Suvechha Sarkar
A new battleground has emerged for season 12 of History’s ‘Alone.’ This time, it leaves the 10 participants in the heart of South Africa’s Great Karoo Desert, where survival takes on an entirely new meaning. In the premiere episode, appropriately titled ‘The Land of Great Thirst,’ every competitor’s focus is on clean drinking water. In the brutal sunbaked wilderness, they must depend solely on their basic instincts, mental strength, and ten carefully chosen survival items. The challenge they face is quite simple in theory: to endure the solitude and harsh elements longer than everyone else to win the grand prize of $500,000.
With the Drop-offs, Survivalists Begins Their Solitary Journey
The adventure begins as a chopper drops each of the ten survivalists into their designated spots in the wilderness, one by one. The first person to be dropped is Pablo Arguelles from Florida, followed by Nathan Olsen from Idaho, and Katie Rydge from Emerald Beach, Australia. Right after her is Jit Patel from Anakiwa, New Zealand, Colton Gilman from Montana, Dug North from New Hampshire, and Douglas Meyer from North Carolina. The last three contestants are Baha Mahmutov from Ontario, Canada, Kelsey Loper from Montana, and Will Lamb from Texas. The focus is first on Will, who begins exploring his surroundings immediately after arriving at his location and notices he is surrounded by a big lake. He loves the spot and decides to collect some water, only to realize that it’s quite muddy. However, it reminds him of his home, Casablanca.
Will reveals that he is an Exotic Trapper who catches, transports, and houses exotic animals, including species from Asia, Australia, and Africa. Some of the animals he works with have gone extinct in their original country, so he breeds them and serves as a conservationist, too. He is a self-proclaimed primitive enthusiast. Although he is not a survivalist by trade, he believes his skills of hunting and ambushing make him physically and mentally capable of conquering this site. Will’s ultimate goal is to provide for his wife and young son. He wants to create a legacy and a foundation for his son, all the while showing him that all dreams are attainable if you just work hard enough. He approaches the lake to find its water rather unclean and observes that he can get sick if he does not disinfect it. To filter the water, he uses his bandana to cover the mouth of his pot while collecting it.
Will then starts a fire to further purify the water by boiling it. He notes that since animals come to drink the water and even defecate in it, it consists of several microorganisms that are not safe for his body. Hence, heating is the best option he has for processing it. He knows hydration is critical in such a demanding setting, as exertion and sweating quickly drain fluids. Staying hydrated, he says, will be a constant challenge. As his water is boiling, he decides to go and fish with his hook and line in the meantime. Meanwhile, Kelsey is also delighted to be near water and begins exploring the surroundings. She observes that in South Africa, the land is marked with boulders, open grasslands, rocky hills, and so her strategy is to find where the resources are available.
Every Passing Moment Turns This Adventure Into an Exhibit of Inner Strength and Skills
Kelsey hopes to find the spot where the animals are living and come to get water because hunting is her priority. As she continues to look around, she discovers Baboon tracks on the soil and immediately goes on alert since they are known to be dangerous, as they have a tendency to not only attack but also steal supplies from humans in the wild. She states that she is always surrounded by her friends or family when she is in survivalist mode, so this experience of being alone is rather strange for her. Kelsey’s introduction tape reveals she has been with her boyfriend, Brady, for seven years, and the duo lives off-grid in Montana, where they catch rainwater, have an outhouse bathroom, and a river in the way to their home. Hence, she acknowledges that they are pretty strong. The survivalist is quite confident in her practical skills, like hunting, fishing, and fire-building, which she has been practically doing her whole life.
As the operator of Long Acres Rescue, Kelsey wants to win the prize fund to expand her venture and help her save even more animals. Furthermore, she wants to prove that women are stronger than they seem. Back in the desert, she hears some noises in the rugged terrain and notices several baboons on the ridge. The contestant quickly realizes that they are not happy with her presence near them and are yelling at her. As she hurries back to her camp, she is worried they might follow her because they usually travel in massive troops of 60 to 100, and she has no way to ward them off. Moreover, they have fangs and can even steal her stuff by entering the camp. What worries her most is that she does not have enough arrows to drive them away. In an attempt to let them know that it is her spot now, she makes a loud noise, making them go up the ridge despite not being happy.
As Kelsey heads back to set up camp for the night, she discloses how she loves trying to get close to animals and has even been charged by grizzly bears three times while doing so. However, she is worried about the baboons even after she returns and breathes a sigh of relief because none of her items are missing. Meanwhile, Pablo admits he is satisfied with the area he has been dropped in since there is a lake nearby and it is quiet. He then follows the previously given instructions by producers to make a walking stick as it would help him avoid any venomous snakes in the area. He then sets up his camera at one end of it. As he explores the location, he discloses that he is originally from Cuba, where the weather is hot and humid, just like this.. He lived in Cuba until he was 11 in horrific conditions since neither his family didn’t believe in the Communist dictatorship. They immigrated to the US, and he presently resides in Jacksonville, Florida, known for its alligators.
