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The 40 Best Travel Channel Shows, Ranked

This list of the top current and canceled Travel Channel shows of all time includes the date when each show first aired, as well as which actors starred in the show. The best Travel Channel TV shows of all time includes old Travel Channel shows, as this list covers the entire history of the network. This list is sorted by popularity, so the shows with the most votes are at the top of the list.

Answering the question, “What is the best Travel Channel show of all time?”, this list includes favorites like Ghost Adventures , Expedition Unknown , and Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations . If you're interested in the travel and the supernatural then there’s everything from The Dead Files to Into The Unknown . For foodies, Travel Channel has you covered with series like  Bizarre Foods with Andew Zimmern and Man v. Food .

What are the best Travel Channel TV series ever? Vote up the best Travel Channel shows, or use this list to build a whole new one just like it, then re-rank it to fit your opinion.

Expedition Unknown

Is Expedition Unknown Worth Your Time?

• # 169 of 739 on The 600+ Best Reality TV Shows Of All Time
• # 25 of 83 on The 75+ Best Travel TV Shows Sure To Give You The Travel Bug
• # 25 of 84 on The Best Shows On Wednesday Night In 2024

Ghost Adventures

Is Ghost Adventures Worth Your Time?

• Dig Deeper... The Best Ghost Adventures Episodes
• # 28 of 72 on The 60+ Best Trash Reality TV Shows
• # 174 of 208 on The 150+ Most Popular Shows Right Now

Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern

Is Bizarre Foods with And... Worth Your Time?

• # 9 of 83 on The 75+ Best Travel TV Shows Sure To Give You The Travel Bug
• # 295 of 736 on The 600+ Best Reality TV Shows Of All Time
• # 3 of 89 on The 85+ Best Food & Travel Shows, Ranked

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations

Is Anthony Bourdain: No R... Worth Your Time?

The Dead Files

Is The Dead Files Worth Your Time?

• # 39 of 71 on The Creepiest Shows In TV History
• # 1 of 17 on The Best Documentaries About Ghosts
• # 7 of 82 on The 75+ Best Paranormal TV Shows

Man v. Food

Is Man v. Food Worth Your Time?

• # 238 of 302 on The Best TV Shows Of The Past 20 Years
• # 270 of 739 on The 600+ Best Reality TV Shows Of All Time
• # 8 of 89 on The 85+ Best Food & Travel Shows, Ranked

1,000 Places to See Before You Die

Is 1,000 Places to See Be... Worth Your Time?

Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre World

Is Andrew Zimmern's Bizar... Worth Your Time?

Portals to Hell

Is Portals to Hell Worth Your Time?

• # 62 of 71 on The 75+ Scariest TV Shows Of All Time, Ranked
• # 418 of 684 on The Best New Reality TV Shows of the Last Few Years
• # 74 of 127 on The 100+ Best Subculture Reality Shows, Ranked

Kindred Spirits

Is Kindred Spirits Worth Your Time?

• # 329 of 727 on The 120 Best Reality Shows On Now
• # 11 of 82 on The 75+ Best Paranormal TV Shows
• # 1 of 70 on The 65+ Best Ghost Hunter Reality Shows, Ranked

Monumental Mysteries

Is Monumental Mysteries Worth Your Time?

Food Paradise

Is Food Paradise Worth Your Time?

Passport to Europe

Is Passport to Europe Worth Your Time?

Hotel Impossible

Is Hotel Impossible Worth Your Time?

Mysterious Journeys

Is Mysterious Journeys Worth Your Time?

The Layover

Is The Layover Worth Your Time?

• # 4 of 83 on The 75+ Best Travel TV Shows Sure To Give You The Travel Bug
• # 54 of 111 on The 100+ Best Cooking Shows Of All Time
• # 7 of 89 on The 85+ Best Food & Travel Shows, Ranked

Globe Trekker

Is Globe Trekker Worth Your Time?

Jack Osbourne's Night of Terror

Is Jack Osbourne's Night ... Worth Your Time?

• # 174 of 739 on The 600+ Best Reality TV Shows Of All Time
• # 422 of 684 on The Best New Reality TV Shows of the Last Few Years
• # 116 of 144 on The 100+ Best Celebrity Reality TV Shows, Ranked

Ghost Nation

Is Ghost Nation Worth Your Time?

• # 25 of 727 on The 120 Best Reality Shows On Now
• # 589 of 684 on The Best New Reality TV Shows of the Last Few Years
• # 26 of 82 on The 75+ Best Paranormal TV Shows

Ripley's Believe It or Not!

Is Ripley's Believe It or... Worth Your Time?

John Ratzenberger's Made in America

Is John Ratzenberger's Ma... Worth Your Time?

Ghost Brothers: Haunted Houseguests

Is Ghost Brothers: Haunte... Worth Your Time?

• # 12 of 35 on The Best Guilty Pleasure TV Shows of the Last Few Years
• # 29 of 75 on The 70+ Best Paranormal Reality Shows
• # 33 of 35 on The Best Black TV Shows In 2019

Great Hotels

Is Great Hotels Worth Your Time?

