we doing today?”
Discover more about South Africa travel on the new season of Luxury Escapes: The World’s Best Holidays, airing Thursday 8.30pm AEDT* on Foxtel Lifestyle and on demand on Binge.
