The journey on trail of the legendary Horn of Valour inside the fiery Omodo forest in Agba, Osun State, began yesterday for the 10 young men and women who scaled through rigorous regional and national selection exercise for this season’s Gulder Ultimate Search, Nigeria’s premier and Africa’s longest running reality TV show.

After the glitz, glamour and excitement of the Gala Nite in Lagos, they drove straight into the waiting arms of Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola who treated to a lavish welcome dinner at the Government House in the ancient town of Osogbo, capital of Osun State, before the Searchers onward journey to Agba, the Search location.
The unmistakable baritone voice of returnee Narrator, Femi Sowoolu announced that the Quest for the Horn of Valour has begun for the 10 musketeers who are contestants in this year’s GUS.

The meeting the Governor was quite a spectacle and one that will surely remain indelible in the minds of most of the Searchers. For Chisom Eluma, who confessed that she has never met any Governor one-on-one before, “it was an opportunity for me to meet with the Governor and shake him, hand-to-hand.”  What is more, she feels greet in her Aso Oke outfit. “It was nice on me. I looked different. I’ve not worn it before, but now, I think I’ll learn to start getting Yoruba traditional stuffs to wear. It really looks nice on me,” she enthused.
Uche Nwaezeapu reacted in the same manner. “Oh! Meeting the Governor was cool. I’ve never met a Governor one-on-one before. I probably have seen a couple from afar. This is my first time of meeting a Governor and having a handshake with the Governor was cool.”
As for his Aso Oke outfit, a bemused Uche admits: “Hehe. It was my first time of wearing something like that. I feel African. Even though, I’m not from that part of Nigeria, I still feel at home.”

That’s where the merriment ends. The contestants were soon yanked from the comfort of the warm embrace of the Governor and thrown into the world of reality that is the Gulder Ultimate Search. As the Narrator said, “the joy of being chosen, the hotels and the glitz of Governor’s welcome soon fade into the background, giving way to the harshness of jungle existence, as the Search for The Horn of Valour becomes real.”

So begins the journey into Omodo forest in Search of The Horn of Valour for our 10 contestants. Crossing the Lake of the Eye, they met stern-looking Show Host/Anchor, Bob-Manuel Udokwu waiting to welcome them on the banks of the lake. Straight away, he dished out his unmistakable orders: “Well, step off the boat! Step int the waters and come right here?”

A rather rude welcome, but more woes await the contestants, who by now, are beginning to see the other side of Bob Manuel. “You have crossed the Lake of the Eye. From now on, there is no turning back. By crossing the Lake of the Eye, your Quest has already started. In order for you to participate effectively in the Search, you are advised to leave your personal belongings behind here. Okay? You are not going to need them throughout the Search.” In exchange, he gave them a backpack each saying: “All the things you need for the Search can be found in those bags.”

Not done yet, he burdened them with their first task – finding their way to the place of abode (camp). “If you go that way”, pointing an abandoned bush path to his left, “you will find the first clue that will lead you to your camp.” And off they go in search of their camp site.
Wading through thick forests, bushes, hunting tracks, mangroves and cocoa plantations, the contestants trekked for hours, in search of a place to lay their heads. Soon, the trek begins to take its toll.

Meanwhile, short biographical clips bring the Searchers closer to the viewers, even as they continue on their endless search for the place marked for the camp. After hours of trekking, they intermittently stumble of further clues. However, each clue seems to take them further into the forest, while the spot they search remains eternally elusive. Even when Wale found a compass with which is expected t assist them in finding their way through the jungle, the compass ironically points them back the way they were coming. The more clues they find, the more confusion they were thrown into. At a point, some of the contestants wonder if they will ever find the elusive camp site. Wale admonished they say: “Let’s look around first. Why are people rushing to decide which way to go?”
They were wise to heed Wale’s advice. Soon, they stumble on another clue which instructs: “North, South, East, West, zero is the best. Go in this general direction. Find your home to be.”

Still, the place they sought remains ever farther away. Still, they push in their Quest. To add to their woes, it started to rain, falling in torrents, soaking the contestants wet. However, their perseverance paid off, as they soon found another clue which directs them to look for a strange object (a staff) standing in the place marked for their camp. In no time, they found their camp site, a partial clearing under a bamboo grove.

Though wet and freezing, they began work in earnest on building their shelter, using bamboo trunks and palm leaves. Arriving the camp, a highly impressed Show Host paid rare compliments to the contestants for “taking the initiative to start building your shelter even before you were told to.” He left them to complete building their shelter, promising to see them “tomorrow for the next task.”