Jungle Survival Skills: The Essentials. Surviving in the jungle is no picnic. It’s one of the Earth’s most extreme environments, and even with jungle survival training under your belt, it’s a real challenge.
Here’s a quick run-down of the essential attributes you’ll need if you want to survive in the rainforest.
1. PHYSICAL FITNESS
If you don’t have a pretty good level of physical fitness, surviving in the jungle will be a real challenge.
You don’t need to be a marathon runner to cope in the rainforest, but it’s important that you have good stamina and are strong enough to carry out essential tasks for jungle survival – things like building a shelter or finding food and water.
Rainforest terrain can be tough to manage, and the humid climate can cause a problem if you’re not fit enough to keep moving in the sticky jungle heat. You’ll need to be fit enough and strong enough to trek through the woods, sometimes hacking your way through thicker parts of the brush.
2. MENTAL STRENGTH
In addition to physical fitness and strength, you need to have mental strength and a good attitude if you want to do well in the jungle.
There’ll be times during any jungle survival experience when you might start to feel a bit desperate; you’ll be tired, hungry, thirsty, and you could even run into a dangerous animal. The ability to remain calm in difficult situations like this is an essential jungle survival skill.
Having the right attitude is just as, if not more, important than being physically fit in the jungle. It’s absolutely crucial that you keep calm, level-headed and positive during the most difficult situations. It’s a very challenging environment, but with perseverance, you’ll find that you can thrive under this level of pressure.
3. KNOWLEDGE OF FLORA & FAUNA
If you know ahead of time that you’re going into the jungle (for example, if you’re taking one of our jungle survival courses), it’s a good idea to read up on what plants and animals you can expect to find in the rainforest.
Having even a basic understanding of what plants you can safely eat could keep you fed and nourished during your jungle survival experience. And knowing what plants to avoid could prevent you from getting seriously ill during your stay.
What’s more, if you can spot the signs of potentially dangerous animals, you can make sure you steer well clear of any risky situations.
The same is true even if you aren’t planning on going to the jungle. If you end up in a rainforest survival situation, a rudimentary understanding of the flora and fauna you might encounter could end up saving your life.
4. A WELL-PACKED BAG
This point only really applies if you know you’re going into the jungle ahead of time – but if you’re going into any situation where you might end up in survival mode, it pays to be well prepared.
Carrying the right equipment with you can make a massive difference to how well you’re able to cope in a jungle survival scenario.
One of the most important things you need to take with you is a machete. Without a sharp knife, it’ll be almost impossible to chop down plants or hack off bits of wood. Without a knife, you’ll struggle to build a shelter to keep you dry, forge weaponry to keep you safe or make a fire to keep you warm.
If you know ahead of time that you’re heading into the rainforest, here are a few other jungle survival essentials to stash in your pack:
- A compass
- Waterproof fire starting kit
- Water purification system
- Antifungal foot powder
- A fishing kit
- Machete
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but these items could end up being the things that make your jungle stay bearable. Clean water and a hot meal can keep you safe – and sane! – during a jungle survival experience.
HAVE YOU GOT WHAT IT TAKES?
If all this sounds like a walk in the park to you, why not test your mettle with a real-life jungle survival experience?
Here at the Wild Tales, we run fantastic jungle survival courses in the heart of the Guyanese rainforest. Push your body and mind to the limit and see exactly what you’re capable of with our exhilarating jungle experiences.
Fill in our contact form to find out more information or to book onto one of our Amazon adventures. To find out more about Guyana you can visit the GTA.
