Discovery Channel is taking survival to its grittiest limits with Naked and Afraid: Apocalypse, the latest spinoff in its long-running survival franchise. Premiering Sunday, July 27, the new reality series drops 12 seasoned and new survivalists into some of the harshest conditions ever seen on the show.Contestants have to fight their way through a dangerous world reminiscent of a post-apocalyptic one without any tools, clothes, or safety nets. They have to find their way back to civilisation.
In previous seasons, the show mostly took place in swamps or tropical jungles. This season, however, is darker. The setting is meant to look like a burned-out, dying wasteland. But where did they film Naked and Afraid: Apocalypse season 1?
Filming in South Africa’s Remote Terrain
The eight-episode season was shot in remote parts of South Africa that are known for having dramatic and rough landscapes. Production occurred in late 2024, with on-location shoots conducted across abandoned sites, each chosen for their eerie, decayed look and real-life danger potential. South Africa was chosen because it had a lot of empty, desolate areas that felt really post-apocalyptic, which was perfect for the mood of this spinoff.
This isn’t just another place to stay alive. The production team chose real abandoned places on purpose to make the show feel more rough and unforgiving. A ghost town that has been abandoned and offers a haunting glimpse into a world that has been left behind — a wrecked vehicle scrapyard full of twisted metal and broken glass; an eerie, overgrown cemetery where nature has taken over the graves of the dead; and a crumbling underground mine shaft that is both dark and suffocating. There was a lot of danger and realism in each setting, which pushed the survivalists to the edge of their minds and bodies.
The Ghost Town: A Decaying Civilization
One of the standout locations is the ghost town, where the cracked walls, collapsing roofs, and rusted structures gave the impression of a world left behind. These scenes were shot in a mining town that used to be in South Africa’s Northern Cape. This is an area full of ghost towns from the early 1900s. These towns were left empty because of changes in the economy or the environment, which made them perfect settings for the show’s theme of surviving after society falls apart.
Wrecked Vehicle Junkyard
Another place where films were shot is a creepy scrapyard full of old, rusted cars stacked on top of each other. This is not just a bunch of props; it’s a real junk pile on the outskirts of South Africa, full of broken axles, twisted hoods, and oil leaks.
In early episodes, one team builds their shelter using junked car parts, even making shoes from old tires. But this scrapyard is no safe haven. Sharp debris, unstable vehicles and the occasional visit from wild animals like elephants add to the chaos. A rogue elephant reportedly forced production crews to briefly halt filming while cast members were relocated behind barricades.
Mine Shaft: Filmed in an Abandoned Gold Mine
A particularly treacherous segment of the show was filmed inside an abandoned gold mine. It is dangerous and dark inside these mines, which are no longer being used. It is very dark, damp and unstable in the shafts, so contestants have to deal with claustrophobia and the risk of cave-ins. While filming took place in this area, safety teams were on high alert.
Cemetery: Filming Among Forgotten Graves
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Another chilling location was the overgrown cemetery. With its thick vegetation, broken gravestones, and thick fog, the site gave the survival challenge a creepy, horror-movie feel. The crew and the local government worked together to make sure that the site was respected during filming.
Facing Africa’s Wild Predators
Beyond the locations themselves, filming in South Africa added real-life danger thanks to the region’s wildlife. Survivalists had to be cautious of lions, elephants, hyenas, and black mambas, which roam freely in the region. In the past, threats were usually from the environment. This season, however, the risk of being attacked by a predator was always there.
The production team filmed from a distance with hidden cameras and drones to get real reactions and keep things as natural as possible. This gave the contestants room to move around in the wild terrain with as little interference as possible.
Cast Members and Their Survival Backgrounds
• Steven Lee Hall Jr. (Florida): 272 days; expert hunter and survivalist, nicknamed “King of the Forest.”
• Waz Addy (Australia): 140 days; military training officer with sharp tactical skills.
• Amber Hargrove (Colorado): 100 days; U.S. Army instructor with a strong survival track record.
• Wes Harper (North Carolina): 96 days; IT company owner with steady endurance.
• Russell Sage (East Texas): 75 days; corporate safety manager, skilled in risk management.
• Frank Eytcheson (Florida): 35 days; house painter with raw survival grit.
• Miranda Adams (Florida): 21 days; fishing charter captain, resourceful in aquatic settings.
• Teal Bulthuis (Oklahoma): 21 days; field scientist with land management experience.
• Steven Kelly (England): 21 days; British Army Commando with elite training.
• Joseph Prouse (California): 21 days; Air Force veteran with survival instincts.
• Kelly Roske (Hawaii): 21 days; nature-connected “Earth Mother.”
• Alexa Towersey (Australia): 21 days; fitness trainer and motivational speaker with mental toughness.
Sneak Peek
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