The wilderness of Africa put the amazing in “The Amazing Race”. As the six remaining teams headed from Azerbaijan to Africa, the gloves came off and secrets were exposed.
Art and J.J., the border patrol agents who have dominated much of this season, expressed their frustration that the former Big Brother contestants (Brendon and Rachel) were content to just follow their lead when it came to navigating the race. And they weren’t shy about who they told. “That they are even in the same race as us is disgusting,” J.J. complained. The cocky border patrol agents also pieced together a few clues and realized Nary and Jamie weren’t really the kindergarten teachers they have been claiming to be since the start of the race – a secret they happily shared with the other teams in hopes of stirring the pot.
As the teams hustled to check-in for their connecting flight to Tanzania (all the teams were on the same flight with a layover in Nairobi), teams bumped each other during the sprint to the airline counter, middle fingers went flying, words were exchanged and egos got bruised.
Vanessa, never at a loss for words, took the opportunity to pick on the emotionally challenged Big Brother’s Rachel. “You should get your nose done before your boobs,” Vanessa taunted, eventually drawing the tears she was hunting for from Rachel.
But once the race hit the ground, the stunning landscape of this East African nation calmed the hostilities and soothed the tensions.
After the six remaining teams took three small planes (take-off times were separated by 15 minutes) on a scenic flight to the Ngorongoro Crater, a wildlife convervation area, the teams had to successfully navigate their provided safari driver into the heart of Maasai country, where they encountered the detour for this leg.
The teams then had an option between “Marksmanship” or “Courtship.”
Marksmanship had the teams throwing a tradional Maasai warrior hunting weapon – a short stick with a club-like head – to break a clay target. Each member of the team had to hit a target before they could receive their next clue. “It’s like knife throwin’!” Dave, the Type-A army guy, explained to his wife.
The other option on the detour was a Maasai courtship ritual, which didn’t appear to be more challenging than doning robes and jumping up and down for a minute in a circle of local tribespeople. “I hope it doesn’t mean me and him was courtin’,” Mark joked after he and his buddy hopped up and down with the locals.
But neither option in this detour proved much of a challenge for the remaining teams. The real challenge on this leg was the final task, where each team had to successfully pitch a full-size safari tent, complete with shower, before they could check in at the pit stop.
Rachel and Dave were first to start assembling their tent and despite their usual ugly back and forth (“You are the most negative person I know in this universe,” Rachel complained), they did manage to figure it out and finish first. “When communication is flowing and we are supportive of each other we are unstoppable,” Dave explained.
1. Rachel and Dave
2. Bopper and Mark
3. Art and J.J.
4. Brendon and Rachel
5. Vanessa and Ralph
6. Nary and Jamie (Non-Elimination leg).
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