Survivor: Gabon · Season 17
In the Arena
Every challenge Survivor: Gabon staged — who took immunity, who won reward, week by week.
22 challenges ran this season — 15 with immunity on the line and 10 for reward.
- Episode1
- Immunity + Reward
One for All
The format: Race to Shore
The tribes would have to race across the plain and up a hill. The first castaway from each tribe to the top of the hill would win an Individual Immunity Necklace that would only be good at their tribe's first Tribal Council. The first entire tribe to the top of the hill would win the reward.
Reward: An extra bag of corn and beans
- Immunity + Reward
Temptation Valley
The format: Lock Step
Six tribe members would be belted together and race through a swamp, over a net wall, and under and over a series of hitching posts. These six would then have to dig up three bags of puzzle pieces and deliver them to the three remaining tribe members. These three would then assemble the puzzle pieces to win the challenge.
Reward: Flint.
Kota wins
- Immunity + Reward
Lemme Go Rock 'N' Roll
The format: Rock N' Roll
The tribes have to roll a large ball through a series of gates. At two points along the course, a tribe member has to climb atop the ball to retrieve two sets of keys. At the final gate, the keys unlock three chains that block the gate. The first tribe to go through all the gates and roll their boulder atop a short pedestal wins.
Reward: Fishing gear.
Kota wins
- Episode2
- Reward
Kicking and Screaming
One member of each tribe would hang on to a post. Two members of the opposing tribe would attempt to remove the tribe member from the post and drag them across the sand to the finish line. The first tribe to get the member of the other tribe across the finish line would receive one point. The first tribe to score two points would win.
Reward: Blankets, a hammock, pillows, and a mat
Fang wins
- Immunity
Lake Launch
One at a time, six tribe members would slide down a water slide. They would then swim out to retrieve a numbered tile, then run up the hill they slid down to drop their number off. Once all six tiles were retrieved, the remaining castaway would use the tiles to solve a numeric puzzle. The answer to the puzzle is a combination to open a locked chest, which holds an axe. The first tribe to open their chest and use the axe to cut a rope that would raise their tribe's flag would win.
Fang wins
- Episode3
- Immunity
Big Oar Deal
The tribes would play a lacrosse-like game on the water. Each tribe member would be on a raft and have a paddle. Each round, Probst would toss a ball into the water. The castaways would paddle around the playing field, using the paddle to pass the ball from one tribemate to another. The first tribe to throw the ball three times into their opponents' goal would win.
Kota wins
- Episode4
- Reward
Fruit Flies
A tribe member would toss fruit through a hole in a wall to two members of their own tribe. An opposing tribe member would stand in front of the wall and use a club to try to knock away the fruit as it was thrown through the air. Once a piece of fruit is caught by a tribe member, it would have to be thrown through a hole in a second wall defended by a second opposing tribe member. The tribe that catches the most fruit by weight after five minutes would win.
Reward: A herb garden, salt, oil, chili sauce, and all fruit collected from the challenge
Kota wins
- Immunity
Cliff Bowling
One member from each tribe would roll a large wicker ball down a hill. A blindfolded tribe member at the bottom of the hill would attempt to block the opposing tribe's ball with a shield and the aid of a caller. Behind the blocker would be a row of seven goals of varying point values. If a tribe's ball made it past the blocker and into a goal, they would be awarded the specified number of points. The tribe with the most points after five rounds would win.
Kota wins
- Episode5
- Reward
Snake in the Grass
The format: Hot Pursuit
The tribes would be tethered to a 20-foot (6.1 m) long, 200-pound (91 kg) cloth snake. The tribes would start at opposite ends of an oval course. Both tribes would run counter-clockwise around the course and try to catch up to the other tribe. If a tribe member could not continue, they may unhook themselves from the snake and the remaining tribe members would continue the challenge. The first tribe to catch the other tribe and touch one of the opposing tribe members would win.
Reward: Croissants, fruit tarts, chocolate éclairs, coffee, and tea.
Kota wins
- Immunity
Jungle Relay
The tribes would divide into three pairs. Each pair would be tethered together by a rope. The first pair would crawl under a cargo net, race through the jungle, go through an obstacle, retrieve two sections of a flag pole, and return to the starting line. The next pair would run the same course with an additional obstacle to retrieve the next two pieces of the flag pole. The final pair would run the course with two additional obstacles and retrieve the final two pieces of the flag pole. The first tribe to collect all of the flag pole pieces and assemble their flag would win.
