It’s that time of year again… CBS’s hit reality competition show Survivor is back for its 47th season. The first episode of the new season premiered on September 18th, so you might already be wondering just what it’s like for people who are competing on Survivor.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with Survivor, the premise is pretty simple: anywhere from 16 to 20 contestants are stranded on a remote island and they must compete in physical, mental, and social challenges to have a shot at winning a $1 million prize. However, contestants have to complete these challenges while living in the jungle. That means for about one whole month, players are eating and sleeping outdoors.
Former Survivor contestants have given interviews over the years about what it’s really like to compete on the reality show, including what Survivor’s sleeping setups are like for contestants. Spoiler alert: it’s not great.
So, if you’re curious about what the sleeping conditions on Survivor are like according to former players, keep reading.
So…Do Survivor Contestants Really Sleep Outside?
The short answer is, yes, as far as we know. The contestants really do sleep outside while they are actively competing on the show. However, given the amount of first-hand accounts about what sleeping while playing Survivor is like, it’s pretty safe to assume that people are really sleeping outside during their stint on the game. (1)
We do know where players wind up sleeping after they are voted off of the show. As soon as you’re voted off of Survivor you go to a resort local to wherever the show is filming called Ponderosa. According to People Magazine’s interview with host of the show, Jeff Probst, Ponderosa is a pretty significant change of pace from the conditions players experience while actively competing on Survivor. Jeff revealed that at Ponderosa contestants can “eat whatever they want, whenever they want. They can shower, sleep as late as they want, watch movies, read books.” Which is pretty much everything that they cannot do while competing on the show. (2)
What’s It Like To Sleep On Survivor?
According to most player interviews, Survivor doesn’t lend to the greatest sleeping experience. Davie Rickenbacker, who played on Survivor: David vs. Goliath, or season 37 of the show, told Business Insider that it was hard to get a solid night of rest since contestants have to make their own shelters, and it’s pretty difficult to make a quality shelter that can accommodate everyone in your tribe. (1)
In a separate interview with Business Insider, Rickenbacker shared that sleeping does get easier once more people begin to be voted off of the show, since you have a bit more room to sleep. However, Rickenbacker said that he wound up finding a tiki prop that could double as a more comfortable sleeping surface, and that helped him get a bit of better rest. But, the rest of his tribe wanted in on his sleeping hack. (3)
Additionally, Elaine Stott who competed on Survivor: Island of the Idols, or season 39 told Business Insider that “The sleeping arrangements are a lot harder than what you would imagine,” and Stott went on to say pretty frankly that, “it’s miserable.” (1)
How Does The Lack Of Sleep Affect People On Survivor?
Karishma Patel, who also competed on Survivor: Island of the Idols (season 39) told Business Insider about the mental toll that the lack of sleep took on her while she was playing Survivor. She said “You are so tired after tribal and all you’re supposed to be doing is talking to rehash what just happened, and all my a– ever wanted to do is just go to sleep,” adding that “I would be so exhausted.” (3)
Jess Chong, who competed on season 46, revealed to Self that she was so sleep deprived that she sprayed herself in the face with bug spray (contestants are allowed bug spray for health and safety purposes). (4)
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Sources
- Cook, Megan. ‘Survivor’ players reveal what it’s really like to compete on the show. Business Insider. March 11, 2022. https://www.businessinsider.com/what-its-like-being-on-survivor-contestants-reveal-2021-6
- Caruso, Skyler. 25 of the wildest rules you didn’t know contestants have to follow on ‘Survivor’. People Magazine. September 26, 2023. https://people.com/tv/survivor-rules-contestants-have-to-follow
- Cook, Megan.’Survivor’ players reveal the worst and grossest parts of competing on the series. Business Insider. October 7, 2021. https://www.businessinsider.com/worst-and-grossest-things-about-playing-on-survivor-2021-6
- Spiegel, Amy Rose. All your most pressing health questions about ‘Survivor,’ asked and answered. Self. May 15, 2024. https://www.self.com/story/survivor-contestants-answer-health-questions