The Survivalists Rely on Their Instincts Before Settling Deeper Into the Wilderness
Pablo is well-versed in building multiple types of shelters, fishing, hunting, and many other activities, making survival a significant part of his life. He, his parents, and his sisters left Cuba in 1980, although his brothers had to stay back. He is fully dedicated to this incredible experience since he has quit his job to immerse himself in it fully. For Pablo, it is to honor his parents, who worked tirelessly to provide them with a good life. Furthermore, winning the $500,000 is going to be life-changing for him and his fiancée. Upon noticing how dirty the water is, he realizes that he has to really boil the water well and use a filter if possible. He remarks that getting drinking water is going to be a challenge because it may even cause hyperthermia. Pablo decides to make a coyote well, a pit that can reach beneath dry earth and allow water to seep in and be collected.
Pablo begins digging since it can help him get cleaner water, which he can eventually boil and drink. He succeeds in doing so until the muddy part begins surfacing, and he clears it out, hoping that clear water collects up in it over time. The focus then shifts to Jit, who remarks that he is in a beautiful spot. Since he is going to need a lot of water in this place, he has made the crucial choice to bring his water bottle to store clean water. Shortly after, he discovers Baboons sitting on the ridge. Since they seem content to him, he decides to go fishing. The contestant divulges that he has spent hundreds of nights outside in different locations. However, his love for the outdoors began in his teenage years. Although he grew up in South London, he traveled to Asia before university, eventually ending up in Anakiwa, New Zealand.
For nine years, Jit has been an Outdoor Educator. Additionally, he has been serving as an Outdoor Education Charity for two years, equipping himself with the skills to live outside. He believes he can take on this challenge because he can push himself. Besides the comfort, he is also going to miss his partner, Maddie, who has encouraged him but asked him to return completely unharmed. Jit opens up that winning the prize can help them in buying their own land. Upon inspecting the waters, he finds himself envisioning fishing there and states his focus is on finding fish and plants in the area to help him sustain himself. Then, he can look forward to going hunting. Jit realizes that he has to boil his water, looking at its condition, and remarks that he is always going to be thinking about clean water.
Each Survivalist Navigates the Harsh Landscape of the Desert in Their Own Way
Jit decides to go into the water in hopes of finding something, only to end up regretting wasting one hour of his time. However, he finds prickly pear cactus, which is a good source of minerals. Owing to his ability to adapt to every environment, he begins getting the hair off the cactus since it may cause itchiness in the mouth and even hurt one’s throat. After removing them carefully, Jit puts it into the fire before consumption. He then expresses his wish to practice mindfulness techniques that he usually teaches others. In the meantime, Pablo is building a temporary shelter for the night with the tarp he has brought. He has intelligently put a section of the tarp on the ground since it will prevent him from not only sleeping there but also from the scorpions.
Jit has also made a little shelter in hopes of keeping himself warm. He speaks out about how he is not going to waste his energy on building a big shelter right now, before he knows where he can replenish it. Meanwhile, Katie wonders about what the other contestants are up to. Before the night falls, she decides to go and catch fish before thinking about where she will sleep for the night. On the other hand, Kelsey is quite excited seeing the moon come up and reveals that she is not worried about being cold under the stars since she grew up in Northern Wisconsin. Her target is to get through the night without shelter. As the night engulfs their surroundings, Pablo can hear the sounds of animals far off in the wild. Similarly, Kelsey hears a Baboon screaming on her side of the river, prompting her to hope they stay away for the night.
While Will has moved his fire closer to keep himself warm, Katie has caught an orange river mudfish. She goes back to her location to cook it for dinner. As the second day rolls in, Katie is seen plucking acacia seeds, a great fiber and protein source. Although she is confident in being able to catch more fish, she has decided to use plant food as her alternative supplement and keep her psychologically in the game. After Katie adds that indigenous Australian people used to eat these seeds, she discloses that she lives on the continent’s East Coast. Besides being the mother of two children, her world revolves around the school named Nature Philosophy, which she attends. There, she teaches survival skills and even nature connection for over 20 years.
As the Days Unfold, the Survivalists Face Unique Sets of Challenges
Besides hunting and fishing, Katie is exceptionally skilled at building shelters and traps and even processing toxic foods into edible items. The survivalist notes that she is here to win with her experience and wants to support her kids and buy a home with the prize because she has always been renting a home. As Katie inspects her surroundings, she smells an animal and sees warthogs shortly after. Although they spot her and run up the hill, she finds the path through which they may return. She further observes that the place is filled with food. Once again, the focus is on Will. He has just found Baboons lurking around and acknowledges that he is in their habitat, probably where they drink water. He takes his bow and moves forward to see if he can drive them away. However, he has to come down if they mess with his items.
