My lifechanging trip!

Gregg Wallace goes wild on an epic African adventure…

Gregg Wallace swaps the sleek Masterchef kitchen for a tent in the heart of the bush in the first episode of his new six-part series exploring the wildlife, culture and cuisine of South Africa.

He begins his journey in the 18,000-acre Amakhala Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape, spotting warthogs, giraffes, zebras, elephants and rhinos, while also sampling some unique South African food such as potjie, a type of stew cooked over a campfire.

But while the antelope, mushroom and cream potjie gets the thumbs up, after a long day on safari, Gregg’s less impressed by his sleeping quarters – it’s the first time he’s slept under canvas!

‘It’s a bit disconcerting being in the pitch black in the middle of the African savannah,’ admits Gregg. ‘I’m from a council estate in south-east London, so this is a whole new world of adventure for me!’ However, the following morning, Gregg gets the opportunity of a lifetime as he joins the reserve’s vets on a mission to change a wild leopard’s tracking collar. The device helps the vet team monitor the big cat’s health and ensure that he stays on the reserve. But they only have 15 minutes to swap the collar, weigh the leopard and check his overall health before the tranquilliser dart wears off. That means it’s all hands on deck and Gregg even gets to carry the leopard to the weighing scales. ‘It’s really quite emotional to be this close,’ says Gregg. ‘I feel so privileged to lend a hand. This is a life-changing moment for me!’