The Great Safari Challenge
Surviving Mann:The Great Safari Challenge is an invitation-only prestige competition series set across four of America’s most distinguished private hunting destinations.
A select group of accomplished outdoorsmen—leaders in their respective fields—enter a curated arena of applied challenge designed by Don Mann, blending strategic pursuit, precision marksmanship, endurance, and wildlife stewardship.
Orchestrated by SEAL Team 6 veteran, elite endurance competitor, and adventure architect Don Mann, The Great Safari Challenge integrates Special Operations tactical training with advanced hunting discipline—culminating in the crowning of one Safari Champion.
This is not a themed retreat.
It is a scenario-based arena designed by Special Operations veterans to test reconnaissance, awareness, fieldcraft, and stewardship under real-world standards.
Participants engage in applied training and operational briefings led by Special Operations veterans and seasoned tactical authorities.
The arena integrates:
• Tactical movement and fieldcraft
• Precision shooting evaluation
• Drone-supported reconnaissance exercises
• Equipment mastery under realistic conditions
• Select low-light or night operations
Arena Leadership
Show Host & Arena Architect
Don Mann
Master of Elite Performance. Endurance Pioneer. Leadership Under Pressure.
Before television, before national broadcast, before Surviving Mann – Don Mann was designing and leading extreme endurance and wilderness challenges for some of the most accomplished individuals in the world.
Today, he brings that same precision, discipline, and challenge design to a national audience through the Surviving Mann television franchise.
The Great Safari Challenge extends Don’s real-world arena – and documents it for a global audience.
Tim Harmsen
Firearms Authority. Field Marksman. Digital Leader.
Tim Harmsen is the creator of the Military Arms Channel, one of the most respected firearms and tactical channels in the world, with millions of engaged followers across digital platforms.
An experienced hunter and precision marksman, Tim brings technical expertise, historical knowledge, and real-world shooting insight to The Great Safari Challenge.
His presence bridges the legacy of traditional hunting with the modern firearms community, expanding the Challenge’s reach while reinforcing its authenticity.
Jeff Tiegs
Counter Terrorism Expert. Author. Human Rights Advocate.
Jeff Tiegs is a retired counterterrorism and counterinsurgency leader with over 25 years in U.S. Army Special Operations. Rising from Ranger private to Delta Force Lieutenant Colonel, he led high-risk missions worldwide, including Panama, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
In The Great Safari Challenge, Jeff brings the perspective of a career operational leader—where discipline, preparation, and decision-making under pressure determine outcomes.
Today, as founder and president of Skull Games, he leads global efforts to expose and disrupt human trafficking networks, applying decades of operational expertise to defend the vulnerable and pursue justice.
Dave - 22 Plinkster
Precision Marksman. Field Authority. Trusted Guide.
Dave, widely known as “22Plinkster,” is one of the most recognized precision marksmen in the modern shooting community.
With millions of engaged followers across digital platforms, he has built a reputation for exceptional accuracy, technical discipline, and creative shooting mastery – demonstrating precision feats that demand control, focus, and repeatable performance.His expertise spans firearm evaluation, shooting mechanics, and practical field execution.
In The Great Safari Challenge, Dave brings elite marksmanship authority and real-world hunting credibility to the arena – reinforcing the standards of precision required to succeed.
Apex Tools. Elite Standards.
Participants operate with premier equipment and technologies—precision firearms, advanced optics, tactical drone systems, and fieldcraft tools typically reserved for the most disciplined professionals.
These are not demonstration platforms or range-day showcases.
Participants train and operate with advanced, professional-grade systems under the guidance of Special Operations veterans and seasoned tactical authorities—applying equipment in realistic field scenarios where precision, awareness, and composure matter.
Equipment is deployed under elevated real-world standards—where reliability is a given and execution is demanded.
A National Stage for the Modern Hunting Tradition
The Great Safari Challenge premieres on the Pursuit Channel and extends across multi-platform distribution through the American Stories Network.
Each chapter of the series is documented for worldwide audiences—preserving the arena, the destinations, and the performance of those who step into it.
Participation becomes part of a lasting competitive legacy, recorded and recognized at a global level.
Step Into The Arena
- Four distinguished destinations.
- Special Operations–led training.
- Advanced, professional-grade systems in the field.
- A selectively formed field of accomplished outdoorsmen.
Participation is secured through private conversation and vetting.
If you are prepared to train under Special Operations standards, operate apex-level equipment, and compete within a globally documented arena of applied discipline…
The arena awaits.
Begin the conversation with a producer.