A new SABC1 series is betting that South Africans don't need a passport — or a big budget — to have a proper holiday. Just Travel SA, hosted by Pearl Thusi and Lungile Radu, sends the two presenters to all nine provinces with a daily spending cap, and the results may change how locals plan their next trip.

The nine-part series, produced by Black Brain Pictures, premieres on Monday 26 October at 18:00 on SABC1. Each 24-minute episode covers one province, with the hosts teamed up with a local insider who shows them the spots residents actually go. Familiar faces are on hand as guides: actress Mapaseka Koetle joins in the Free State, actor Clement Maosa leads the way in Limpopo, and Sweet Guluva explores KwaZulu-Natal with them.

The clever bit is the budget structure. Every destination gets broken down at three price points: a Smart Budget of up to R1,050 a day, a Flexi Budget up to R1,250, and a Luxury Budget above R1,250. Viewers can literally see what the same province offers whether they're counting every rand or happy to splurge — accommodation, food and activities included.

Both hosts came away converted. Thusi said the trip made her realise South Africans underestimate what's on their doorstep, and that travelling locally is far more affordable than people assume. Radu's takeaway was about the human side: the real value isn't the bed or the meal, it's the people you meet and hearing a place explained by those who live there.

The show isn't just entertainment, either. It's backed by the Tourism Business Council of South Africa in partnership with Tourism Marketing South Africa, as part of a push to get more South Africans holidaying at home. TBCSA chief executive Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa calls domestic travellers the bedrock of the country's tourism industry, pointing out that every local trip supports small businesses, communities and jobs — a decent excuse to book that Eastern Cape or North West weekend you keep postponing.

If you miss the premiere, repeats run on SABC2 on Thursdays at 21:30, and the series will also stream on SABC Plus. It's a handy watch before planning a December road trip: each episode essentially works as a tested, price-tagged itinerary for a different province.

For travellers, this matters because budget breakdowns like these are rare — most local guides assume you'll spend freely. Seeing the same experiences at three price tiers makes domestic travel feel achievable even on a tight month, and the local-guide format should surface attractions the usual top-ten lists skip. Whether your pick is the Drakensberg, the Karoo or a Limpopo bush break, someone's already done the maths for you.