It’s Survivor time
20 players are on SA’s Wild Coast, ready to outwit, outplay and outlast in Survivor South Africa: Immunity Island season 8.
On Thursday 3 June, Survivor South Africa (2006-now) host Nico Panagio returns to welcome 20 new Survivors to South Africa’s remote Wild Coast bush in the Eastern Cape, where they will battle to outwit, outplay and outlast each other in its jungles and beaches over the course of 39 days, in Survivor South Africa: Immunity Island season 8, Thursdays on M-Net (*101) at 19:30.
There are snakes and skulls everywhere. The Tribal Council area features the gnarled and bleached remains of ancient trees and driftwood, with skulls scattered about, including this season’s symbol, a realistic woven vegetable fibre skull with a metal snake slithering above the top and through the eye sockets.
The urn that’ll contain the contestants’ votes has handles shaped like a snake’s body. And the castaways’ torches are topped with a snake wrapped around a skull, with the snake looping through the eye sockets. The contestants, aged between 24 and 39, are split into two tribes for this season – Vuna (traffic cone orange) and Zamba (Granny Smith apple green) – and filmed in November and December 2020 in their COVID-19 safe production bubble, with the hiss of death waiting around every corner.
MEET THE CASTAWAYS
WARDAH HARTLEY (39, yoga instructor) The ex-journalist has years of experience in reading people and building trust quickly. She prepared for the game by exercising more and swotting up on the original Survivor (2002-now). “I also did loads of meditation and got clear with myself about who I am, so I wouldn’t lose touch,” she says. If there’s something she worries about, it’s falling into the role of group mommy.
ANESU MBIZVO (28, vegan lifestyle entrepreneur) The first thing that Anesu put in her carry-on bag was her mala beads. “I’m an avid meditator and set myself a goal of being present and meditating every day while being in the game,” she says. “My meditation beads are my anchor”. She has gone all-out to physically prepare, including endurance, doing puzzles and mind games, intermittent fasting and swimming.
TYSON ZULU (24, entrepreneur) He focussed on fitness in the run-up to the season and reveals that Tony Vlachos (winner of Survivor: Cagayan, 2014 and Survivor: Winners
At War, 2019) is his favourite player “because he played an inventive game. It always seemed like he was thinking ahead, with an unorthodox approach that made a lot of people nervous”. FRANCOIS CHAPMAN (31, transformation coach) “Chappies” is a speak-before-youthink kind of guy and he’s concerned that his confidence could come across as arrogance, but he’s planning to surround himself with the best strategic and social players. The first thing that Chappies packed in his little Survivor suitcase was his orange speedo costume which he’s hoping will be as entertaining as his gameplay.
SANTONI ENGELBRECHT (39, online shop owner) It was fourth time lucky for Santoni, as her Survivor auditions finally paid off. “I love the show’s dynamics and always wanted to enter. I’m such a ‘non-Survivor-looking person’ and want to show people that anything is possible if you put your mind to it,” she says. She prepared for the game by cutting sugar and coffee out of her diet and quitting smoking.
NOLEEN NKANJENI (30, rope access technician) “Growing up, to this day, my family call me ‘Pint-size’ or ‘Pinty’, which is the name I am known by. My old lady only refers to me as ‘Noleen’ when I’m in her bad books,” says Pinty, who calls herself a “Janet of All Trades”. She’s been a Survivor fanatic since her school days and Pinty made sure that the first thing in her bag were flipflops and bucket hat.
SHAUN WILSON (40, IT business owner) He’s studied the game and says that he has modelled his game on that of David Genat (Australian Survivor: All Stars winner, 2019) because “he played the perfect game. My strategy is to go in and be mischievous and have some fun – but maybe I’ll come across as ‘the crazy old guy,” jokes this season’s oldest castaway.
AMY ELIASON (33, corporate lawyer) Amy’s favourite saying is, “Don’t take life too seriously. None of us
are getting out alive, anyway”. She loves red wine and a braai, and entered Survivor on a whim… but she’s ready to be stuck in the middle of nowhere for 39 days. “I’m going to keep under the radar and to build alliances with other castaways who could be perceived as bigger threats in the game than me. The key to winning is to be good but not that good.” THORISO M-AFRIKA (36, marketing officer) “I’ll stand out as an anomaly. I’d never be caught dead camping, I’m a creature of comfort and would probably die if I ever did something like this alone,” jokes Thoriso, who prepared for the game by listening to podcasts that analysed different methods of playing and insists that the only line she won’t cross is attacking another player’s character to win the game.
