A shot at redemption
20 former Castaways with a point to prove return for another survival battle in Survivor South Africa.
Survivor South Africa: Return Of The Outcasts
Season 9 Mon-Thurs (starts 18 July) M-Net (*101) 18:00
When Castaways are voted off adventure reality series Survivor South Africa and their torches are snuffed by host Nico Panagio – which signifies the end of their journey in the competition – they usually walk away from Tribal Council with their heads hanging in disappointment because they failed to conquer the game.
However, some of them are given an opportunity for a do-over… For the first time in the franchise’s history, 20 Castaways from the first five seasons of Survivor SA are back for a rematch in Return Of The Outcasts.
The 20 returnees will face physical and mental challenges at the Eastern Cape’s Sunshine Coast Region, and they will do anything to avoid getting sent home. The winner also gets a massive cash prize and the title of Sole Survivor. “They all have an agenda – whether it’s advancing further than they did or settling the score with another castaway, they have a goal they wish to achieve,” says Nico, who adds that the returnees are more calculated and less inclined to get sidetracked. “From the onset, they are hyperaware of their surroundings. They’re ready to fight tooth and nail to win, which makes for a thrilling season,” reveals the host.
OUTWIT, OUTPLAY, OUTLAST
The returnees include strategists who’ve orchestrated memor-able eliminations, record breakers and even master manipulators, so Nico says this season will be filled with twists and turns. “The Castaways have elevated their game-plays and so have we. The challenges are more advanced, and you’ll see the tribes fighting for survival,” adds
Nico, who played Detective Marco Andino in the M-Net telenovela Legacy (p36).
The group is split into tribes of 10 players: The blue Masu include Castaways who made the merge in their past season, while the red Yontau consist of those who played pre-merge. “The returnees arrive with an emotional story and a fire in their eyes. I can say with confidence that we give them a run for their money,” explains Nico.
What’s more exciting is that the reality series will now air four days a week so, viewers can binge-watch the action. Which Castaways are back for another round of backstabbing and plotting? Let’s meet the returnees.
Staying in the same location for seasons isn’t uncommon in the Survivor world – the original series Survivor USA is in season 42 and has been filmed in Fiji since season 33 in 2016. Due to COVID and travel restrictions, this is the second season of Survivor SA filmed locally after Immunity Island in 2021. The show’s executive producer Leroux Botha says that “the Sunshine Coast is the ideal setting for this daring and different season. The Wild Coast lived up to its name last season. Just because the castaways are closer to home doesn’t mean that it’s any more familiar. The Sunshine Coast is filled with sunshine most of the year, but as viewers will see this season, it has a tempestuous and brooding side that can change at a moment’s notice. This is one of our best seasons ever!”