Plot Synopsis

NAKED AND AFRAID XL is a 40-day challenge for 12 extreme survivalists who find themselves stranded in a very remote equatorial jungle of Colombia with no food, no water, and no clothing. These six women and six men have all previously survived NAKED AND AFRAID, which required they each work together with one stranger of the opposite sex to survive for 21 days. Now, in this series, they'll be in the wild almost twice as long and they're all vying for the same limited resources, making NAKED AND AFRAID XL both a survival and societal challenge. How will these survivalists respond to each other? Will they band together as one large group or will they break apart into smaller groups to survive? The women include: Alana Barfield (Fiji Islands), Dani Beau (Colombia), Honora Bowen (Brazil), Dani Julien (Andros Islands), Eva Rupert (Madagascar) and Laura Zerra (Panama and the Amazon). The men include Chris Fischer (Dominica), Hakim Isler (Himalayas), Shane Lewis (Costa Rica), Luke McLaughlin (Namibia), E.J. Snyder (Tanzania and the Amazon) and Jeff Zausch (Madagascar). Two weeks before the series premiere -- on Sunday, June 28, 2015 from 10am-9pm ET/PT -- Discovery premiered a collection of one-hour casting specials, highlighting each of the survivalists. Then, on Sunday, July 5, 2015 at 9pm ET/PT, Discovery premiered a one-hour special, "Welcome to the Jungle," immediately before the series premiere at 10pm ET/PT.

NAKED AND AFRAID XL returned for its sixth season on Sunday, May 24, 2020 at 8pm ET/PT on Discovery Channel. The scorching savannah of South Africa sets the stage for a a new challenge unlike anything ever attempted on previous seasons. Twelve survivalists enter The Valley of the Banished. With resources scarcer than ever, it's the ultimate take on survival of the fittest, leaving no room for slackers. To make it through this 40-day challenge alive, every survivalist will have to earn every step; while weak links will be cast out for the greater good of the group. All must give it their all or get out. This season of NAKED AND AFRAID XL takes 12 veteran survivalists to a grueling kill zone in South Africa, a land so punishing and deadly that generations of ancient tribes were forced to survive by one brutal principle -- banishing the weak. For the first time, four teams of NAKED AND AFRAID veterans will have to follow the same rules for 40 days and 40 nights. In an environment where there is little to no vegetation and resources are nearly impossible to come by, only the strong will survive. Each survivalist must prove their worth to the group, or risk being cast out. The environment and new team dynamics push the survivalists from the moment the challenge begins, leading to fresh and exciting storylines for all of the teams. This season's survivalists include: Dawn Dussault (Kanata, Ontario); Joshua Bell (Statham, GA); Kate Wentworth (Passadumkeag, ME); Makani Nalu (Venice, CA); Wes Harper (Cary, NC); Seth Reece (Shortsville, NY); Ryan Eacret (Hot Springs, AR); Suzanne Zeta (Ashland, VA); Bulent Gurcan (Point Roberts, WA); Gwen Grimes (Eagle, AK); Sarah Bartell (Goldendale, WA); and Jonathan Bonessi (Southampton, NY). With food scarce, Bulent hunts any way possible and after a string of successes, declares himself the "bare-handed killer." Makani is a vegetarian who survived her 21-day challenge eating plants and basking in "photosynthetic heaven" when she found sunshine. But Africa quickly tests those survival strategies. During his 21-day challenge, Joshua Bell famously chose duct tape as his survival item. But when his new partners see they're paired with "Duct Tape Boy," Joshua's attempt at redemption immediately becomes an uphill battle. Desperate for food, Gwen and Wes think they've scored when they find a large patch of aloe but quickly learn this plant is not only inedible, it could be toxic. Seth struggled to work with his teammates and tapped out during his 21-day challenge. He's in Africa seeking redemption, but constant conflict with his partner Suzanne puts his plans for 40 days at risk. Jon, Sarah and Ryan share their watering hole with aggressive crocodiles. Every attempt to get food or water could end their challenge and their lives.

The seventh season of NAKED AND AFRAID XL debuted on Sunday, April 25, 2021 at 8pm ET/PT on Discovery Channel. In Season 7, 12 legends of the 40-day challenges return to test themselves like never before. In an all new season of NAKED AND AFRAID XL, these all-star survivalists must raise the bar in both skill and innovation as they take on the deadly swamps of Louisiana for an epic, never-before-attempted 60-day challenge. As seasons change, winter rolls over the swamp and dangers mount, who will fight for the right to become a legend? It's easy to be the Alpha when you're the only hunter and your partners are content building the fires, but when three big dogs are forced to share a shelter, the result is a clash of titans. Accustomed to taking the lead, never being questioned, and walking out on top, these "legends" vow to go big or go hungry but can they check their egos and survive the swamp for 60 days? This season, the survivalists vying to become 'legends' include: Sarah Danser, Max Djenohan, Gary Golding, Steven Lee Hall, Jr., Amber Hargrove, Ryan Holt, Lacey Jones, Rylie Parlett, EJ Snyder, Matt Wright, Jeff Zausch, and Suzanne Zeta.

Season 8 of NAKED AND AFRAID XL premiered on Sunday, May 1, 2022 at 8pm ET/PT on Discovery Channel. This season, four NAKED AND AFRAID XL veterans ready to take on an epic 60-day challenge lead a new generation of challengers eager to earn their 40-day stripes. Spread across one hundred miles of ruthless jungle, the Peruvian Amazon is considered one of the most feared environments on the planet. The survivalists will have to endure aggressive piranha in the waters, venomous fer de lance slithering in the brush and relentless black flies descending from above. As the survivalists begin dropping like flies, a welcomed surprise on Day 21 may be the ticket to success to see the remaining challengers through. As they say, when the going gets tough, it's always nice to have an extra set of hands... or two. This season, the survivalists vying to reach the 'Next Level' include: Amber Hargrove, Gary Golding, Steven Lee Hall Jr., Kaila Cumings, Dan Link, Jamie Frizzell, Lisa Hagan, Jen Taylor, Waz Addy, Trish Bulinsky, Rod Biggs, and Tim Philips.
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Season 9 of NAKED AND AFRAID XL debuted on Sunday, May 12, 2024 from 8-10pm ET/PT on Discovery Channel. After successfully completing NAKED AND AFRAID's 21-day challenges, twelve brave survivalists up the ante when, for the first time ever, they attempt a grueling 40 days in the punishing Colombian badlands without food, water or clothes in the season premiere, "Enter the Proving Grounds." This season, the survivalists take on the Proving Grounds and test their mettle by taking on the most extreme challenge, with an unexpected twist. Not only will they endure blood-sucking mosquitos, ants and ticks, disease carrying parasites, as well as stalking jaguars and a territorial six-foot caiman, but they must now also trek 40 miles across six unique terrains to reach the end of the challenge. Scorching triple digit temperatures and violent electrical storms that dump up to six inches of rain in a single night will push them to their limits as they strive to become the next wave of Naked and Afraid legends. The survivalists taking on the Proving Grounds include: Adam Kavanagh (Queensland, AU), Andrew Shayde (Lexington, KY), Chris Wells (Alberta, CA), Cole Wilks (Bertram, TX), Heather Smith (Brookeland, TX), Kaiela Hobart (Lakewood, WA), Lynsey McCarver (Pinehurst, ID), Malorie Romero (San Antonio, TX), Shell Armogida (Mims, FL), Nathan Martinez (Padre Island, TX), Sam Mouzer (Quarry Bank, UK), and Terra Short (Mobile, AL).