Fright Club

Is Fright Club Worth Your Time?

• # 433 of 739 on The 600+ Best Reality TV Shows Of All Time
• # 335 of 727 on The 120 Best Reality Shows On Now
• # 610 of 684 on The Best New Reality TV Shows of the Last Few Years

Is Ghost Loop Worth Your Time?

• # 339 of 739 on The 600+ Best Reality TV Shows Of All Time
• # 217 of 292 on The 280+ Best Supernatural Series
• # 77 of 82 on The 75+ Best Paranormal TV Shows

The Ghost Town Terror

Is The Ghost Town Terror... Worth Your Time?

Bert the Conqueror

Is Bert the Conqueror Worth Your Time?

Passport to Latin America

Is Passport to Latin Amer... Worth Your Time?

Madventures

Is Madventures Worth Your Time?

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25 Best Shows on DStv to Watch [Updated List]

• Last updated: October 21, 2022

Have a movie night planned soon but still unsure about what to watch? DStv has all the options you need and reasons to watch DStv in UK !

From jaw-dropping thrillers to hilarious comedies, DStv can have you sit in front of the couch for hours without even realizing it. The platform primarily targets the African audience, but that doesn’t mean that the Best shows on DStv cannot make it to your living room. Use a VPN and unlock the endless DStv movies and shows content available before the spoilers start making rounds!

Wondering how to choose a good watch on DStv? Easy! Go through the brief descriptions of some of the most popular shows on the platform and stop when something grabs your interest; head over to your screens and launch DStv for an exciting experience with the best new tv shows !

While DStv is a treasure chest of amazing content with international and local South African shows to watch overseas. Here are some of the best shows on DStv:

1. Black Tax (2020)

Directors: Joshua Rous, Lwazi Mvusi

Writers: Lwazi Mvusi, Byron Abrahams, Joshua Rous

Cast: Tumi Morake, Clementine Mosimane, Mandle Jwara, Joanne Reynecke, Mamodibe Rampdibe, Sne Dladla, Conrad Rudolph, Vikash Mathura, Kenneth Fok

Runtime: 25m

Genre: Comedy

IMDb Rating : 8.2 /10

Ever heard of a good storyline that has a comedic edge? Black Tax will be the first one on that list! The show takes you through the life of Thuli, who has always lived in the protective shadows of a black community. The young girl is all set to grow up and take care of her responsibilities, but instead, she finds herself gripped in an endless cycle of paying the black tax. Thuli has her own financial and emotional baggage to bear among the chaotic happenings of a youngster’s life- but will she get out of it? Find out with your next watch!

2. Ultimate Love (2020)

Directors: N/A

Writers: N/A

Cast: Dakore Egbuson-Akande, Oluwaseun Olaniyan

Trailer: N/A

Runtime: N/A

Genre: Reality TV

IMDb Rating: N/A

Love watching romantic shows? Ultimate Love will keep you hooked till the end! The show is along the lines of a reality TV competition where many contestants are thrown in together. All the people are expected to live together for a particular time and find compatible matches. The couple that makes it to being lovebirds for a long time gets their entire wedding sponsored by the show. Ultimate Love is a great show to watch at dinner time because the twists and turns will have you feeling warm and all giddy!

3. The Great Kenyan Bake Off (2019)

Director: Myra Ndunga

Writers: Myra Ndunga

Cast: June Gachui, Myra Kivuvani Ndunga, Kiran Jethwa, Nick Ndeda

Runtime: 53m

Genre: Baking, Reality TV

If you’re a fan of the culinary world, you’re bound to find this series an excellent experience. The show has several contestants competing with each other based on their cooking expertise. Every episode has unique and challenging tasks that get judged by a special panel of learned professionals in the industry. The primary area which the contestants have to nail is baking, where they have to impress the judges with different renditions of cakes. The judges then give their verdict, and only one contestant in each episode makes it to be a ‘Star Baker’!

4. Survivor South Africa (2006)

Director: Warren Bleksley

Writer: Handrie Basson

Cast: Phillip Dickson, Marian De Vos, Shane Hattingh, Nico Panagio, Meryl Szolkeiwicz, Danté De Villiers, Steffi Brink, Killarney Jones, Antoinette Tebbutt, Palesa Tau

Runtime: 1h

Genre: Reality TV, Game Show, Adventure

IMDb Rating : 7.9 /10

As the name suggests, this show from the DStv box office has contestants from all over the world fighting for survival. The participants are stranded in a far-off location, where they must fend for themselves. From food to water, to shelter, to also keeping oneself safe from the surrounding dangers, the thrilling activities in this show are definitely what makes it to be one of the Best shows on DStv. The contestants have to vote amongst themselves to eliminate one in each episode, so you’ll also witness brutal competitiveness in the show. Make sure you’re rooting for the right contestant!

