Lights, Camera, Exhaustion

When people imagine the world of television production, the mind tends to drift towards the glamorous side of things—celebrity perks, exciting travel, and the magic of the final cut. But for the General Manager and the team at the 5-Star Kilima Private Game Reserve and Spa, hosting the filming of the popular series Op My Eish! revealed a very different picture.

While the series—produced by Wakanda Media for DStv and kykNET—certainly brought its fair share of excitement and glamour to the reserve, it also brought a side the audience never gets to see: the sweat, the dehydration, and the grueling, long days that make the finished product possible.

Over a period of six intense weeks, the reserve became home to 12 contestants and roughly 60 on-site crew members. It was an experience that taught the Kilima management team more about endurance and the sheer power of teamwork than any other project in over 20 years of eventing. The reality of shooting a major reality show in the Limpopo bushveld is far removed from a holiday. The production team faced:

Relentless Schedules:

• The crew tackled 18‐hour workdays with almost no downtime, often running back‐to‐back for weeks. To keep the cameras rolling, they had to rotate continuously between day and night shoots.

Punishing Conditions:

• The African sun was unforgiving, with temperatures soaring to 40°C. Dehydration was a constant threat, prompting the deployment of water dispensers that poured out an additional 1,725 litres just
  to keep the team standing.

Heavy Lifting:

• Behind the lens, the physical toll was immense. Crew membershauled gear loads varying from small 500g items to heavy rigs weighing 7kg or more, trekking through the bush to get the perfect shot.

It wasn’t just physically demanding; it was high-stakes. The set was filled with highly specialised equipment collectively valued at hundreds of thousands, all operating in the dust and heat of the wild. Between pre-production, the actual shoot, and post-production, the project involved approximately 120 highly qualified crew members working in sync.

For the staff at Kilima, the experience was an eye-opener. Behind every polished frame that makes it to television screens is a team pushing through physical strain, logistical headaches, and tight timelines.

The result is rewarding, but it is earned through determination, massive teamwork, and a lot of grit. Enjoy the new season of Op My Eish! Stay tuned—more on the individuals behind the scenes coming next week.