Prepare for a Trip to the Jungle

The jungle like any wilderness environment should not be entered without planning and preparation. This article will help to give you some basic information on planning a trip to a jungle with an emphasis on SE Asian jungles.

Steps

  1. Tell Someone. Anytime you venture into an area without phones, police, or infrastructure you need to inform someone of exactly where you will be and how long you plan to be there. This includes family, friends, and local authorities like rangers or police. Also inform them when you return safely. Leave a note in your car explaining who it belongs to and how long you plan to be out.
  2. Be prepared! The Boy Scout motto is a wise, time tested method of any form of travel. Preparation includes not only what you carry but what you know about where you will be. So do some research, find out the weather conditions, what kind of hazards to expect.What is the purpose of the trip? Are you day hiking, camping, or heading for a destination?
  3. Hire a local guide. If you are unsure of the area or just want to learn more about where you're going a guide can be well worth the money and are invaluable sources of information.
  4. Bring what you need. Depending on the length of your trip and what you want to do there here are some basic things you should have with you.
  5. Bring the right type of Clothing. Most jungles are hot, humid, and wet places. They are also full of things which bite, sting, stab, scratch or otherwise make you uncomfortable so dress for protection.
  6. A light weight long sleeve shirt, light weight durable long pants, a wide brimmed hat,leech socks, and sturdy shoes. The zip-off style trekking pants are a great option if you want to cool off in a river or in an area without leeches or other hazards you can have instant shorts.
  7. If you are in an area with leeches get leech socks which are usually made with a tightly woven cotton bottom and a nylon gator which goes to the knee you tuck your pants into. Synthetic fabrics will dry faster and since you will get wet, yes you will get wet... From sweating, rain, stream crossing and dripping leaves when you stop to rest. So synthetics or very light cotton will dry much faster than a T shirt and jeans.
  8. You should also carry a change of socks and a spare shirt, it's nice to have dry things to change into.
  9. Underwear...Since you will be sweating and or otherwise getting wet again a synthetic fabric is a good choice so you don't chafe or get "monkey butt" Or you can go commando (which derives from soldiers not wearing underwear or socks in jungles for better air circulation) to reduce incidences of trench foot and fungal crotch.
  10. Pack. A pack sized for the length of the trip is a good way to carry what you need. Get one with a ventilated back and a rain cover. Even if the material is "waterproof" the jungle has a way of defeating most waterproof fabrics so the cover gives an extra layer of protection as well as other uses.
  11. Be sure to bring the Essentials. First is your Brain. If you get lost or stuck out in the jungle Keep Your Head! Stop, Think, Be positive! If people are expecting you back they will be looking for you when you don't return. With a calm mind and clear thinking you will get through it.
  12. If you are lost find running water, a river or stream.Follow it down usually to people.If you get off a trail the jungle literally "closes in" around you, you won't be able to see more that ten feet in any direction so a river can be a road out.
  13. Stay hydrated! In hot humid climates you will sweat and dehydrate quickly. Make sure you drink plenty of water, remember when your thirsty it's too late.
  14. Water is heavy so most people don't carry enough so even if you're on a day hike carry a means of purifying water i.e. A water filter, purification tablets, or a way of boiling water. Never trust water in a stream or river is safe to drink!
  15. If you don't have a way of purifying water you can use big wide palm or banana leaf to collect rainwater or that pack cover you wisely brought.
  16. Have a way of building a fire. A fire is good for a lot of reasons, boiling water, signaling and just making you feel better. You should have a least 2 or 3 methods of starting a fire.
  17. Matches are the least reliable...remember humid and wet? Even waterproof matches will likely fail in the jungle. A butane lighter or two, a flint/steel sparking device (blast match, Spark-Lite™, permanent match, etc.) or what ever you can carry.
  18. For the same reasons matches aren't reliable, humid and wet...you should carry some form of tinder. Most likely the wood you find will be damp if not wet, so something that will light and stay lit is a good way to start a fire in the jungle. A butane lighter and some strips of old bicycle inner tube work well even wet! Candles work well too.
  19. Or commercially available tinder is OK. A sun based method like a magnifying lens is hard to use as there may not be any sunlight in a dense jungle or cloudy sky's.
  20. Don't forget food. Apart from air and water if you spend any time out in the bush you will need to eat. If you are not familiar with what you can and can't eat in the jungle it's a good idea to carry some "survival rations" A few "energy bars" are a convenient way to carry a bit of food. The jungle provides a lot of stuff like; bananas, coconuts, and other fruit. The streams are full of small fish and crayfish. As well as lots and lots of insects (just be careful with bugs, if its really colorful, it's not good to eat!)