5. Legacy (2020)

Directors: Andre Odendaal, Krijay Govender, Catharine Cooke

Writers: Gillian Breslin, Gwydion Beynon

Cast: Michelle Botes, Sean-Marco Vorster, Trix Vivier, Dawid Minnaar, Siyabonga Twala, Kgomotso Christopher, Mary-Anne Barlow, Aton David Jeftha, Jay Anstey

Runtime: 23m

Genre: Drama

IMDb Rating : 4.1 /10

Are you among those who want to pass their time with the Best Action Shows To Stream? Legacy is your answer! The show has a thrilling storyline about a father-son duo. Together, they must fight for their survival, but the things which keep propping up have them suck in the scenario for quite a while. To add to their misery, they are joined by a new alliance that reveals dark secrets about the biological father of the teenager, which only makes things ten times more complicated.

6. Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over (2019)

Directors: Caroline O’Shaughnessy, Rachel Tracy. Liana Stewart

Cast: Carla Bellucci, Stacey Dooley

Genre: Documentary

IMDb Rating : 6.9 /10

Known as one of the Best shows on DStv, this watch has quite a unique storyline. The protagonist, Stacey, has a job where she has to sleep over with different families every couple of days. Stacey documents their happenings, and the up-close insight into different kinds of relationships helps her get a better grasp on family ties. During the 72-hour cycle, Stacey gets to witness some of the unique aspects of seemingly normal lives that are bound to pique your interest. The diverse range of families will also have you relate to more than one thing during the show!

7. The River (2018)

Directors: Johnny Barbuzano

Writers: Makwarela Phatu, Gwydion Beynon, Nelisa Ngcobo

Cast: Larona Moagi, Sindi Dlathu, Hlomla Dandala, Presley Chweneyagae, Asakhe Nojoko, Tk Sebothoma, Thoko Ntshinga, Thapelo Sebogodi, Shannon Esra

Runtime: 20m

IMDb Rating : 7.5 /10

The show revolves around the owner of the Khanyisa Diamonds, Lindiwe, her elaborate lifestyle and her protectiveness around her family and business. She is married to Zweli Dikana the provincial police commissioner. The couple resides in a mansion with their three children in South Africa.

The series also show the contrasting poverty of the Mokoena family consisting of Malefu Mokoena and her three children who live in the mining town Refilwe and location of Khanyisa diamonds.

8. Van der Valk (1972)

Directors: Graham Evans, Mikes Vardy, Marc Miller

Writers: David Butler, Nicolas Freeling, Philip Broadley

Cast: Susan Travers, Joanna Dunham, Michael Latimer, Barry Foster, Ronald Hines, Dave Carter, Meg Davies, Nigel Stock, Sydney Tafler, Alan Haines, Natasha Pyne

Runtime: 2h

Genre: Drama, Action

IMDb Rating: 7.1 /10

Searching for a show that has a touch of action and drama both? Van der Valk will fulfill all your cravings! Set in Amsterdam, the show is about the investigative activities of a detective named Van der Valk. The detective has a team under him who helps him solve mysteries behind some of the most gruesome murders and crimes committed every day. Each case has shortcomings of its own, and Van must find ways to catch the perpetrator before he can devote more crimes. With the thrilling adventures and complex mysteries to solve, this show is bound to trigger some hormones inside you!

9. The Queen (2016)

Directors: Andries van der Merwe, Xolani Mabaso, Zolani Phakade, Wandile Magadla

Writers: Phathutshedzo, Makwarela, Gwydion Beynon

Set against the backdrop of drug trade and South Africa’s economic problems, The Queen is a dramatic television series that follows the Khoza family’s journey through middle age. Harriet and her late husband, the kingpin “The Queen”, built up their business while keeping an iron-clad lid on everything. After his death, Harriet struggles to rebuild their organisation. You will often question what happens next, and the show is sure to keep you engaged till the very end.

10. Animal Impossible (2020)

Directors: James Reed, Laura Coates, David Denny

Writers: David Denny, John Shackleton, Laura Coates

Cast: Ryan Johnson, Tim Warwood, Adam Gendle

Runtime: 55m

If you have a soft spot for all kinds of animals, this show will leave you feeling glad about your choices. The story is about two best friends, Tim and Adam, who decide to travel across the world to find answers to some unasked questions. These questions are as far-fetched as wondering if a cat can land on its feet and why just spiders produce spider silk. Tim and Adam have no bounds when coming up with animal-related confusions; the best part is that they don’t hesitate to find their answers.

11. Country House Hunters (2020)

Cast: Catriona Rowntree

Genre: Reality TV, Family

Ever fantasized about living in an Australian Bush? This show will take you through all the pros and cons of actually spending your life in a country house. A young couple aspires to relocate in this show but has to deal with all the difficulties involved in the process. What begins as an exciting adventure soon has them wondering if they’re making the right decision. The duo sets out to survey three houses, and the show helps them with the process. Will these two have any luck finding their dream house? Find out on your next watch!

