Exploring the world of YouTube influencers in South Africa reveals a vibrant and diverse community that actively shapes culture, trends, and consumer behavior. Influencers like Dxwxt, known for his dance content, and Samuperty, celebrated for her beauty expertise and lifestyle tips, exemplify the variety of engaging content available on the platform. The Buddymoon offers a glimpse into travel and lifestyle, while Miss Linky captivates audiences with educational and kid-friendly content.
This article ranks the top 20 South African YouTube influencers, using follower count and engagement metrics as the criteria. It covers a broad spectrum of niches, including beauty, travel, finance, and social experiments. Whether you're seeking fashion inspiration, financial insights, or lifestyle advice, these influencers are at the forefront of South Africa’s digital landscape.
Discover how these creators leverage their platforms to connect authentically with viewers, promote brands, and inspire positive change within their communities. This guide is essential for brands looking to collaborate with influencers in South Africa, for fans eager to explore fresh, impactful content, and for those aiming to succeed in influencer marketing.
1. Thebuddymoon: Leanne and Dan, the adventurous South African couple behind Thebuddymoon, as they explore the globe, sharing their travel and lifestyle experiences in pursuit of unforgettable adventures.
Topics: Travel, Lifestyle
Subscribers: 592K
Average Views: 23K
Average Likes: 11K
2. MihlaliN: Mihlali N, a dynamic South African YouTube influencer whose engaging content spans beauty, lifestyle, and travel, all while showcasing her journey as a successful digital entrepreneur.
Topics: Beauty, Lifestyle, Travel
Subscribers: 456K
Average Views: 172K
Average Likes: 9K
3. Dxwxt: Dxwxt is known for his engaging video reactions and energetic dance content, captivating viewers with his unique perspective and entertaining style.
Topics: Video Reaction, Dance
Subscribers: 348K
Average Views: 32K
Average Likes: 2K
4. MissLinky: Miss Linky creates engaging educational content for kids on YouTube, combining popular themes with music and movement to provide supplemental resources for educators, parents, and guardians.
Topics: Education, Kids
Subscribers: 340K
Average Views: 446K
Average Likes: 2K
5. NthabisengPetlane: Nthabi specializes in hairstyle tutorials, sharing creative and stylish looks that inspire her audience to elevate their hair game.
Topics: Hairstyle
Subscribers: 326K
Average Views: 75K
Average Likes: 4K
6. SamupertyZuluTV: Samuperty is a vibrant South African YouTube channel that explores beauty and lifestyle topics, offering viewers a blend of engaging tutorials, tips, and personal insights.
Topics: Beauty, Lifestyle
Subscribers: 319K
Average Views: 9K
Average Likes: 1K
7. Lesibamothupi: Lesiba Mothupi shares valuable insights on personal finance, trading strategies, and lifestyle tips to empower viewers on their financial journeys.
Topics: Personal Finance, Trading, Lifestyle
Subscribers: 279K
Average Views: 5K
Average Likes: 1K
8. ThatoRampedi: Thato Rampedi inspires his audience with captivating storytelling on motivation, personal experience, and lifestyle insights.
Topics: Motivation, Lifestyle
Subscribers: 198K
Average Views: 33K
Average Likes: 2K
9. Naledimofficial: Naledi Mallela shares her passion for beauty, makeup, and lifestyle on her YouTube channel, offering viewers a vibrant blend of tutorials, tips, and personal insights that inspire and empower.
Topics: Beauty, Make Up, Lifestyle
Subscribers: 195K
Average Views: 47K
Average Likes: 4K
10. LebogangLeisa: Lebogang Leisa is a dynamic South African YouTube influencer known for his entertaining social experiments and pranks that captivate audiences with a blend of humor and creativity.
Topics: Social Experiment, Prank, Entertainment
Subscribers: 170K
Average Views: 34K
Average Likes: 3K
11. MuziSambo: Muzi Sambo is a South African YouTuber known for his engaging car review videos, where he combines insightful analysis with a vibrant personality to guide viewers through the latest automotive trends and innovations.
Topics: Car Review
Subscribers: 169K
Average Views: 32K
Average Likes: 3K
12. Snimhlongo: Snimhlongo shares captivating content on fashion, travel, and lifestyle, inspiring her audience with stylish looks and unforgettable adventures.
