Where I’m A Celebrity South Africa is filmed, why it isn’t live and when it was recorded
A new series has started!I’m A Celebrity South Africa has returned for a brand new series – but when was it filmed? And why isn’t it live?
The ITV spin-off show – fronted by Ant and Dec – kicked off this week, and saw famous faces like Ashley Roberts, David Haye and Scarlett Moffatt head into the jungle.
But where exactly was I’m a Celebrity South Africa filmed? Is the programme live and will fans get a chance to vote at all?
Here’s everything you need to know about I’m a Celebrity South Africa.
Where is I’m A Celebrity South Africa filmed?
Instead of Australia like the main show, I’m A Celebrity South Africa is filmed at one of the largest game reserves in Africa, the stunning Kruger National Park.
On the website for South African National Parks, it describes it as: “Established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South African Lowveld, Kruger offers a world-class wildlife experience with unparalleled diversity.
“It is home to 336 tree species, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds, and 147 mammals, and leads in environmental management techniques.”
When was I’m A Celebrity South Africa filmed?
The 2026 series of I’m A Celebrity South Africa was actually filmed last year in September 2025. This is a major difference from the Australian main series which is filmed live each night with an 11-hour time difference.
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Is I’m A Celebrity South Africa live?
Unlike the main show, I’m A Celebrity South Africa is not filmed live.
When it comes to voting for the trials and who to leave, instead of the public deciding, the campmates are the ones who have to make the decision.
It was reported that the reason for this was to make way for a “brutal” rule change on the show.
“It’s slightly different from the show we do in Australia because they go head-to-head in trials and whoever loses leaves. It’s quite brutal, so that’s how we decided the winner,” Ant McPartlin previously explained.
It was also claimed that the reason I’m A Celebrity South Africa is not live is due to it being made as a backup, in case ITV could not film the main show due to Covid restrictions in Australia.
Filming for the first South Africa series took place in July 2022 and was aired the following year.
When is I’m A Celebrity South Africa live final?
Unlike the first I’m A Celebrity South Africa series in 2023 – which was also pre-recorded – the general public will decide who wins I’m A Celebrity South Africa 2026.
A live final will be aired on Friday, April 24, in a UK studio. There, viewers vote to choose their next I’m A Celebrity’s next “ultimate legend”.
Discussing the change, Ant & Dec said: “It’s going to be here in the UK, live on the television. We’re going to get all the cast back, we’ll have the finalists in the studio. It’ll be a live vote like we do in Australia and the public will decide their Legend.
