Mud Pack (also known as Mud Run and Up Close and Muddy) is a recurring Reward Challenge of Survivor. Debuting in Survivor: Borneo, it has since been reused in Survivor: Cook Islands and Survivor: Cagayan.
Rules[]
Under a time limit, tribe members dive into a mud pit and cover their body with as much mud as they can. They then race back and scrape it off into a bucket. They may only transport mud on their torso, and are not allowed to carry it with their arms or hands. The buckets are then weighed, and the castaway with the heaviest bucket wins.
History[]
United States[]
In Borneo, the contestants returned to the mud pit of old Pagong camp to compete for cold beer and a trip to a bar to watch the first five minutes of the season. The castaways had five minutes to fill their buckets. The winner was Kelly Wiglesworth.
In Cook Islands, the castaways had to dive into a pool of mud and cross an obstacle in the way of return. The three castaways with the heaviest buckets after ten minutes would win a night at a spa. Ozzy Lusth, Parvati Shallow, and Yul Kwon won.
It appeared as the final five Reward Challenge in Cagayan. After ten minutes, Tony Vlachos' bucket was literally overflowing with mud. Because of this, the other castaways agreed not to have the buckets weighed and Tony was deemed the winner.
Australia[]
France[]
New Zealand[]
Quebec[]
South Africa[]
The challenge was used as the very first individual Immunity Challenge in Survivor South Africa. Gareth Tjasink won the challenge and became the first South African to wear the Immunity Necklace.
In Champions, the challenge was used at the family visit. Zavion Kotze won the challenge after filling his bucket with 108 kilograms (238 lbs.) of mud.
United Kingdom[]
This challenge, renamed Mud Run, appeared as a reward challenge on Episode 14 of the 2023 series of the UK version. The prize was a trip to the Survivor spa, with fruit platters, chocolate truffles and prosecco. The challenge was won by Christopher Haul, who invited Pegleg Bennett and Hannah Baptiste along (whose votes he needed to court for Tribal Council).
Winners[]
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winner | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Borneo "Death of an Alliance" |
Individual Reward |  Kelly Wiglesworth | ||
| Cook Islands "I Have the Advantage... for Once" |
Team Reward |  Ozzy Lusth |
 Parvati Shallow |
 Yul Kwon |
| Cagayan "Straw That Broke the Camel's Back" |
Individual Reward |  Tony Vlachos | ||
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Survivor (2016) Episode 9 |
Tribal Reward |          Saanapu |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Nicaragua Episode 15 |
Individual Reward |  Avi Duckor-Jones |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Survivor Québec (2023) Episode 34 |
Team Reward |     Jean-Junior, Maryse, Sandrine, Sango |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Panama Episode 8 |
Individual Immunity |  Gareth Tjasink |
| Champions Episode 15 |
Individual Reward (Family Visit) |
 Zavion Kotze |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Survivor U.K. (2023) Episode 14 |
Individual Immunity |  Christopher Haul |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- This challenge has only been used as the final Reward Challenge of the season.
- Every person that had the highest amount of mud made it to Final Tribal Council.
- Parvati Shallow was the only person to win the challenge and not make it to Final Tribal Council in the season the challenge was used. However, she made Final Tribal Council in two future seasons.
- Every winner of this challenge has returned for another season.