Naked & Afraid

Location: Serengeti Plains, Tanzania, Africa
Air Date: 2013
Initial PSR: 7.3
Final PSR: 8.2
Weight Lost: 55+ lbs

The Beginning of a Legacy
EJ Snyder made his Naked and Afraid debut in one of the most brutal environments on Earth: the dry season of Tanzania’s Serengeti Plains. Alongside survivalist Kellie Nightlinger, EJ stepped into the wild for what would become the pilot episode of the now-iconic series.

Relentless Conditions & Early Injuries

From the start, EJ and Kellie faced a gauntlet of dangers:

• Scorching heat and relentless dehydration
• Thorn-covered terrain
• Encounters with hyenas and other wildlife
• Hunger and exhaustion

On Day 2, EJ suffered a serious injury when a thorn from an acacia tree pierced deep into his left foot. The wound later became severely infected—dangerously close to sepsis.

Survival in Action

Despite the challenges:

• Kellie excelled at fishing, catching multiple catfish and foraging for wild edibles.
• EJ hunted and scored a mongoose with a throwing stick, gathered eggs, and fashioned bark sandals after his knife partially broke.
• One infamous moment: Kellie’s tadpole soup, which EJ found “horrendous.”

EJ’s infection grew worse by Day 16, requiring intervention by a local bush doctor. After treatment, he was cleared to continue.

From Conflict to Teamwork
Initially at odds, EJ and Kellie eventually found common ground. Their perseverance and teamwork became a defining element of the episode.

The Finish Line
On Day 21, EJ and Kellie climbed a 1,500-foot mountain and built a signal fire. They were extracted by helicopter, becoming the first survivalists to ever complete a Naked and Afraid challenge.
This successful mission helped launch Naked and Afraid as a hit series for Discovery Channel.

Location: Amazon Jungle, Peru
Initial PSR: 8.2
Final PSR: 9.1
Weight Lost: 44 lbs

The Amazon Called. EJ Answered.
When three previous survivalists tapped out of the Amazon challenge and locals claimed it couldn’t be done, Discovery turned to one man: EJ Snyder. Partnering with fellow survivalist Laura Zerra, the duo returned to prove them wrong.

Jungle Warfare: Nature at Its Fiercest

The Peruvian Amazon proved to be one of the most punishing environments ever featured:

• Relentless rainstorms
• Swarms of mosquitoes
• Deadly snakes, caimans, jaguars, piranhas, and more

But EJ and Laura brought grit, experience, and unmatched determination.

Historic Moments in Survival TV

• First-ever large animal kill: EJ took down a massive 6-foot electric eel—a groundbreaking moment in Naked and Afraid history.
• The pair constructed six shelters, numerous survival tools, and handcrafted weapons.
• They engineered a rugged raft they called “The Amazonian Queen”, which carried them three days down the river toward extraction.

Unbreakable Survivors
Exhausted and battered but undefeated, EJ and Laura completed the full 21-day challenge. Their extraction by helicopter marked a turning point for the series—they became the first survivalists to complete Naked and Afraid twice.

Location: Roca Diablo, Badlands of Colombia
Challenge Length: 40 Days
Initial XLR: 8.5
Final PSR: 10.0
Weight Lost: 73 lbs (the most in show history)

EJ Takes on the Ultimate Survival Test
In 2015, Naked and Afraid raised the stakes:
12 elite survivalists—6 men, 6 women—dropped into the unforgiving Badlands of Colombia for a grueling 40-day challenge.

EJ Snyder answered the call.

Forming the Alpha Male Trio with Jeff Zausch and Hakim Isler, EJ began his XL journey in the harsh terrain of Roca Diablo.

Early Setbacks, Unshakable Resolve

• After the first week, Hakim had to tap out due to dehydration and nutrient loss.
• EJ and Jeff pressed on, strengthening their camp, finishing shelter designs, and discovering a crucial water source and fishing hole.