Kota wins
- Episode6
- Reward
Elephant Eggs
In two roped off squares, three members of a tribe would toss a breakable ball back and forth. An opposing tribe member would attempt to smash or knock the ball to the ground. The first tribe to break the opposing tribe's ball would score a point for the round. The first tribe to score three points would win.
Reward: An afternoon picnic
Kota wins
- Immunity
Lake Log Jam
The format: Log Jam
The castaways would compete in a head-to-head logrolling contest in a single-elimination tournament. The final round would have three castaways rolling the log at the same time, with the last person standing winning individual immunity and the opportunity to give individual immunity to one member of the opposing tribe.
Won by Marcus
- Episode7
- Immunity
Keep It Up
Each contestant would have to hold two poles against a platform above their heads. If any of the two would fall, that contestant would be out. The last person standing would win for their tribe.
Fang wins
- Episode8
- Reward
Super Golf
The tribes would use a three-man slingshot to shoot an oversized golf ball along three golf holes. The tribe that put their ball in the hole using the fewest number of shots would receive one point. The first tribe to score two points would win.
Reward: An overnight trip to a Gabonese village.
Fang wins
- Immunity
Fired Up
The format: Fast Fire
The castaways would make a fire large enough to burn through a rope using flint, steel and a box of fire making supplies. The first castaway to completely burn through their rope would win.
Won by Susie
- Episode9
- Immunity
The Domino Effect
The format: Domino Effect
In the first round, the castaways would race across a series of balance beams carrying a bag of puzzle blocks. The first two castaways to bring all three of their bags would go to the final round in which each player must stack all of their pieces like a line of domino tiles while avoiding ropes that would topple the tiles that were already stacked. Once all of the blocks were properly stacked, the castaway would start a chain reaction which would release a flag. The first castaway to raise their flag would win.
Won by Ken
- Episode11
- Reward
Now or Never
The format: Schoolyard Pick
The castaways drew rocks to choose captains, and then were split into two teams of three by Schoolyard Pick. The unpicked castaway would be ineligible to win the reward. The teams would be roped together and have to race through a swamp to collect seven sprocket pieces at two different stations. After collecting all the sprockets, the team would have to assemble them on a board in order to turn another sprocket which in turn would raise a flag. The members of the winning team would move on to the final round to individually solve a sliding puzzle. The first castaway to solve the puzzle would win.
Reward: A video from their loved one, pizza, beer, and brownies. Not announced at the challenge was an in-person visit from their loved one.
Won by Bob
- Immunity
Bombs Away
The castaways would be asked trivia questions about Gabon. For each question answered correctly, the castaway would earn one ball. After four questions are asked, the castaways would throw the balls that they won down a hill at a circular target divided into zones. The castaway who throws their ball into the zone closest to the center of the target would win.
Won by Bob
- Episode12
- Reward
Swamp Monkeys
The castaways would race through a swamp and over several obstacles to retrieve one of three balls. They would then return to the start and toss the ball into a net. The first castaway to retrieve all three balls and get them into the net would win.
Reward: Reward: An overnight helicopter trip to a gorilla sanctuary in Gabon, while having a meal, a shower, and a bed to sleep in.
Won by Bob
- Immunity
Mask Match
The castaways would be blindfolded during the challenge. At the starting line would be a Gabonese mask. At the other end of a net obstacle would be a duplicate mask with some pieces removed. Three bags of puzzle pieces would need to be carried across the net obstacle one at a time. The puzzle pieces would then need to be assembled to replicate the mask at the start line. The first castaway to correctly replicate the mask would win.
Won by Bob
- Episode13
- Immunity
A-Mazing Gabon
The format: The Maze
The castaways would have to dig a hole under a wall, cross a maze made out of planks, and untie a series of knots that would open a gate that led to a maze with 25 Gabonese huts. In three of the huts would be a bag of puzzle pieces. One puzzle bag at a time would need to be retrieved from the maze and dropped off at the finish platform. Once all three bags were retrieved, the first castaway to correctly assemble the puzzle would win.
Won by Bob
- Immunity
House of Cards
The castaways would be given 200 wooden tiles. The first castaway to use the tiles to build a house of cards 10 feet (3.0 m) tall would win. If after 30 minutes, no castaway has built the house of cards to over 10 feet (3.0 m) tall, the castaway who builds the tallest house of cards at the end of the time limit would win.
Won by Susie