Will states that although his profession in the exotic animal industry is fun, he has never interacted with Baboons. He points out how vicious they are, and their habit of ransacking the camp can even cost him his game since he already has limited items. Suddenly, he spots a herd of animals, hoping they are not cape buffalo since they can be pretty aggressive. It turns out it is a kudu bull, which quickly runs away when it spots him. Will accepts the fact that it is a bad decision to hunt a big animal at this point and begins looking for alternatives. As Pablo returns to the coyote well he dug up the previous day, he is disappointed to find that the dirty lake water has filled it up completely. He realizes that he should’ve made it a little farther. Since he is thirsty and doesn’t want to fall sick from the water, he utilizes his bandana.
After using the bandana to filter the water, he returns to start a fire to boil it. He explains that if he really wants something, he should go for it with 100% because, in the end, at least he is going to give it his all. Hence, he quit his job to pursue this experience without distractions. He boils the water successfully and drinks it, quenching his thirst. Meanwhile, Kelsey is glad that no Baboons attacked her. After completing her morning pushups, she decides to go on a walk with her 50 lb bow and arrow. Since lower pounds can give her a disadvantage during hunting, she has brought a 50-pound bow, which can help her kill something 30 yards away. She observes that this season is going to be easier due to the weather because there are no negative temperatures or snow. Kelsey spots a train of animal feces and decides to follow its trail.
A Successful Hunt Boosts the Morale For a Competitor
Although Kelsey spots a waterbuck, she realizes she cannot hunt it since it is far and requires a 60 lb bow to kill it. Following this, she hears a bark and quickly discovers a warthog. The survivalist keeps her patience and succeeds in hitting it with her bow. After killing the animal with another following arrow, she makes her official first kill. It is revealed that back home, Kelsey shoots a compound bow. She learned to use a recurve bow and shot three times a day for eight weeks leading up to the show, until she was tired. As she wonders how to drag her kill back to her camp, she grows increasingly concerned about the meat going bad due to the scorching heat of the sun and flies laying eggs on the meat. When Kelsey’s multiple attempts turn out to be unsuccessful, she begins harvesting the protein, amounting to approximately 55 lbs.
Kelsey brings the meat back to the camp and quickly gets to work building a simple smoker with branches from a blue bush tree. She also uses it to build a grill to cook the protein. However, in the meantime, flies and ants have begun gathering around it, which prompts her to decide that she is going to put the meat in between the layers of her tarp. This can ensure nothing slips past her to the meat and also keep it cool at the same time. She begins smoking the protein and simultaneously boiling the water. As she takes the first bite, she finds the meat quite crunchy but doesn’t mind it because it is delicious. Kelsey suddenly recalls that she can sprinkle some salt on it, which she brought as one of the 10 permitted items. She brought it because the heat in South Africa often depletes the body’s electrolytes.
Kelsey observes that this meat is a huge morale booster for her to keep hunting and harvesting protein so that she can stay longer in the game. Due to her boosted morale, she even adds that she doesn’t feel far from home. The night falls, and the third-day rolls in, where the focus shifts to Jit, who is still lying down but sorting through the day’s tasks: decking his shelter up, catching fish, and even some crabs (20 species of freshwater crabs are present in Africa). He states that rather than technical skills, a person’s mindset and will to survive keep them going in such situations. Jit considers having no responsibility towards anyone other than his partner, his furry pup, and himself at this point. Hence, winning the money can help him achieve his plan of buying a plot and building a homestay.
Overcome by Sudden Illness, a Survivalist Makes the Decision to Leave Early
While trying to look for crabs underneath the rocks, Jit suddenly feels a shooting pain up his “guts.” He is unable to pinpoint whether it is something that he ate or hasn’t eaten. However, he guesses it may be due to the water or the prickly cactus. As he begins wondering if it is a one-time episode, his confusion is soon cleared as he starts vomiting. He realizes that the vomit comes first in these cases, which is soon followed by diarrhea. As he spends the night, his belly begins hurting along with his body. Despite trying to get sleep through the night, it is quite evident that he is suffering as the daylight begins to shine. Jit reveals that he had had diarrhea twice in the night. The survivalist begins contemplating whether he can just continue for a couple more days.
However, the growing intensity of his symptoms prompts Jit to use his satellite phone to let the team know that he officially wants to tap out. He explains how he is scared for his health, and throughout the night, he faces stabbing pain alongside vomiting. He feels it isn’t a situation he can recover from on his own. In his exit interview, Jit expresses that he feels staying in the competition for just four days is not doing justice to his loved ones who supported him. However, he recalls how his partner had asked him to come back unscathed. Moreover, he emphasizes that besides honesty and courage as his values, health has also taken up space. Although Jit is sad to leave because he hasn’t explored much, he believes it is the right thing to do.
Read More: Extracted Finale Recap: The Final Drop