PAUL CUPIDO (29, aftercare teacher) The social experiment aspect of the show intrigues Paul, who reveals that his favourite Survivor player was Rob Bentele from Survivor South Africa: Island Of Secrets, 2019) “because of the way he played a great social game, great strategic game and a well-rounded player in all aspects as he went about manipulating the other castaways”. The first thing that actionguy Paul packed was his sarong and he says that “I’m going into this show having trained like a triathlete”.
MIKE LAWS (32, advocate) Mike says that “Survivor is the ultimate human chess and I’m excited to see if I can play the game skilfully, while still having some fun”. While Mike isn’t afraid of being the bad guy, he believes that “racism, sexism, homophobia and the like are not acceptable in the game”. The first thing he packed in his bag was the red bandana he got as a kid, the first time he watched Survivor.
ANELA MAJOZI (25, rugby coach) Anela’s favourite Survivor castaway is fellow “proud Zulu boy” Rob Bentele and he says that he was inspired while watching the local version last year: “Rob had an influence on others which I’d love to emulate in my season. If I am to be perceived by the public as this season’s villain, there is a very specific type I’d like to play.”
NICOLE WILMANS (26, digital marketer) Shopaholic Nicole indulged before leaving for the show, making sure to pack a bikini “so that I can get that Survivor Glow”. She adds, “I feel like
I was born to play the game, I’ve been mentally and physically preparing myself. You can’t really prepare for how crazy it is, how hungry you are and how intense it is. The fact that I’d wanted to play since forever meant I was ready.” JASON BROOKSTEIN (27, structural engineering draftsman) There’s nothing that Jason loves more than a trip to the barbershop but he knows he won’t be getting any pampering on Survivor. “I’m a crazy wildling, I’m (Disney character) Tarzan’s lost brother. Expect tree swinging, confused facial expressions and glorious hair flips,” says Jason, who made sure that hair elastics were packed in his bag first.
RENIER LOUWRENS (30, chemical engineer) Survivor is one of his best topics of conversation with his wife and they love dissecting the strategies. And together, they’ve been playing a “What if” game for years to figure out what his best game strategy could be until the day arrives when he can put it to the test. Top of his list of things not to do on the show is vote out a strong physical player before the merge.
KIRAN NAIDOO (29, strategy consultant) Kiran is taking this seriously. “Playing ‘for fun’ is quite literally the most annoying concept in the world,” he insists. “I am a superfan! Survivor has been my favourite show since I was nine.” Kiran is hoping that some time in the bush will trim him down again, too. “I ate tons of food to put on a few kilos to insulate myself, and I read a few books on decision making.”
CARLA GUBB (28, corporate salesperson) “I’m a student of the Survivor game and a super-fan. I wanted to push myself to my physical and mental limits and prove that I am capable of doing this,” says Carla. Her favourite player is Rick Devens from Survivor: Edge Of Extinction (2018), adding that he inspires her because “nobody who finds three idols, wins four immunity challenges doesn’t deserve the milliondollar grand prize”.
MARISHA DU PLESSIS (35, guest house owner) She got ready by watching plenty of seasons of Survivor – both local and the international version, like Survivor: Ghost Island (Mondays on SABC3 at 21:00) and carrying on with her normal routine of training and eating healthily. “I’m a machine with challenges and I have a lot of jokes,” she says. She also wants to prove that anyone can win. “I am ‘just a girl’. There is nothing out of this world about me, you all can do this”.
DINO PAULO (30, live escape game owner) He describes himself as a loud, competitive man-child who tries to be friends with everyone. “Enjoying problem and puzzle solving could come in handy in the game,” says Dino. “There is no right or wrong way to play, no blueprint for success or guaranteed way to win. I get goosebumps thinking about how it is complex yet so simple!” QIEAN (35, “funemployed” volunteer firefighter) Her name is pronounced “Keyhahn”, she was born in Taiwan, lives in SA and she’s a Survivor superfan. Open Qiean’s bag and you’ll find the first thing she packed: a clear quartz crystal to help keep up positive energy. She prepared by watching multiple seasons of Survivor SA and the US version, along with playing the Survivor Puzzle App on her iPad and learning how to make fire. But watch out if you are already underestimating her.