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The South African
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
6 movie and TV filming locations in SA you can visit in real life
South Africa has quietly become one of the world's go-to filming locations. With its breathtaking landscapes, modern infrastructure, and versatile terrain, it's no wonder major film and TV productions keep setting up camp here. But the best part? Many of the places you've seen on screen are open to the public. Here are six filming locations across South Africa that you can actually visit… Cape Town is South Africa's crown jewel when it comes to film production. The city and its surroundings have doubled for 18th-century Caribbean ports, modern African capitals, and even alien planets! The most iconic example is Black Sails , the pirate drama shot primarily at Cape Town Film Studios. The massive sets included full-size pirate ships and detailed colonial forts. While the sets aren't always open to the public, you can visit nearby filming locations like Hout Bay, Simon's Town, and Table Mountain, which have featured in everything from Blood Diamond to Safe House . The Drakensberg range is as dramatic as it gets – jagged cliffs, green valleys, and misty peaks. These ancient mountains stood in for the jungles of the Congo in The Legend of Tarzan (2016) and have appeared in period action series like Warrior . The sweeping shots of wilderness are no CGI trick. That raw, untamed beauty is real – and it's waiting for you to hike, climb, or simply stare up in awe. Neill Blomkamp's District 9 didn't shy away from showing Johannesburg's gritty urban sprawl. The film used real neighbourhoods, scrapyards, and townships to build its sci-fi refugee zones. The visual impact was unforgettable, but so was the social commentary – rooted in real South African history. You won't find alien spacecraft hovering over the city, but you can explore the culture-rich neighbourhoods that gave the film its pulse. While you're there, be sure to visit Maboneng Precinct for local art, food, and design, and stop by the Apartheid Museum for essential context. The lush, forested landscapes of The Giver (2014) were filmed in Tsitsikamma, a jewel along South Africa's Garden Route. The film's dreamlike setting was no fantasy – this coastal forest is real and teeming with life. With towering trees, dramatic river gorges, and suspension bridges over crashing waves, it's one of the most cinematic spots you can experience with your own eyes. Roland Emmerich's prehistoric epic 10,000 BC used the Cederberg Mountains to portray a wild and ancient world. Though the movie's accuracy is questionable, the scenery is spot-on. The Cederberg's orange rock formations, open desert spaces, and ancient San rock art sites give it an otherworldly feel that's perfect for explorers. You don't need a time machine to walk through this prehistoric landscape. Port Edward and its surrounding coastline on the Wild Coast have hosted multiple seasons of Survivor South Africa . With its rough seas, remote beaches, and thick vegetation, it's the perfect backdrop for survival challenges – and an unforgettable travel destination. You can walk the same beaches and forests where contestants battled it out, minus the stress of tribal council. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
News18
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Gaurav Chopra Marks His Return To TV With Pushpa Impossible After 5-Year Hiatus
Gaurav Chopra has signed a pivotal role in the television show Pushpa Impossible, which began airing in June 2022. Gaurav Chopra, best known for his roles in television shows like Uttaran and Sadda Haq, recently garnered praise for his performance in the web series Rana Naidu. His diverse body of work includes a role in the Hollywood film Blood Diamond, participation in Bigg Boss 10, and appearances in films such as Humne Jeena Seekh Liya, Men Will Be Men, Bachchan Pandey, and Gadar 2. Last seen in the 2023 film Lakeerein as Dudhari Singh, the actor is now set to make his television comeback with the popular soap Pushpa Impossible. According to a report by ETimes, Gaurav Chopra signed a pivotal role in the television show Pushpa Impossible, which began airing in June 2022. This will also mark the actor's comeback to the small screen after a hiatus of almost 5 years. FYI: He last appeared on the TV show Sanjivani as Navratan (NV) Singh, which aired on Star Plus channel in 2020. Talking about Pushpa Impossible, the plotline of the serial is centred around the life of a mid-40-year-old woman named Pushpa Patel's journey from being a house help to navigating through various struggles. Here, Chopra's character is believed to bring a fresh dose of energy. Now, in a candid conversation with the same portal, the actor opened up about accepting the role and said, 'I am one of those fortunate actors, who has been offered interesting and not the cliche roles on TV. Pushpa has an interesting story, and my role is well-written," adding that he never had planned to stay away from television. He continued, 'TV is a great medium and I have always enjoyed playing roles which have a challenge and depth. I have preferred to keep away from roles which are common in social dramas. In the past few years, while I was acting in films and OTT shows, I had never decided to keep away from TV. I was waiting for the right roles." The 46-year-old further discloses, 'I play a lawyer, who becomes a mentor to Pushpa after much reluctance. The mentorship is earned, and he motivates her in her journey ahead." 'I tend to make strong opinions when I watch shows or any content, so I prefer to do my homework on a show when 1 am approached for a role in it. I do watch TV shows, but not on a regular basis. I also don't watch OTT shows. I prefer to watch classic films at home, and there is a lot to learn from them," he concluded. First Published: May 02, 2025, 17:26 IST
