It's amazing to think that Survivor has been on the air since 2000 as there have been so many seasons where people have risked the elements and tried to be crowned the winner. There have been 40 seasons, which is wild to think about, and that's definitely more than most reality shows (or even other types of series).
As with all reality shows, there are cast members who fans don't enjoy watching, along with people who seem like they're cool, calm, and collected.
Fans are curious if host Jeff Probst will quit the show, but for now, he's definitely still on board and the public face of the long-running reality series. Fans know that after the third season, the show never filmed in Africa again, so let's take a look at the reasons why.
Not The Best Filming Location
It's interesting to learn about how Jeff Probst acts behind-the-scenes, and it's also interesting to consider why Survivor said goodbye to Africa after season three finished filming.
Some fans have posted in a thread on Reddit and shared their understanding of the situation. One fan wrote that the filming conditions weren't ideal or even safe. They said, "Africa was way too extreme. Too hot, too dangerous, no water. Players couldn't hunt/fish, players couldn't safely leave the camp, just an all-around bad situation."
Another fan explained that people would get parasites or they would get too hot, so it didn't make sense to keep Africa as the show's setting.
Season 3 Was Tough
When the show filmed in Africa for the third season, fans will recall that it wasn't the happiest experience for anyone. This is because of the animals that were nearby.
According to Survivor.fandom.com, there was "dangerous wildlife" and even creatures that could kill people, so the contestants couldn't go anywhere or move around very much.
CBS News explains that rules had to be set out for the contestants during the third season, and no one could go near the water because it could be deadly. The publication writes, "They'll be hungry, but this time around, can't hunt animals for food. They'll be dying of thirst, but they can't even take so much as a sip from the river, infested with man-eating crocodiles. In fact, there are so many dangers in the river that the producers couldn't make it safe. So there's a new rule for 'Survivor: Africa' that no contestants are allowed in the water - or even near it."
That definitely sounds scary and it doesn't sound sustainable.
A fan posted in a Reddit thread that during other seasons, such as when the show filmed in the Philippines, contestants have been hurt or bitten by animals, so that is why the series has taken the filming locations seriously.
According to Surviving Trival, Kim Powers, one of the most popular and well-known contestants, shared that they were super close to a lion and only separated from the animal by a fence. They could actually hear the animal breathing.
Jeff Probst Loves Fiji
Another reason why Survivor didn't film again in Africa? It sounds like the host is a big fan of Fiji.
Fans of Survivor have definitely noticed that many seasons have been filmed in Fiji. It turns out that Jeff Probst loves Fiji and has wanted the show to stay there. According to Entertainment Weekly, he has had nothing but super positive things to say about the place. He explained, "Fiji offers us everything that we want. Incredibly beautiful water that you can see down 30 feet, beaches that are amazing, a government that is working with us, local labor that loves to say ‘Bula!' every day because they're just happy you're here. And our crew has never been as happy. We actually have decent accommodations to do this show out in the jungle. It's a win-win-win."
Probst also said some locations are totally out as far as filming locations go. He explained to EW that was because of things such as"the economy, population, political unrest, weather patterns."
Even though Probst has talked about his desire to keep Survivor in Fiji, it sounds like some fans aren't thrilled with that. According to Goldderby.com, 39% of fans of the show think that the show should film other places and not just stick to one place. People who answered a survey said that being able to see places "around the world" was what attracted them to the popular reality series.
The next season will definitely be in Fiji, according to The Hollywood Reporter's recent interview with Probst. Time will tell whether any other locations are chosen or if this really is the only place that Survivor fans will see.