12. Is’thunzi (2016)

Directors: Amanda Lane

Writers: Amanda Lane

Cast: Bohang Moeko, Makgotso M, Thuso Mbedu, Zikhona Bali, Francois Coetzee, Jabulani Mouze Phambana

Runtime: 22m

Is’thunzi is a perfect watch for young individuals struggling to make it big in their lives. The show takes you through the lives of teenagers from multiple parts of the world and shows their everyday struggles. From achieving academic goals, fighting oppressive surroundings, and managing their love lives, this show will only get relatable as each episode passes. Shedding your social and cultural stereotypes is not easy, but the girls in Is’thunzi, or ‘ninjas,’ as they refer to themselves, show you how the impossible can be achieved if only you’re willing enough.

13. Our Perfect Wedding (2017)

Cast: Nomsa Buthelezi, Vele Manenje, Minni Dlamini, Asipho Sethu, Tumi Morake, Jessica Nkos

Want to see some hearts and flowers? Tune into Our Perfect Wedding and find yourself surrounded by warmness. Each episode showcases a couple struggling to materialize their wedding but failing miserably. You don’t have to feel disappointed, though, because this is not the end! The show helps the couple pull off their wedding in style; from the venues to the attires to even the guest lists, everything is taken care of with Love and regard. The ending note often has the couples shedding tears of happiness, making the show worth every penny.

14. Lockdown (2017)

Directors: Mandla N.

Writers: Mmabatho Montsho, Mandla N.

Cast: Lorcia Cooper, Lauren Jenae, Tichina Arnold, Stevel Marc, Manaka Ranaka, Zola Nombona, Pamela Nomvete, Mmabatho Montsho, Natasha Thahane, Eugene Khumbanyiwa

IMDb Rating : 8.6 /10

If the happenings around prisons attract you, Lockdown will be a good way of passing your time. The show has a fictional prison for women with captives from around the world. Each prisoner has a deep, dark story behind their current imprisonment, which only gets more intense with each episode. Amongst the gruesome sufferings, an inmate rises to power amongst the rest who yearns for nothing more than freedom. This woman has a daughter outside prison, which only adds to fueling her attempts to flee the spot. Can the prison hold its captives for long? Stream the show to find out!

15. Nkululeko (2018)

Directors: Amy Jephta

Writers: Amy Jephta

Cast: Chris Gxalab, Abongile Salli, Zimkhitha Nyoka, Tiisetso Thoka, Aphiwe Mkefe

Nkululeko is a story that is bound to trigger some emotions in you. Being one of the Best shows on DStv, this watch simultaneously has a motivating and disappointing storyline. The story kicks off when an academic professional is ecstatically preparing for an upcoming competition that can be a game-changer for his career. His preparations are in full swing, and his abilities are well capable of winning him the title, but all hell breaks loose when he makes a reckless choice. His life and career come to a dip so low that he has a hard time recovering from the loss.

16. Ifalakhe (2019)

Director: Mmamitse Thibedi

Writers: Thuli Zuma, Gugu Ncube-Zuma

Cast: Bheki Ncube, Ntokozo Ngcobo, Bheki Sibiya, Chris Radebe, Lindiwe Ndlovu, Tu Nokwe, Noxolo Mathula, Gugu Ncube-Zuma, Nkosinathi Keswa, Sthandwa Nzuza

Runtime: 45m

Genre: Adventure

If you haven’t yet heard of the powerful stories about the Okuhle tribe, you need to put on Ifalakhe at your earliest. The show is about how the tribe suffers for quite a while at the hands of the Khanya people until they finally put their foot down and decide to fight back. A war rages at large, and the Okuhle Tribe has no chance of winning at first, but revenge and loss are powerful emotions that keep them going. The raw emotions and shifting events are enough for this show to make it to the best shows on the DStv list !

17. The Herd (2018)

Directors: Denny Y. Miller

Writers: Rorisang Motuba

Cast: Sello Maake Ka-Ncube

When a farmer named Muzi observes that his cattle keeps mysteriously disappearing, he comes up with every way possible to ward off the thief. However, nothing seems to work, and Muzi keeps bearing the loss over the years to come. When MaMngadi comes into the picture, she brings with her a proposed solution to end Muzi’s woes. According to MaMngadi, sacrificing an innocent human can keep the cattle safe and the thief at bay. Will Muzi succumb to taking a life in order to keep his livelihood running? Tune into The Herd to find out!

18. Housekeepers (2018)

Directors: Zuko Nodada, Natalie Haarhoff

Writers: Portia Gumede, Duduzile Zamantungwa Mabaso

Cast: Gabriel Mini, Connie Chiume, Paballo Koza, Thando Thabethe, Noxolo Dlamini, Andile Mxakaza, Fezile Makhanya, Nandi Mbatha, Masasa Mbangeni, Bohang Moeko

Genre: Thriller, Drama

IMDb Rating : 8.9 /10

Housekeepers went on to become one of the Best shows on DStv because of its plot. The story showcases a young girl from a wealthy family struggling to make peace with the fact that her entire family is no more. As a result of the mass murder, the girl is left alone o fend for herself, with a burning need for revenge and closure. As a way of cracking the mystery behind her family’s deaths, she decides to hide behind the cover of a housekeeper. Apart from her investigative struggle, she also has to handle the challenging housekeeper duties.

