Exploring the world: Meet the Travel Content Creators Taking Over Your Feed

The social culture of influencers and content creators continues to thrive and gain recognition around the world. Creators are finding their niche and investing in perfecting their craft within it. Among the most compelling of these are travel content creators, storytellers who invite us to dream beyond our daily routines. Every person reaches a point where they add ‘travel’ to their bucket list, and if you haven’t yet, you might want to consider it. There is far too much to see and explore in the world, and these creators are showing us exactly that.

While with every new trip they take it means work for them, it is very evident that they also collect memories that will last them a lifetime. As part of making those memories they take pictures and videos to capture a moment in time. Thanks to social media, they are now able to share those moments with everyone.

These creators go the extra mile and invest in giving their viewers the full experience with quality and well documented experiences. TikTok and Instagram being some of the most popular social media platforms to share content and allowing other people to engage in those stories.

South Africa is lucky to have some of their own  globe-trotting shutterbugs who’ve been bitten hard by the travel bug and never leave home without their trusty camera, ready to snap, click, and capture the world one stunning shot at a time. Here are five South African travel influencers to follow in 2025 on TikTok and Instagram.

1. Carlin Meyer

Carlin Meyer, affectionately known on social media as ‘Campsbaygirl’  is a lifestyle, travel photographer and content creator. Captured in her content this self proclaimed travel enthusiast has a taste for the finer things in life. With every passport stamp and hotel check in, she curates experiences that are equal parts luxurious, honest and visually captivating. She finds hidden gems and gives honest reviews based on the location of the hotels, where it ranges with aesthetics and what truly makes the destination stand out as well as where it falls short. When she is not in her hotel room she is out and about taking pictures and exploring everything around her.

2. Michael Laubscher

Michael Laubscher is a South African wildlife photographer and travel content creator whose work invites viewers into the heart of the natural world. As a lead guide and tour director for the travel company ‘Wild Eye’, Laubscher curates immersive, luxury journeys to some of the planet’s most iconic and untamed destinations. His itineraries offer front-row encounters with wildlife in their rawest, most authentic settings, moments that are both humbling and unforgettable. While the landscapes and cultures he explores shift from one journey to the next, what remains constant is his deep admiration for the wild and his ability to capture intimate moments that define life in the wild.

3. Lana Strydom

Lana Strydom, known to her growing online audience as ‘wanderwithiana’ , is a South African travel storyteller whose work invites viewers to see their homeland through a lens of wonder and rediscovery. As a full-time content creator and recipient of the 2023 DStv Content Creator Award in the Travel and Lifestyle category, Strydom curates journeys that go beyond destinations, they awaken a sense of adventure and connection. From sweeping mountain vistas to hidden waterfalls, her explorations uncover corners of South Africa that many locals might never have imagined existed. With each post, she reveals the breathtaking, the unexpected, and the soulful beauty of Mzansi. Inviting others not just to see but to feel the richness of the landscapes and experiences she shares.

4. Chris Rogers

Chris Rogers is a South African travel content creator and acclaimed action sports filmmaker whose lens captures the pulse of adventure around the globe. In 2024, he earned the Travel & Lifestyle award at the DStv Content Creator Awards, a testament to his mastery of visual storytelling. Driven by a deep passion for narrative and motion, Rogers transforms every journey into a cinematic experience. Whether soaring above coastlines or diving into untamed waters, his content fuses technical brilliance with dynamic emotion, delivering breathtaking perspectives that immerse the viewer in the heart of each moment. Adrenaline is often the spark, but it’s his ability to frame incredible beauty with intention and artistry that sets him apart, consistently redefining what it means to tell stories through movement.

5. Chad Nathan

Chad Nathan, known to his digital audience as ‘gingerwithagopro’ is a South African travel content creator whose storytelling unfolds through the candid, unfiltered lens of his GoPro. With his name quite literally written into his journey, Nathan traverses the globe capturing moments of motion, energy, and emotion, turning each destination into a living narrative. An adventurer at heart and marathon runner by passion, his content fuses physical endurance with cinematic spontaneity. Whether navigating vibrant city streets or remote mountain trails, he documents his wild, often adrenaline-charged travels with an authenticity that invites viewers to feel the world as he experiences it one frame, one heartbeat at a time.

These adventure-driven creators don’t just travel, they transform every journey into a story worth telling. From showcasing South Africa’s hidden gems to documenting unforgettable experiences across the globe, they offer more than just beautiful visuals; they capture the feeling of discovery itself. Whether it's breathtaking wildlife encounters or insider tips on luxury stays, their content invites you to see the world through their eyes. If you’re looking to elevate your next escape, let their lens lead the way.