After the massive success of last season’s Survivor South Africa: Philippines, M-Net has confirmed the scenic treasure trove of Samoa as the next location set to play host to the new crop of contestants for this year’s edition.
The big reveal, which comes after weeks of immense speculation with Survivor SA superfans predicting Fiji as the location where the escapades of ‘Island of Secrets’ will play out, thanks but no thanks to a series of (misleading) hints from the channel. Although not too far off the mark, the 7th edition of Survivor South Africa: Island of Secrets is indeed set in the South Pacific, but on the island of Samoa.
Everyone’s favourite, the dashing Survivor South Africa host Nico Panagio, who called this the toughest presenting gig of all, made the announcement today (Thursday) on a video-reel shot on location. The video was shared on social media and on the M-Net’s website.
While the rest of the details remain a top secret, all we know so far is that this season’s castaways “consist of strong personalities from diverse backgrounds and age groups,” says M-Net’s head of publicity Lani Lombard, adding: “What we can tell viewers, is that they must be prepared for twists and turns unlike anything they’ve seen on the show before. It’s called Island of Secrets, after all.”
Survivor SA season 7 starts on M-Net 101 on Thursday, May 16, nine months after adventure camp manager, Tom Swartz, from Port Elizabeth was named the winner of Survivor SA season 6 last August.
Hidden secrets of Samoa awaits you
Also known as the Cradle of Polynesia, Samoa is notable for its Fa’a Samoa (the Samoan way of life), a 3000-year old social code that prizes family, tradition and the environment. The locals proudly refers to the island as the most authentic and traditional of all Pacific societies with visitors – as lonelyplanet.com noted – more likely to see someone juggling fire, than a house with walls.
The name Samoa – from Sa (sacred) and Moa (centre) – means ‘Sacred Centre of the Universe’. Located South of the equator, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand, it consists of nine islands; Apolima, Manono, Fanuatapu, Namu’a, Nuutele, Nuulua, Nuusafee, Savai’i (the largest, at 1,708 sq km including adjacent small islands) and Upolu (second largest, at 1,118 sq km including adjacent small islands). Five of the islands are uninhabited.