19. Isithembiso (2017)

Director: Emile Smith, John Barker, Zeno Petersen

Writers: Justine Loots, David Gordon, Alex Burger

Cast: Chichi Letswalo, Zamani Mbatha, Nandi Mbatha, Hamilton Dlamini, Llewellyn Cordier, Lillian Dube, Meshack Mavuso, Mxolisi Masango, Mpho Osei Tutu

Remember the City Of Gold from the fables? Isithembiso brings it to life and also showcases people struggling to get their hands on the gold. The show has a young and dynamic duo that comes into the rumoured City Of Gold not just to get rich but also in the hopes of sorting out their relationships. Their intentions are not met with cooperation from the city, though, and now the two people must find ways of coping. The drama involved in this show is enough to make it one of the Best shows on DStv, so make sure you don’t miss it!

20. Ring Of Lies (2016)

Writers: Dennis Venter, Ross Van Leeve

Cast: Zithobe Hlongwane, Mbulelo Grootboom, Baby Cele, Connie Chiume, Bohand Moeko, Sam Medupe, Warren Masemola, Florence Masebe, Mpho Sebeng

Ring of Lies is a must-watch if the idea of struggling love lives excites you. The show portrays the life of an aspiring boxer whose career takes a turn when he falls in Love. The girl he fancies is none other than his own manager’s daughter, and what should have been a steamy love story turns out to be a nightmare for the couple. Each episode has its own drama, misunderstandings, and betrayals that eventually break the couple apart. At the same time, the girl’s mother has secrets that might contribute to the couple’s failure.

21. Utatakho (2018)

Cast: Nimrod Nkosi, Zola

Genre: Drama, Reality TV

This show gives you a first-hand insight into the lives of abandoned, unclaimed children. Nimrod Nkosi, the host of this show, goes on to interact with such people of all backgrounds and also helps them find their genetic histories. Each episode results in a child reuniting with his biological father, which adds value to the show. Make sure you watch this show with an open mind because the raw emotions portrayed are definitely not easy to manage without breaking into tears. The endings are not always happy, though, so don’t get disappointed when you don’t see one!

22. Gomora (2020)

Directors: Nozipho Nkelemba, Zeno Peterson

Writers: Kutlwano Ditsele, Gwydion Beynon

Cast: Katlego Danke, Thembi Seete, Zolisa Xaluva, Connie Chiume, Sannah Mchunu, Ntobeko Sishi, Siyabonga Xaba, Ama Qamata, Molefe-Ndaba, Siphesihle Ndaba

IMDb Rating : 7.2 /10

This TV series became one of the Best shows on DStv because of its empowering portrayal. This story is about a young woman facing stigmas and stereotypes in her current township. With the lack of opportunities and the dangers involved, it’s not easy for this woman to leave her roots behind and start afresh. However, a leap of faith is all it takes for her to flee her township and try her luck in a new location. It is not long before she breaks barriers and becomes a successful socialite at her current age.

23. Obsession: Dark Desires (2014)

Directors: Jamie Crawford, Jim Greayer, Elliot Goldner

Writers: Jim Greayer, Jamie Crawford, Steve Murphy

Cast: Ian Porter, Stephanie Moore, Richard Banks, Stephanie Jones, Matthew Raymond, Greg Canestrari, Aykut Hilmi, Andrée Bernard, John Burton, TyLean Tuijl

Runtime: 43m

Genre: Drama, Crime, Documentary

If you’ve ever been a victim of a stalker, this show will be a highly relatable watch for you. The series has people from all over the world sharing their traumatic experiences of being stalked. Often, the show chooses to make documentaries based on real cases to shed light on the ongoing criminal activities worldwide. These episodes can be pretty disturbing to watch for the faint-hearted because you don’t just get to see a person being stalked but also the failure and ignorance of law institutions and the consequences faced by the victims later.

24. Arendsvlei (2018)

Directors: Darryl Fuchs, Denny Y. Miller, Jarrid Geduld

Writers: Meesha Aboo, Theltom Masimila, Lize Vosloo

Cast: Sherman Pharo, Celeste Matthews Wannenburgh, Melissa De Vries, Crystal-Donna Roberts, Kay Smith, Rehane Abrahams, Jody Abrahams, Roberto Kyle

IMDb Rating : 9.6 /10

This show is about an empathetic family who feels deeply for underprivileged people. As a way of giving back to society, they build a school from scratch aimed at people who don’t have access to education. Their initiative is highly successful at first and is met with great appreciation; however, it is not long before a revenge-thirsty woman threatens their school. This person won’t stop at anything to take the school down, and now the family must figure out ways of keeping their brain-child safe.

25. Suidooster (2015)

Directors: Romano Gorlei, Heleni Handt, Shirley Ellis

Writers: Ilse Oppelt, Tristam Atkins, Henry Cloete

Cast: Marco Spaumer, Marcel van Heerden, Irshaad Ally, Simone Biscombe, Jill Levenberg, Cedwyn Joel, Denise Newman, Portia Joel, Theresa Sedras

Runtime: 30m

IMDb Rating : 8.3 /10

If you want an all-rounding insight into South-African communities, Suidooster will be your best bet. The show portrays the lives of everyday shop owners and goes through the struggles they have to face. The city’s crime rate is increasing by the day, driving the shopkeepers to their wits’ end. At the same time, a love angle is also displayed, which only complicates things further. Rated as one of the Best shows on DStv, Suidooster is sure to keep you hooked for an extended period of time!

