In 2026, the tour celebrates a milestone with its tenth edition: A Decade of Discovery, says the station.
For ten years, the 5 Breakfast Heritage Tour has taken South Africans on a cross-country adventure, discovering people, places, flavours and stories — something that Hamman is proud of, citing it as one of the great privileges of his life.
"Over the years, the journey has taken us across all nine provinces, from our biggest cities to small towns that deserve far more attention than they get," says Hamman. "We've taken the show to places like Ponte Tower and the Cradle of Humankind, explored our history, discovered extraordinary food and found plenty of opportunities to push ourselves beyond what felt comfortable. South Africa makes it very difficult to run out of things to be curious about."
"Food, culture and connection have become central to the tour, revealing how much of our history sits around our kitchen tables. Ten years later, I'm just as excited to get back on the road, knowing that somewhere ahead is a person, a place or a story that will make me fall in love with South Africa all over again."
This year's route will take him through some of South Africa's landscapes, starting in Johannesburg before moving into the wide, open plains of the Free State and the Bloemhof Karoo. From there, the tour winds through the passes and sandstone ridges leading into Prince Albert, then arrives at the Cape's coastal stretch where mountains meet ocean. The journey continues along the Garden Route's forests and hills, into the Eastern Cape's windswept coastline and deep rural valleys around Mthatha, before climbing through the forests of Ingeli and arriving at the subtropical coastline of Durban, adds the station.
The final leg takes him into the escarpment around Newcastle and back to Johannesburg, carrying the stories and memories of every stop along the way.
According to the station, the full itinerary includes:
- Monday, 14 September: Constitution Hill. Johannesburg to Bloemfontein
- Tuesday, 15 September: Bloemfontein to Bloemhof Karoo Richmond area
- Wednesday, 16 September: Bloemhof Karoo to Prince Albert
- Thursday, 17 September: Prince Albert to Cape Town
- Friday, 18 September: Cape Town to Mossel Bay
- Saturday, 19 September: Mossel Bay to Gqeberha
- Sunday, 20 September: Gqeberha to East London
- Monday, 21 September: East London to Tsolo Travel via the Mthatha area
- Tuesday, 22 September: Tsolo to Ingeli Forest
- Wednesday, 23 September: Ingeli Forest to Umhlanga, Durban / KwaZulu-Natal coast
- Thursday, 24 September: Umhlanga to Newcastle — Heritage Day
- Friday, 25 September: Newcastle, to Standerton, to Johannesburg
Along the way, several key broadcasts will spotlight national milestones. From Constitution Hill, Hamman will reflect on 30 years of the Constitution and what dignity, equality and freedom mean to young South Africans today. In Cape Town, the tour marks 60 years since District Six was declared a whites-only area, exploring belonging, home and the neighbourhoods that shape us, says the station.
In East London, the tour revisits 30 years since the first Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings, unpacking truth, justice and the stories families still carry. And on Heritage Day in KwaZulu-Natal, Hamman asks South Africans what part of their heritage they want the next generation to keep, celebrating food, language, music and traditions passed down.
The 2026 edition of the 5 Breakfast Heritage Tour is a celebration of the people who make this country extraordinary. Hamman's approach to immersing himself in South African culture, seeing, tasting, listening and doing whatever it takes to truly connect, is what makes the journey special, adds the station.
Masi Mdingane, Business Manager for 5FM and Good Hope FM, says, "This is a massive milestone for South Africa's favourite road trip. For ten years, the Heritage Tour has showcased the absolute best that our beautiful nation has to offer. Nick's ability to click and bond deeply with South Africans from any culture and background, to truly see life through their eyes, is what makes this tour not only a tour, but a national cultural movement. It's a privilege to take the 5 Tribe and the rest of Mzansi along for the ride as we celebrate a decade of discovery. Here's to the next 10 years."
"When I think about what has stayed with me, I think about the people. The pride someone takes in showing you their hometown. The family recipe that comes with a story you weren't expecting. The person who insists you can't leave until you've met someone else or tried one more thing. Those encounters have changed the way I see this country, and they've shaped the broadcaster and storyteller I've become," adds Hamman.
Listeners can experience the journey live on 5 Breakfast, with Hamman broadcasting from each destination weekdays between 06:00 and 09:00. The journey also continues online through daily updates and behind the scenes content on 5FM's social media, the 5FM app for iOS and Android, as well as on the 5FM website, concludes the station.
For more information, visit www.5fm.co.za. You can also follow 5FM on Facebook, X, or on Instagram.
*Image courtesy of contributor