Naman Shrestha
Based on the Swedish show titled ‘Expedition Robinson, by Charlie Parsons, CBS’ ‘Survivor’ is a survival reality series that brings together a group of individuals on a secluded island, where their survival skills are tested to the limit. Hosted by Jeff Probst, ‘Survivor 49’ also follows the same format as the survivors must not only arrange food, shelter, and fire for themselves, but they are also required to participate in a series of physical and mental challenges, involving swimming, running, and solving puzzles, in order to save themselves from getting eliminated.
The contestants are eliminated by their fellow contestants until a few remain on the island. At that point, the eliminated contestants have the power to vote for the deserving winner, who earns the title of ‘Sole Survivor’ and the grand cash prize of $1,000,000. The lush green wilderness and the open water surrounding the survivors add a layer of tension and drama to the competition, making it all the more entertaining.
Survivor 49 Filming Locations
Following the pattern of several previous seasons, ‘Survivor 49’ was also filmed entirely in Fiji, specifically on the Mamanuca Islands. As per reports, the shooting for the 49th round of the long-running survival series was carried out over the course of several weeks between the months of April and May 2025.
Mamanuca Islands, Fiji
All the pivotal sequences of ‘Survivor 49’ were taped on the Mamanuca Islands, a group of about 20 islands known for crystal clear waters, live coral reefs, and pristine beaches. For the 49th edition of the reality series, the production team reportedly set up camp on four islands — Monuriki, Tavua, Yadua, and Mana. During a conversation with TV Insider, host Jeff Probst described this season as the hottest season he could remember in several years. “It was so hot, but I felt it, and you’ll see it in me. You’ll see moments where I’m exhausted and was struggling to remember names and I’m sweating through my shirt,” he said.
Given the hot temperature on the islands, the challenges became all the more difficult for the contestants. He said that the players hit their stride when the weather became a bit cooler, a couple of weeks into the competition. He added, “I do think there was a correlation between how difficult the first 10 or 15 days were, and then when they got some relief from the weather, everybody stood up and went, oh, I’m ready to go.” Not only did the survivors struggle, but Jeff also struggled in the oppressive heat at the time.
Trying to describe the heat on the islands, the host admitted, “And I’m struggling, too, because I’m remembering 18 names and I’m trying to follow many, many, many different stories that are happening in real time at a challenge or post-challenge or at Tribal (Council), and I have to be sharp. And I, too, was struggling at times asking myself, wait a minute, what’s their tribe name? That’s how hot it was.” All in all, in ‘Survivor 49,’ the island’s weather conditions played a critical role in the competition, making the survival even more challenging.
Read More: Where is Survivor 48 Filmed?