Wrapping Up

The Best shows on DStv won’t be easy to find amongst the thousands of options. The best thing here is that you don’t have to spend hours contemplating because this guide will take you swiftly through the best content available on the platform.

By the end of this guide, you’ll hopefully have a clear choice of what you want to watch at your next slumber party.

DStv has a pandora of TV shows and movies, but it’s essential for you to sift through cleverly. This will guarantee a worthwhile experience, and you won’t be left disappointed after spending a couple of hours watching something.

Make sure you don’t rush into deciding and go through all the descriptions to find yourself a perfect match. We hope you have a good time!

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The best food and travel shows to watch right now

By James Medd

Joanna Lumley’s Home Sweet Home – Travels In My Own Land

Absolutely Fabulous star Joanna Lumley has retired the infamous Patsy Stone and gone on to make a string of travel documentaries, flitting from the USA to Japan. Her 2021 series is closer to home as she drives around the UK in an Aston Martin DB5 taking in some of the country’s most popular staycation spots. Episodes include stints on Devon ’s epic moors and Cornwall’s pretty island of St Michael’s Mount, as well as in North Wales, the Peak District and her hometown, London. Available to watch on ITV Hub

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

In this offshoot from his Ugly Delicious show, the preposterously busy David Chang hits the road for four hour-long adventures with comedians. He’s in Vancouver with local lad Seth Rogen, fishing and giggling, getting lost in a maze and above all revelling in the city’s Asian food emporia. Then he’s in Marrakech with Chrissy Teigen and in LA with Lena Waithe before the best of the bunch, visiting Phnom Penh with Kate McKinnon. The Saturday Night Live comic and Ghostbusters actor is charming, open and interested in everything around her as they talk Buddhism, ride helicopters and tuk-tuks, and dig surprisingly deep into the issues of a rapidly changing country. Streaming on Netflix

Conan Without Borders

This really is something different. For those outside of the USA, chat-show host Conan O’Brien is very much an unknown quantity, and this show may well be equally baffling: it’s a travel programme but directed primarily for laughs and with the reaction of a studio audience added as if it’s an in-show segment. We get Conan being tall, zany and actually pretty witty in the usual places Americans are interested in: Cuba, Korea, Mexico, Israel, Haiti and Italy. Don’t expect to get all the references but give it a go. Streaming on Netflix

Frankie Boyle’s Tour of Scotland

Well, he’s certainly mellowed. Once the scourge of tabloid and liberal broadsheet alike, the comic has revealed more humanity as his face has been ever more hidden under a beard. He’s still sharp, as the introduction shows – ‘There comes a time in every comedian’s career when they decide to do travelogues,’ he tells us – though this is much richer than the sitcom-character-goes-to-Africa formula we’re used to. Over four episodes, each given a very loose theme, he enjoys Scotland’s camera-friendliness – the coast, moors and monumental architecture – and meets a parade of eccentric locals. His secret weapon is asking unusual questions, ensuring a wide range of subjects: one episode alone covers Mary Queen of Scots, martial arts, protests and funfairs. Be warned: contains adult content and sarcasm. Streaming on BBC iPlayer

Great Railway Journeys

Want to take the train but can’t face Michael Portillo and his range of bright slacks? Now’s the time to dive into iPlayer, then, as the Tory grandee’s monopoly on rail travel falls off the rotation, leaving this multi-presenter series from 1994. Follow the lovely Michael Palin to Ireland and the awkwardly charming Clive Anderson to China, and watch ballerina Natalia Makarova take on her native Russia and the great BBC correspondent Mark Tully head to India. Streaming on BBC iPlayer

Griff’s Great Australian Adventure

Despite an unpromising start – do we need a TV comic to tell us that ‘this is a big place’, or that he’s about to embark on ‘the journey of a lifetime’? – this is well worth your time. Griff Rhys Jones travels around the great southern land by train, packing a great deal into his 30-minute episodes. Along with crocs, sheep-shearing, gold-prospecting and whitewater-rafting, he joins the drag scene in Broken Hill, digs into the poetry of the Outback and hitches a ride with a Flying Doctor. Throughout, he transcends the formula by being well-informed and showing an interest in people. Streaming on ITV Hub

My Greek Odyssey

If you enjoyed the last season of The Trip but felt there was too much competitive banter and not enough Greek scenery, then this is for you. Be warned, however, that host Peter Maneas is a character beyond even the imaginings of Steve Coogan: a full-on Aussie of Hellenic extraction, he’s colourful, exuberant and generally not backward in coming forward, all to the power of 10. If you can handle that, then join him on his mission to visit every one of his homeland’s 227 inhabited islands, starting with Season 1’s tour of the Saronic and Ionian, including Hydra , Spetses , Kefalonia and Zakynthos. Included with Amazon Prime membership

Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father

The comedian is a divisive figure, but less so than the man he insists on calling ‘Daddy’, an old showbiz hand who’s loving his spell in the spotlight. It’ll take five minutes to decide whether you’re up for this show, but if you can take the intergenerational eager-puppy-versus-stuffed-shirt banter you do get a lot of travel for your time. In season one they hit South-east Asia to live out Whitehall’s cancelled gap year, while season two is a cultural tour of eastern Europe led by his father Michael. In both cases, hijinks ensue, locals are baffled and we’re lightly entertained. Streaming on Netflix

Dark Tourist

New Zealand journalist David Farrier looks like a geography teacher and often appears more scared than you’d expect from someone in his line of work, but he’s a curiously engaging host for this tour of unlikely, unsafe and unsavoury destinations. Usually wearing pink patterned shorts, he ventures to nuclear disaster zones, serial-killer hotspots, voodoo rituals and the dreadful, monolithic emptiness of Turkmenistan. His show is genuinely informative and remarkably un-hipster. Streaming on Netflix

Now eight seasons in, this short-haul travelogue is admirably dependable. A lot of that is down to actor-director Richard Ayoade, who can bend his deadpan wit to provide a foil to whichever fellow comedian he has in tow for that week ’s 48-hour city break (including occasional Hollywood stars such as Jon Hamm and Paul Rudd). It’s basically a comedy but, for all the eccentric hotels , drinking and quirky-museum-hunting, this show is still a reliable indicator of whether you’ll enjoy two nights or more in that week’s destination , so bring on season nine. Catch up on All 4

The Mind of a Chef

Chef-profile shows can merge into a blur of hot men in dark rooms talking about sourcing and knives, but this PBS show is in sharp focus – partly because episodes last just 23 minutes. Each of its five seasons are hosted by a different chef, from David Chang, who presents Netflix’s Ugly Delicious , to Prune author Gabrielle Hamilton, who traces a dish to its source, has a good dig and still manages to get in more travel trimmings than most of the hour-long competition. Season five’s resident Ludo Lefebvre is particularly good value – look out for his outraged attempt to reclaim Jersey for France on a lobster-fishing trip. Stream it on Netflix

The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan

Currently vying for the title of most familiar face on British TV, Ranganathan generally trades on sardonic wit but these tours of ‘the places others avoid’ break through the cynical veneer to show the thoughtful and frequently terrified everyman inside the comedy sports-quiz panellist. In the latest, second season he journeys to Zimbabwe, Mongolia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Colombia. Streaming on BBC iPlayer

Around the World in 80 Gardens

Led by the soothing, earnest tones of Monty Don, this is a different and highly satisfying tour of the globe, first screened in 2008. Naturally each region’s flora and plant-husbandry tell us something about the culture and landscape, and our thoughtful and well-informed host is just the man to tell us how. Starting in Mexico and Cuba with rainforests and colonialism, he passes through the the tomb gardens of India’s Mughal emperors, the floating wonders of the Amazon, the Imperial Summer Palace of Beijing, Emperor Hadrian’s Retreat in Italy and the perfection of the Alhambra in Granada, via Bali, Bangkok and the Arctic Circle. You don’t need green fingers to enjoy this, just a love of beauty. Streaming on BBC iPlayer

Somebody Feed Phil

If you don’t know Everybody Loves Raymond , the American sitcom he created – actually, even if you do – you may find Philip Rosenthal a distracting host: odd, distracted, awkward. Still, he sure loves his food and Netflix sure loves him, bankrolling 12 episodes of this foodie travelogue that takes him all over the world to Bangkok , Tel Aviv , Buenos Aires , Dublin and Mexico City (always Mexico). It’s a pretty easy ride – he walks around a bit, eats some local dishes, gets excited – but it’s fun, and you’ll like Phil. Streaming on Netflix

National Geographic Presents

Dig deep into the travel-related content from the always-reliable NatGeo. For that unique combination of brashness and culinary genius, there’s Gordon Ramsay Uncharted , where the king of the TV cooks heads for Peru, Morocco, Laos and more. The Bear Grylls-narrated Hostile Planet is a fascinating look at how animals have adapted to the most difficult conditions, from icecap to desert to ocean – highlights include a jaguar hunting crocodiles in the Amazon. Adventure fans, meanwhile, should dive into Lost Treasures of the Maya , where explorer Albert Lin hunts down lost civilization with new tech. Streaming on Disney+

Olivia Morelli

Lauren Burvill

CNT Editors

Connor Sturges

Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon’s semi-improvised wander between scenically sited restaurants is a journey that bears repeating. The original six-part run through the North of England in 2010, where both idea and stars were at their freshest and there was a real edge of melancholy tod the impressions and repartee, remains the best but it’s hard to argue with Season 2’s finale in Capri, where two middle-aged men talk rubbish against one of the world’s most beautiful backdrops, and Season 3’s visit to Spain kept up the quality. This year, of course, the boys were back for a tour of Greece. Find out where Season 4 of The Trip was filmed. Stream on Amazon Prime Pictured: Adatepe Ida Blue Hotel