  21. Never forget a knife. A knife is a very, very useful tool. We've all seen the movies with guys in the jungle hacking away with big machetes or Rambo with his huge pig sticker. You don't need a huge knife, they're heavy and hard to use.. Try cleaning a small fish with a machete! That being said the Malaysian "Orang Asli" (original people) carry a parang which is about the length of your forearm with most of the weight at the front. It is indispensable for constructing shelter or if you do need to clear a trail, It's the Jungle "camp axe" and if you spend any time there like camping it's very useful.
  22. Something like a multi-tool is also a great option, there are many to choose from the Leatherman Wave is great it has locking blades, a saw, scissors and of course the pliers. But even a small fixed blade knife is a great choice.
  23. Let there be Light. A small LED light is a good thing to have if you need to do anything at night (think urinating) you will welcome a light!
  24. Be sure to have some types of navigational tools. A small well made compass and if available a map. Navigating in the jungle is very difficult, often you can't see more than a few yards in any direction. If follow a stream or river downstream there's a good chance it'll lead you out.
  25. Pack a bandanna. Tie it around your neck, wet it occasionally to keep you cool. Or drape it down your neck to protect it from sun and bugs.
  26. Keep it with you. All of these things should be on your person! In your pockets or on a cord around your neck. A commercially available survival kit will have a lot of this stuff, or you can make your own. Remember to do your research read reviews of the kits. Just remember it won't do you any good if it's not on you!
  27. Don't forget the extras. Now some things to carry in your pack. If you're on a day hike you can leave some of this out.
  28. Get a light weight nylon waterproof tarp. 7' x 10' is a good size, with some cordage (rope, string, dental floss or vines) you can rig a roof over you. Better yet, practice making a lean to shelter.
  29. If you have room in your pack a hammock (even the net style survival type works in a pinch) is the best way to sleep in the jungle, the ground is usually wet and bug ridden, with a hammock and tarp you'll be quite comfortable.
    • If all you have is a tarp and it's not raining, with some rope you can make a hammock from the tarp. If your really industrious you can make a roof from bamboo and palm/banana leaves. The jungle has lots of useful stuff bamboo, wide leaves, vines etc. With a bit of imagination and work you can make anything!
    • Rope. Some small diameter rope, or strong string is really useful. If you can get 550 paracord it's the best.
    • Water container
    • Wire. Thin stainless steel wire for snares, repairs, and making things.
    • Mosquito head net and good insect repellent. Also a mosquito net to use while sleeping is nice and it can be used to trap fish.
    • A one pound coffee can makes a good, cheap cook pot, and with the lid you have a watertight container to keep things dry in your pack.
    • A small first aid/repair kit, with bandages, tape, antibiotic ointment, needles, thread etc.
    • A pair of sandals to give your feet and walking shoes a break if you are going to camp.
    • Talcum powder, to help you get and stay dry at night.
    • Soap!
  30. Stay clean!! It's good for your health and peace of mind.
  31. A small stove.
  32. Solid fuel stoves are easy to use and light so if you can't get a fire going you can heat water in your can.
  33. A larger flashlight and spare batteries.
  34. GPS. Learn how to use it...easier than a compass...Mark your position when you start and "backtrack" to get out.
  35. A pack towel, small light towel.
  36. A small machete or "parang" (bigger is not better) and as with all tools learn how to use it properly and safely.
  37. Fishing gear.
  38. Tobacco. Even if you don't smoke you can use tobacco as a leech repellent. Make "tea" from the loose leaves and soak the cotton portion of the leech socks. You can also apply it to cotton clothing (it may stain). Leeches don't like the nicotine. Jungle natives rub tobacco on their skin.
  39. The jungle is a great place to experience nature and enjoy being in the bush. Remember the jungle isn't good or bad it just is...

Tips

  • If you don't have a pot or a can use a piece of green bamboo to cook in or heat water in. Find a large diameter piece and either split it or open one end and place it near a fire.

Warnings

  • Malaria, Dengue and chikungunya are very common diseases in the jungle and whatever you do should buy medicines that help protect you from malaria since you can't be vaccinated against malaria and make sure you bring the correct supplies and adequate clothing to protect yourself against mosquitoes as they could have dengue and chikungunya.
  • There are wild animals in the jungle, however you probably won't see many if you do count yourself lucky. If you see a snake leave it alone! Most snake bites happen when people "mess" with them i.e. trying to catch, kill or get a better look.
  • Get vaccinated for any mosquito borne diseases before this trip.

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