The Island of Secrets is a twist used in Survivor South Africa and is the eponymous twist of its 7th season.
Premise[]
The Island of Secrets functions similarly to the American twist Ghost Island, where, with a few exceptions, a castaway is banished after a Reward Challenge until the following morning and/or Immunity Challenge or, rarely, after an Immunity Challenge. The island features a large pre-build shelter adorned with hanging cauldrons, a large carved table, a fire pit, and supplies such as a machete and flint. When the banished castaway arrives on the Island of Secrets, they will find a message for them in either in a cauldron on the carved table or in one of the hanging cauldrons on the shelter, informing them if an advantage is available or not. While the contestants banished to the Island of Secret may or may not be granted a reprieve from Tribal Council, they may be find themselves being disadvantaged by not partaking in the social dynamics at their tribe's camp.
Twist History[]
The Island of Secrets is the main twist in Survivor South Africa: Island of Secrets. After the marooning, the tribes were instructed to nominate one person as a Tribe Leader. Laumei, Sa'ula, and Ta'alo chose Rocco van Rooyen, Paul Smulders, and Cobus Hugo as their leaders respectively. The leader in turn would choose who they think is the weakest castaway on their tribe. Rocco chose Laetitia Le Roux, Paul chose Seipei Mashugane, and Cobus chose Jacques Burger. However, Nico Panagio informed the castaways that their leaders would be sent to the Island of Secrets immediately, while their weakest players would be the callers for the Haulin Oats challenge. At the Island of Secrets, the three men were informed they had a choice to make: either take a clue to a Hidden Immunity Idol hidden at their camp or flint. Cobus and Paul decided to take the clues to their tribes' idol, while Rocco went with the flint instead. However, Rocco went through Paul's pants later on to look at the clue to the Hidden Immunity Idol for himself.
Following the Day 4 Reward Challenge, Laumei sent Rob Bentele to the Island of Secrets. Rob was given the opportunity to play a game of chance where he would wager his next vote to earn the ability to choose the castaway, including himself, who will be exiled to the Island of Secrets whenever the opportunity was available up until the merge by choosing one of three chests, however if he chose the wrong chest, he would be given a parchment with "No Vote" on it, and will be unable to vote at the next Tribal Council he attends. Rob decided to play the game, but unfortunately lost his vote.
After the Reward/Immunity Challenge on Day 6, Sa'ula sent Tania Copeland to the Island of Secrets. Tania was given the choice to either return to her tribe the following morning, or to choose her tribe after the Tribe Switch. Additionally if would choose one of the tribes of six, she can send one person from that tribe to join the tribe of five. Tania took the latter option. After the Tribe Switch, which left Laumei at a one person disadvantage, Tania returned from the island, informing the other of the power she earned. She decided to join the new Laumei tribe.
Ta'alo decided to sent Seipei Mashugane to the Island of Secrets after the Reward/Immunity Challenge on Day 9. Disappointingly for Seipei, there was no advantage available, as the Island of Secret only granted safety from Tribal Council.
Following the Day 10 Reward Challenge, Geoffrey Cooke-Tonnesen would find himself exiled on the Island of Secrets by Ta'alo. He would given the temptation of either taking a jar of sweets or dry firewood. He decided to take the sweets in hopes to gain favor with the other members of Sa'ula.
After the Day 13 Reward Challenge, Laumei would exile both Nathan Castle and Nicole Capper. The two would would be given the option to open a pair of chests. They opened the chests, each containing one half of a Hidden Immunity Idol. The two halves would only have power when combined. Shortly after Nicole and Nathan would catch up with each other, with Nicole informing him that she and Rob are currently on the bottom of Ta'alo. Nathan decides to give his half to Nicole so she has a lifeline in the game.
As part of the Tribe Switch on Day 15, Steffi Brink found herself without a tribe, and would spend the remainder of the round on the Island of Secrets, but would spectate the following Immunity Challenge and Tribal Council, joining the losing tribe.
After the Reward Challenge on Day 18, Durão Mariano would be sent to the Island of Secrets. He would find a Hidden Immunity Idol that is only good for the following Tribal Council, regardless if he attends it or not.
After winning the Immunity Challenge on Day 22, Steffi was given the opportunity to exile one castaway to the Island of Secrets, where they will skip Tribal Council. Steffi opted to exile herself, trusting her alliance and also wanting to get away from camp. Unfortunately, there was no advantage available on the island.
Following the Reward Challenge on Day 23, the purple team consisting of Danté De Villiers, Durão, Geoffery, and Mmaba Molefe exiled Jacques Burger. Jacques recieved a Reward Steal, allowing him to replace a castaway on a future reward.
