Naked and Afraid — Season 12

Season 12 aired from March through April 2021 across eleven episodes, marking the franchise's most U.S.-heavy run to that point. Six of the eleven challenges were filmed on American soil, including Georgia's "No Rain, No Gain," Colorado's "Mile-High Clubbed," Montana's "The Devil's Woods," Texas, Arizona (twice), and Florida for the finale "Come Hell and Black Water." International locations rounded out the run in Mexico, Ecuador, Namibia, and South Africa.

Newcomers included Matt Garland, Rose Godfrey, Wes Harper, Dan Link, Sam Gerges, Adam Kavanagh, and Joe Ortlip, several of whom would return in later seasons and XL runs. The COVID-era production restrictions were the likely driver of the season's shift toward U.S. filming locations.