Knowing the path to extraction would only get harder, the duo set out on a 2-day trek across the savannah, even sleeping in a bat cave overnight.

Alliances & Survival Strategy
During their journey, they encountered Shane Lewis, who was struggling with his original group.
EJ and Jeff invited Shane to join them, and the trio moved to Piranha Lake, a turning point in the challenge.

Highlights included:

• Landing a 6-foot electric eel and a stingray
• Later joined by 5 more survivalists, forming two neighboring camps with an agreement to share large kills
• The Alphas continued dominating with big food wins: electric eels, a caiman, lizards, and dozens of fish

Unfortunately, Shane tapped out on Day 30, but EJ and Jeff pressed on.

History Made at Extraction
On Day 40, EJ and Jeff successfully reached the extraction point—Piranha Gun Boats transported them to a Navy Ironclad Ship, marking an epic end to an intense journey.

• EJ and Jeff completed the full 40 days, finishing with an XLR rating of 8.5
• EJ lost 73 pounds—the most weight lost in the history of the Naked and Afraid franchise
• EJ and Laura Zerra became the first-ever survivalists to complete three full challenges

Location: Balkan Mountains, Bulgaria
Challenge Type: Naked and Afraid: Alone
Challenge Length: 21 Days
Elevation: 3,500–5,500 ft
Final PSR: 10.6
Weight Lost: 52 lbs (record for a solo 21-day challenge)

Alone in the Wild. No Partner. No Backup.
For the first time in Naked and Afraid history, EJ Snyder took on the challenge completely solo. Dropped into the frozen, resource-scarce Balkan Mountains of Bulgaria, he faced 21 days of isolation—no partner, no help, and no margin for error.

A Lone Wolf vs. the Wild
Every survival task was on EJ:

• Friction fire-making with primitive tools
• Camp-building and maintenance
• Snaring wild boar with handmade paracord traps
• Fishing for trout and foraging wild edibles for sustenance

But his hunt for wild boar came to a halt when he realized he wasn’t the only predator on the mountain…

Stalked by Wolves
EJ was followed by two large wolf packs, putting him in direct competition for food. Prioritizing safety, he abandoned boar hunting and leaned into foraging and fishing to survive.

Despite the isolation and relentless cold, EJ endured—spending most of the challenge at 3,500 feet, then hiking two days uphill through steep, unforgiving terrain to reach the extraction point at 5,500 feet, where an old Soviet-era truck awaited.

Solo Survival, Record Results

• EJ completed one of the toughest solo challenges in franchise history
• Lost 52 lbs—a record for a 21-day solo survival
• Earned a PSR of 10.6, showcasing elite survival skill, grit, and mental toughness

Location: Atchafalaya Swamp Basin, Louisiana
Challenge Length: 60 Days
Season: Late Fall–Winter
Final PSR: 12.6
Weight Lost: 90 lbs (record for any Naked and Afraid challenge)

The Swamp Doesn’t Care. EJ Does It Anyway.
In the brutal wetlands of Louisiana’s Atchafalaya Basin, 12 Naked and Afraid Legends faced off against one of the harshest environments ever attempted—60 days of cold, swampy survival where alligators, wild boar, and venomous water moccasins weren’t even the worst threat.

Among them was EJ Snyder, ready to push his limits like never before.

Moccasin Island & Going Solo
EJ entered the challenge with Sarah Danser and Suzzanne, landing on what he called “Moccasin Island” due to the overwhelming number of snakes. They quickly prioritized shelter to protect against storms and frigid, wet conditions.

By Week 2, both of EJ’s partners had tapped out—leaving him completely alone. Undeterred, he took on all survival duties solo, thriving under extreme isolation.

Disaster Strikes: The Infamous Tree Fall
On Day 27, while clearing lilies to create a fishing area, EJ attempted to walk across a fallen willow tree hovering 12 feet over the swamp. The tree gave out beneath him—he fell hard into the swamp, landing on something that tore his right testicle in two places.