Before the Reward/Immunity Challenge on Day 25, the eleven castaways were required to draw rocks to determine their teams for the upcoming challenge, with two castaways being unassigned teams (designated by a white rock) and sent to the Island of Secrets, returning the following morning. Cobus and Nicole pulled the white rocks. On the Island of Secrets, they found they would compete in a duel to win an Immunity Necklace for the next day's Tribal Council. Cobus won the duel, earning himself immunity.
Durão would be sent to the Island of Secrets for the second time on Day 27 by Danté. Once there, he would be given the choice to forfeit his vote at the next Tribal Council to obtain a cheat sheet for the upcoming Immunity Challenge. Durão opted to forfeit his vote to take the cheat sheet.
For winning the Advantage category at the Day 29, Rob would be sent to the Island of Secrets for his advantage. For winning, Rob would get the chance to practice the last stage of the next Immunity Challenge, in addition to also recieving the other two rewards offered: a steak dinner and letter from home.
On Day 31, the eight remaining castaways were informed to nominate two people to spend the day on the Island of Secrets. Mmaba, not having gone to the island, and Steffi, thinking that there might be food based on Tree Mail, not having much protein since the merge feast, are sent. Upon arriving, the two women are delighted to not only find a feast, but they will compete in a challenge to earn an advantage. Mmaba wins the advantage, which informs her of a Hidden Immunity Idol hidden in the urn at Tribal Council.
Following the conclusion of the Survivor Yankee Swap on Day 33, Steffi found herself going to the Island of Secrets for the fourth time. After arriving, Steffi found a feast for herself, and a visit from her best friend Gina.
After the Day 35 Reward/Immunity Challenge, the castaways not chosen by Rob, Durão, Mike Venter, and Nicole, were sent to the Island of Secrets. The three were informed that they would be attending Tribal Council that night, but they would not be returning to camp beforehand.
The final visitor to the Island of Secrets would be Laetitia Le Roux on Day 36. She would find a Vote Nullifier, allowing her to prevent one castaway from voting at any Tribal Council until the final four.
Summary[]
| Episode | Inhabitant | Offer | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| "I Just Want to Fix Your Crown" |  Cobus Hugo |
Choice between flint or a clue to a Hidden Immunity Idol | Took clue to idol |
 Paul Smulders |
Took clue to idol | ||
 Rocco van Rooyen |
Took flint | ||
| "One Step Forward, Two Steps Back" |  Rob Bentele |
Game of chance to win the power to exile a player to the Island of Secrets | Lost game of chance and his next vote |
| "The Gods Have Smiled Upon Me" |  Tania Copeland |
Return to camp the next day, or skip Tribal Council and choose her tribe at the tribe switch | Skipped Tribal Council; joined Laumei after the tribe switch |
| "I'm Not Gonna Buy This B.S." |  Seipei Mashugane |
No advantage available for this episode | |
| "It's Time for a Hail Mary" |  Geoffrey Cooke-Tonnesen |
Jar of sweets or dry firewood | Took the jar of sweets |
| "Let Them Play Barbie and Ken" |  Nathan Castle |
Received one half of a Hidden Immunity Idol | |
 Nicole Capper | |||
| "The Game Chooses for You" |  Steffi Brink |
No advantage available for this episode | |
| "Putting My Foot in My Mouth" |  Durão Mariano |
Hidden Immunity Idol only valid at the next Tribal Council | |
| "Are You Crying?" | Steffi Brink |
No advantage available for this episode | |
| "He's Delicious-Looking..." |  Jacques Burger |
Received Reward Steal | |
| "The Puppetmaster" | Cobus Hugo |
Duel to receive individual immunity | Won duel |
Nicole Capper |
Lost duel | ||
| "One Trick Pony" | Durão Mariano |
Forfeit vote at next Tribal Council for an advantage in the next Immunity Challenge | Forfeited vote for advantage |
| "Trouble Council" | Rob Bentele |
Practice for next Immunity Challenge, steak dinner, and letter from home | |
| "The Biggest Mother" |  Mmaba Molefe |
Duel to receive an advantage | Won duel; earned clue to a Hidden Immunity Idol |
Steffi Brink |
Lost duel | ||
| "The Lightbulbs Are Switching On" | Steffi Brink |
Family Visit | |
| "Someone You Can Trust" | Durão Mariano |
No advantage available for this episode | |
 Mike Venter | |||
Nicole Capper | |||
| "Icarus" |  Laetitia Le Roux |
Vote Nullifier | |
Trivia[]
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