
Africa
Shaba Reserve, Kenya
Survivor on the Kenyan savanna, where lions circled camp at night and thirst was the daily enemy — the most physically punishing of the early seasons.

Sole Survivor
Ethan Zohn
Won the jury 5-2
- Year
- 2001
- Location
- Shaba Reserve, Kenya
- Format
- All-new cast
- Days
- 39 days
- Castaways
- 16
- Grand prize
- $1,000,000
- Jury vote
- 5-2
Also read at the Final Tribal Council
How Ethan Zohn won
Ethan, an easygoing pro soccer player, anchored the Boran alliance and rode its numbers and his clean, well-liked reputation to a comfortable win.
In context
Era
The Old School Era
2000–2010
Timeline
3rd of 50
Aired 2001
Filming
Kenya
1st of 1 season filmed here
Starting tribes
The 2 tribes marooned when the game began — and where the names come from.
Named for the Borana people of Kenya/Ethiopia; the word also carries the sense of 'friend / kind person'.
Named for the Samburu people of Kenya (the name traces to the Maasai 'samburr', a leather carrying bag).
At the merge · they became Moto Maji — Africa merge tribe (Boran + Samburu) — Swahili for 'fire water': 'moto' (fire) + 'maji' (water), the two elements of the season.
Explore Season 3
Common questions
- Who won Survivor Africa?
- Ethan Zohn won Survivor: Africa (Season 3, 2001), taking the jury vote 5-2.
- Where was Survivor Season 3 filmed?
- Survivor: Africa was filmed in Shaba Reserve, Kenya.
- When did Survivor Season 3 air?
- Survivor: Africa aired in 2001 and ran 39 days.
- Who were the finalists in Survivor Africa?
- Ethan Zohn won at the Final Tribal Council alongside Kim Johnson.
Around the fire
The tribe's debating Survivor 3 right now
“Cirie never needed an idol. She WAS the idol — read every vote a round early and bent the whole jungle to her will without a single immunity win. That's the cei…”
Cast your vote, drop a hot take, and climb your torch — every contribution is tied to your profile at Tribal Council.
Join the debate at TribalSeason 3 of 50