With blood, pain, and no hesitation, EJ calmly walked to the crew and declared:
“Get the medic and tell her to bring her stitch kit.”

He was given two options:

1. Go to the hospital, receive full medical care—but tap out.
2. Get stitched up in the field—no anesthesia, no antibiotics, full risk of infection and worse—but stay in the challenge.

EJ chose to stay. And he finished the remaining 33 days.

Alligators, Canoes & Legend Status

• On Day 28, EJ was joined by Gary and Max, forming a new trio.
• They scored and preserved an alligator, which provided food for 18 days.
• Gary tapped after putting alligator eyeballs in his eyes (yes, really).
• EJ and Max hand-carved a burnt-out dugout canoe, a near-impossible feat on survival TV (previously only done by Cody Lundin on Dual Survival).
• On Day 46, they moved to a new camp and were joined by five more survivalists, forming a final crew of seven.

Extraction Day: A Legendary Finish
On Day 60, EJ and the team paddled out through the swamp to reach extraction—via Sea Plane.

EJ finished with:

• A record-breaking 90 lbs lost
• A PSR of 12.6, the highest to date
• And a place cemented in Naked and Afraid history as one of the toughest survivalists to ever do it

Location: Amazon Jungle, Peru (Peru 2.0)
Challenge Length: 40/60 Days
EJ’s Start Day: Day 19
Final PSR: 14.6
Weight Lost: 75 lbs
Total Survival Days (to date): 206
Taps: Zero

When the Amazon Calls, EJ Answers
Midway through the challenge, with half the cast already gone, Naked and Afraid XL Executive Producer Jim Morton made a call to one man who could help turn the tide: EJ Snyder.

EJ, teaching survival in the mountains at the time, didn’t hesitate:

“Absolutely! When and where do you need me?”
“Three days. Amazon Jungle.”
“See ya soon—once I get off this mountain!”

Just like that, EJ was back in the Amazon, 8 years after his original jungle debut in Man vs. Amazon.

Reuniting with Legends, Adapting Fast
EJ entered on Day 19, joining fellow Legend Steven Lee Hall Jr., who had been surviving alone for two weeks.
In a moment of classic EJ ingenuity, he found a blow dart gun left behind and decided to make it work—despite never using one before. Using a local poison frog, he crafted hunting darts with real jungle venom.

The region was severely lacking food, forcing EJ and Steven to relocate. They discovered a rough shelter at an abandoned camp, then scouted deeper into the jungle—eventually hitting a productive fishing zone two miles away, teeming with life.

Team Shifts, Legacy Moments
A week later, they were joined by Amber, tackling her first 60-day challenge, who informed them that Jeff Zausch had tapped. With food still scarce and his partners wearing down, EJ set off to scout for game, better shelter—and possibly new teammates.

He discovered the camp of Matt Wright, Waz Addy, and Dan Link, and soon Steven and Amber joined the stronger, more resource-rich camp.

Building “Jungle Cruise 2” & Full Circle Closure
EJ took the lead on raft construction once again, designing a pontoon-style raft with a canopy—nicknamed “Jungle Cruise 2”. It became a standout build, joining his legacy of top-tier Naked and Afraid rafts.

One emotional moment came when Dan showed EJ the same tree where EJ and Laura Zerra had carved their initials 8 years earlier. EJ added the initials again—this time with Dan—bringing his Amazon journey full circle.

Day 60: A Legendary Exit
The six survivalists rafted out through the Amazon River to meet their Navy Ironclad extraction ship.

As the mission came to a close, EJ gave the jungle one final shout—and tossed his knife into the river in symbolic farewell.

Stats at Completion:

• 6 Challenges Completed
• 0 Taps
• 206 Days of Naked Survival
• 75 lbs Lost
• PSR: 14.6