All Aboard! The Great Reindeer Migration

From BBC4’s ‘Slow Christmas’ series, this 2018 programme follows the Sami reindeer herds of Norway on their 160-mile trek north through Finnmark to the Arctic Circle. With no eager presenters to tell us how amazing/dangerous/unchanged it is (though all those things are true), the result is more like a visual poem or guided meditation – most of it just the jangle of the animals’ bells, traditional singing and barking dogs over aerial views and close-ups. And breathe… Streaming on BBC iPlayer

Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown

Dating from 2013 to 2018, this CNN series may just be the great legacy of the Godfather of the foodie-travel genre. The effortlessly cool and much-missed NY chef really scratches his adventurer’s itch here, starting with the just reopened Myanmar, Libya and the Congo, and throwing in local-knowledge trips to US cities as well. Regardless of the destination, though, the aim is the same: to live a more interested and interesting life. Watch and learn lessons for travel and beyond. Season 1 streaming on My5. Seasons 1-5 included with Amazon Prime membership

Floyd on France

A time capsule from a different age (1987, to be precise), this makes a pretty startling contrast to the current Netflix foodie doc. Bow-tied and boozy, the late Keith Floyd sets off from a land barely out of the boiled-mutton-and-suet dark ages and barges into the kitchens of France, then considered the world leader of haute cuisine. However misguided his confidence, his enthusiasm and astonishing ability to drink and talk are wondrous to behold as he charges through Provence, Périgord, Burgundy, Alsace, the Basque Country and Brittany. Streaming on BBC iPlayer

Ugly Delicious

Momofuku chef and Vice graduate David Chang (see also The Mind of a Chef ) gets down and dirty on this show, sold under the motto ‘Food is a four-letter word’. Each episode looks hard at one home-cooking favourite, with help from guest chefs or foodies, giving American comfort food, from pizza to fried chicken, the kind of attention usually reserved for haute cuisine. Just added is Season 2, where David deals with worries about feeding his forthcoming baby, looks at ways of eating beef, investigates curry with Aziz Ansari and explores the world of kebabs. Streaming on Netflix

World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys – C5/MY5

If you’re drawn to the romance of rail travel but don’t need the usual celebrity guide, fill your boots with this six-parter. There’s a Rocky Mountain ride past lakes, rainforest and wandering bears from Vancouver to Banff, an architecture-heavy tour of northern Spain, volcanoes and sacred hunting grounds in New Zealand, plus trips through Wales, Norway and to the Matterhorn in Switzerland. It’s packed with business and all very thorough, well-researched and beautifully filmed, and the narration is in the capable hands of Bill Nighy. Streaming on My5

Salt Fat Acid Heat

Hosting this adaptation of her own book, chef Samin Nosrat proves an exuberant, natural presenter. The high-concept format – four journeys in pursuit of the four titular pillars of cooking – provides the structure, leaving Nosrat to enthuse and convince with the help of chefs from Japan , Italy , Mexico and California . And though it’s mostly kitchen-based, the show always has a strong sense of place, whether in the olive groves of Liguria, Italy , on the cable car to Japan’s Shōdoshima island or under the corrugated roofs of Oxkutzcab in Mexico. Streaming on Netflix

Huang’s World

Tattooed, perma-vested Eddie Huang is a true one-off. An attorney, restaurateur and author (of televised memoir Fresh Off The Boat ), he’s also a man with a thirst for knowledge and a hunger for food, and the most energetic host in food-travel TV. This series is excellent value; Huang is unafraid to talk to experts and locals alike and always has his nose in the action. Catch up on All4

…with Simon Reeve

While others provide entertainment, the perturbingly youthful but tremendously wise Reeve brings the information part of the BBC’s Reithian values. With his background in investigative reporting, he digs that bit deeper while retaining the Bear Grylls-meets-Brian Cox enthusiasm that ensures you always know this is about travel rather than history or politics. You’ll find a selection of his trips on BBC iPlayer, from the six-part Indian Ocean journey and three-part whistlestop tour round Australia to a one-off in Colombia . Catch up on BBC iPlayer

Rick Stein’s Seafood Odyssey

In this series from 1999, the doyen of British seafood has a quick look at how the rest of the world does it. He cooks shark vindaloo in Goa, tries percebes (goose barnacles) picked from the rocks in Galicia, has seabass and oysters in Chesapeake Bay and generally enthuses about grills, saucepans and fishing nets in Naples, Queensland and Thailand before heading closer to home for a fish supper in Whitby. Streaming on BBC iPlayer

Arabia with Levison Wood

British Army officer Wood is an explorer in the classic mould, and solo walks are a speciality ( the Himalayas , the Nile, Central America , Russia ). This programme finds him, Bedouin-scarved and deeply tanned, touring 13 countries and 5,000 miles of the Arabian peninsula, crossing Oman ’s Empty Quarter by camel, embedding himself with troops fighting Isis in Yemen and exchanging selfies in Saudi Arabia. There’s all the derring-do and endurance you could ask for, but he’s also a sensitive and curious companion. Watch on Amazon Prime

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