It will be hippos, gorillas and elephants, oh my! when "Survivor: Gabon -- Earth's Last Eden" premieres on Thursday, Sept. 25 on CBS. It is the 17th installment of the hit TV series and this season it was filmed in HD.

Today, CBS announced the 18 castaways and ET has your first look at the individuals who will be heading out on this African adventure as they try to outwit, outplay and outlast their competition to take home the $1 million prize as the Sole Survivor.

"In a strange coincidence to Earth's Last Eden -- good vs. evil emerges as a major theme this season. I think the audience will quickly identify with one group or the other," host Jeff Probst teases.

Castaways competing on "Survivor: Gabon -- Earth's Last Eden are:

RANDY BAILEY
49
Eagle Rock, MO
Wedding Videographer

JACQUE BERG
25
Santa Barbara, CA
Medical Sales

DANNY "GC" BROWN
26
Portland, OR
Maintenance Man

MICHELLE CHASE
24
Los Angeles, CA
Music Production Assistant

CRYSTAL COX
29
Durham, NC
Former Olympic Gold Medalist

ROBERT "Bob" CROWLEY
58
Portland, ME
Physics Teacher

KELLY CZARNECKI
22
Buffalo Grove, IL
Retail Sales

ACE GORDON
27
Naples, FL
Jewelry Sales

CHARLIE HERSCHEL
29
New York, NY
Lawyer

KEN HOANG
22
Westminster, CA
Professional Gamer

CORRINE KAPLAN
29
Los Angeles, CA
Pharmaceutical Sales

DAN KAY
32
Boston, MA
Lawyer

JESSICA "Sugar" KIPER
29
Brooklyn, NY
Pin-up Model

GILLIAN LARSON
61
Temecula, CA
Retired Nurse

MARCUS LEHMAN
28
Atlanta, GA
Doctor

SUSIE SMITH
47
Charles City, IA
Hairdresser

PALOMA SOTO-CASTILLO
24
Downey, CA
Student

MATTY WHITMORE
29
Pacific Palisades, CA
Personal Trainer