South Africa's Best-Kept Travel Secret Wins BBC Lifestyle Competition
Tsitsikamma property wins national recognition in BBC Lifestyle's inaugural destination discovery competition.
BBC Lifestyle has crowned the first winner of Hidden Gems South Africa, a travel competition series that sent six local influencers across the country to uncover destinations most South Africans have never heard of.
The Stargazing Cube at the Misty Mountain Reserve took the top prize. Tucked into Tsitsikamma along the Garden Route, the property offers guests a transparent cube structure with a king-sized bed that extends onto a private deck, placing visitors directly beneath the night sky. Travel influencer Tebogo Pin-Pin championed the location throughout the series and was named the winning Gemfluencer after viewers voted weekly to determine which destinations deserved recognition.
The win is more than symbolic. Pin-Pin receives a R25,000 voucher from series sponsor LekkeSlaap, and the property gains national exposure through BBC Lifestyle’s platform. In a statement, Pin-Pin said the award validates authentic travel storytelling and draws attention to the people and places that define South Africa’s tourism landscape.
Greg Potter, who owns the Stargazing Cube alongside his wife Tracey, credited the team, management, and local Tsitsikamma community for helping build what he called a world-class experience in a small corner of South Africa. His remarks pointed to something the competition made plain: behind every standout destination is a network of people whose work rarely makes headlines.
Meanwhile, the runner-up positions showed the range of experiences competing for viewer favor. Dwarsberg Trout Hideaway, presented by hiking and travel content creator Linda Munnik, claimed second place. Set among mountains, vineyards, and wine farms, the property offers a crystal-clear river pool, hiking trails, mountain biking, and trout fishing. Third place went to Kruger Shalati, a luxury stay suspended over the Sabie River on the Selati Bridge inside Kruger National Park, where guests sleep in restored train carriages positioned on the bridge itself.
Filmmaker and photographer Melissa Blanche presented two properties that placed in the top five. Mont Esprit, ten minutes from Franschhoek, secured fourth with its eco-pod retreat offering privacy and nature immersion in the Franschhoek Valley. Kagga Kamma Eco Lodge and Spa in the Cederberg region rounded out fifth place, known for dramatic rock formations and cave-style suites built within natural rock.
Viewer participation carried its own rewards. LekkeSlaap distributed R10,000 vouchers weekly to voters, with a top public prize of R25,000 on offer for one participant.
The series was produced by PD Productions for BBC Lifestyle as part of the channel’s commitment to local content that reflects South African storytelling. The format brought together influencers with backgrounds spanning lifestyle creation, hiking, photography, and filmmaking, each approaching destination discovery from a different angle.
The final episode remains available on DStv Stream until September 8th. Whether the format returns for a second season, and which corners of the country it might surface next, is the question the competition leaves open.
Q&A
Which property won the Hidden Gems South Africa competition and what makes it distinctive?
The Stargazing Cube at Misty Mountain Reserve in Tsitsikamma won first place. It features a transparent cube structure with a king-sized bed extending onto a private deck, positioning guests directly beneath the night sky.
What did the winning influencer and property owner receive as recognition?
Travel influencer Tebogo Pin-Pin received a R25,000 voucher from series sponsor LekkeSlaap and was named the winning Gemfluencer. Property owner Greg Potter gained national exposure through BBC Lifestyle's platform.
Which properties placed second and third in the competition?
Dwarsberg Trout Hideaway, presented by content creator Linda Munnik, claimed second place with its mountain setting, river pool, and outdoor activities. Kruger Shalati, a luxury stay suspended over the Sabie River on the Selati Bridge inside Kruger National Park with restored train carriage accommodations, took third place.
How did the competition engage the general public and what rewards were offered?
Viewers voted weekly to determine which destinations deserved recognition. LekkeSlaap distributed R10,000 vouchers weekly to voters, with a top public prize of R25,000 available for one participant.