Topics: Fashion, Travel, Lifestyle
Subscribers: 155K
Average Views: 75K
Average Likes: 5K
13. Kileyshorts: Kileyshorts shares captivating content on fashion, makeup, and lifestyle, inspiring her audience with trendy looks and creative tips.
Topics: Fashion, Makeup, Lifestyle
Subscribers: 152K
Average Views: 9K
Average Likes: 1K
14. BecomingDrAndy: Dr Andy is a South African YouTube channel that offers an authentic glimpse into the life of a medical student, blending insightful educational content with relatable lifestyle experiences.
Topics: Medical Student Life, Lifestyle
Subscribers: 139K
Average Views: 7K
Average Likes: 1K
15. Peachysprinkles: Siyamthanda Tame, offers a delightful blend of travel and lifestyle content, showcasing adventures and experiences as a couple that inspire viewers to explore the world.
Topics: Travel, Lifestyle
Subscribers: 121K
Average Views: 100K
Average Likes: 8K
16. LifesAPeach: Alex Beazley, is a vibrant YouTube channel celebrating plus-size fashion, self-love, and positivity, inspiring viewers to embrace their individuality and confidence.
Topics: Plus Size Fashion, Self love, Positivity
Subscribers: 120K
Average Views: 4K
Average Likes: 1K
17. Nokuhlekumalo: Nokuhle Kumalo is a South African YouTuber dedicated to empowering viewers with valuable insights on finance and career development, offering practical advice to help them achieve their professional goals.
Topics: Finance, Career
Subscribers: 119K
Average Views: 17K
Average Likes: 2K
18. Khayrepublik_: Khay Republik shares her passion for beauty and fashion alongside engaging life diaries, providing viewers with stylish tips and a glimpse into her daily life through captivating vlogs.
Topics: Beauty, Fashion
Subscribers: 118K
Average Views: 12K
Average Likes: 2K
19. YolzChannel: YolzChannel inspires viewers with engaging content on lifestyle, finance, and motivational themes, empowering them to live their best lives.
Topics: Lifestyle, Finance, Motivational
Subscribers: 104K
Average Views: 11K
Average Likes: 2K
20. Minnieeeeee_: Minenhle Langa shares her vibrant world through weekly vlogs that explore beauty, fashion, and lifestyle, captivating her audience with a blend of personal insights and stylish inspirations.
Topics: Beauty, Fashion, Lifestyle
Subscribers: 97.6K
Average Views: 66K
Average Likes: 6K
Once you've identified the right influencers for your campaign, the next step is to find their contact information—preferably their Youtube channel email address—so you can reach out to them and start a conversation. To streamline this process, consider using Influencer Hero, a tool specifically designed to connect brands with influencers. Influencer Hero allows you to reach out to influencers without the hassle of manually searching for their contact details, as it provides an extensive YouTube influencer database complete with their email and contact information.
Additionally, Influencer Hero’s advanced search filters help you identify the most relevant influencers for your campaign, while detailed analytics offer insights into each influencer's engagement metrics and audience demographics. Once you connect with influencers through Influencer Hero, you can also manage all ongoing communications, from initial outreach to campaign reporting, making it easier and more efficient to track and achieve your influencer marketing goals.
South Africa's YouTube influencer scene is vibrant and full of potential for brands seeking authentic connections with diverse audiences. With a variety of creators excelling in niches like beauty, lifestyle, travel, finance, and education, there's ample opportunity for brands to find influencers who align with their values and campaign goals. By partnering with these influencers, brands can tap into dedicated communities and benefit from the trust and engagement these creators have cultivated with their followers. This list of the top 20 South African YouTube influencers serves as a valuable starting point, helping marketers identify high-impact voices and initiate collaborations that resonate with South African audiences and beyond.
Brands can reach out to influencers directly through their social media channels or by using platforms like Influencer Hero, which simplifies the process of finding contact information and managing communications.
Many of these influencers also have a presence on other social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter, where they engage with their followers and promote their content.
Engagement metrics can be assessed by looking at the number of likes, comments, shares, and views on their videos, as well as their overall interaction rate with subscribers.
Brands should consider factors such as the influencer's audience demographics, content style, values alignment, past collaboration experiences, and overall engagement rates to ensure a good fit.
Following industry news, subscribing to marketing blogs, joining relevant social media groups, and engaging with influencers directly can help you stay informed about trends and emerging influencers in the South African market.
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