Jungle Travel
One of the most interesting vacation ideas is to perform a jungle travel and test your capabilities as much as possible. Doing that is not going to be easy, but with the right planning and knowledge, you can make it work. Jungle traveling is not easy since you are dealing with a lot of unknown possibilities. But if you prepare adequately and know what you are getting into, the results can be exceptional.
What challenges will you face during your jungle travel?
The thing you need to keep in mind jungle travel is that the rainforest/jungle is one of the most demanding and challenging places you will ever visit. There are a lot of obstacles that make it hard to survive there. You will deal with a very high humidity level, which obviously becomes a major issue to deal with. And at the same time, the temperatures are high too, which, in combination with the humidity, can make it hard to stay there.
And on top of that, jungles are known for the fact that they have a lot of wild animals, insects, and just a plethora of critters that you don’t want to interact with. Since you are in their domain, they will do their best to protect themselves, and that’s why you need to avoid any interaction with them. Because those interactions can be challenging.
Acclimatize before entering any jungle travel
One of the primary rules of jungle travel is to prepare yourself for those hard conditions. You will need to go to that location days in advance, so you can get used to the humidity and heat. Going there beforehand will also remove any of the jetlag, and overall, it will be very beneficial from a health perspective. Otherwise, it’s very common to deal with a shock and a variety of other problems, all of which are not beneficial.
How can you prepare even before going there? You can turn off your AC in the room before you go to sleep. Go and enjoy some walks while it’s very hot outside. Simple things like this, which expose you to high heat levels and humidity, will make it much easier to accommodate jungle travel, and that’s certainly one of the things you want to take into consideration.
Exercise as often as you can
You have to realize that jungle travel is all about building stamina and knowing how to resist these harsh conditions. That’s why focusing on cardio and building endurance is a key thing to take into account. After all, you need to be fit to travel long distances, and you will also have a backpack on you as well. That’s the thing: you will need to do everything you can in order to tackle those challenges appropriately, and working out can help you do that.
You can focus on running and a variety of cardio exercises if you can. After that, you might want to do some climbing, all while carrying a backpack with items you need. It’s a good workout in general, and it will also help make your experience a lot better, and help for jungle travel. which is something to take into account as much as possible.
Always be wary of things around you
The thing you will notice during your jungle travel experience is that things are always happening around you. Look up often because there are hanging branches and dead trees that can fall out of nowhere. On top of that, a lot of animals and insects are above you as well, so it’s a good idea to check and be aware of anything moving within your proximity. That way, if you sense something, you can step away from danger.
Plus, you have to look down, too. You want to see if critters, leeches and so on surround you. Clear the area where you want to walk because it can become a challenge, and that alone is something you need to think about as much as you can.
Additionally, jungle travel requires you always to stay vigilant. Check your sleeves and shirt, assess every location for danger, and don’t just randomly move into the jungle. Planning is important because this is a challenge, and it’s going to take quite a bit of time to get used to it. But at the end of the day, jungle travel is a lot of fun, and it will be an unforgettable experience. However, in jungle travel have to remind yourself of the dangers that you can face since it will make things a lot easier to understand.
Pack light when doing any type of jungle travel
The reason why you want to do this is because it allows you to focus on your travels while also not rushing in any way. You need to be able to move quickly and react to any challenge that might arise. If a wild animal appears out of nowhere, the last thing you want is tons of weight keeping you in place. In general, it’s much better to not have a lot of weight on you. Instead, what you want to do is to pack as light as you can and take water, maybe a medical kit, and things you absolutely need during your travels.
We recommend having a jungle kit that includes the following:
- A water bottle
- Long shirts and trousers
- A head torch
- Mosquito repellant
- Socks
Of course, these are only a few of the main things you need to take with you. Food is obviously a priority, but at the same time, you need something to dispose of the remaining food. You don’t want to throw it into the wilderness randomly.
Properly packing everything and checking your backpack often will help quite a bit too. In addition, you do want to massage your feet from time to time and check if the boots are broken into or not. If that happens, you can be exposed to all kinds of bacteria, so having an extra pair of boots can be great, depending on the situation.
Hydration is crucial while you are in the jungle
The thing to note about jungle travel is that you always need to be hydrated. Everything from the high temperatures and humidity to continued physical activity, all of them will require a lot of focus and attention from your side. But more importantly, they will drain your energy, and that’s why you need to refresh yourself with the right amount of water.
You may need to drink warm water because that will help remove bacteria and prevent any potential infections. You may also have to consume water from rivers if you run out. In that case, it’s imperative to have a water purifier or water filter. These products are great because they can filter out particulate matter and will also remove unwanted chemicals. It will make your water safe to drink, which becomes mandatory in these situations.
Buy a waterproof backpack for jungle travel
Since there’s plenty of water and humidity in the jungle, you might end up with situations when your backpack is wet. Obviously, depending on what you have inside the backpack, wetness can be a bad thing. The best thing that you can do here is to purchase a waterproof backpack and avoid any issues that can arise. That’s especially true if you want to carry things like electronics, a sleeping bag, or any clothing.
Of course, each person’s experience will differ when they perform any jungle travel. But you need to realize that keeping everything warm and free of any water is always a great idea. Water damage can be very bad, especially for items that you want to use later, either for sleeping, leisure, etc. That’s why a waterproof backpack is always a priority. Go for quality and not a cheap price; you will be much happier in the end.
Visit the jungle with a guide
If you attempt any type of jungle travel, try to go there with a guide. The reason why you want a guide is rather obvious: it will help you eliminate any struggle, and you can stay safe. Guides know the jungle very well; they are usually local to that region. So they will increase your chances of survival. Plus, they can take you to the best places in the jungle, which is always a wonderful opportunity to have.
The focus here is to always work as a team and stay close to the guide. He will give you valuable advice on what you need to do in order to stay alive and what challenges can arise during your travel. That’s why you don’t want to take things for granted. Avoid any rush, and if you manage things appropriately, nothing will stand in your way.
Don’t rush and move too fast
It might be an obvious tip, but still, a lot of people think they are invincible and rush through the jungle. Needless to say, that’s not the best way to handle things. Instead, the best approach is to time your steps and not rush into anything. Instead, as we said, you want to check on your surroundings, see what you can do, and what type of issues you are facing.
Doing that will help a lot, it will eliminate a lot of potential issues, and it will also make your experience more convenient and consistent. The true focus is on taking your time and knowing the type of challenges that might arise.
Eat more than usual
It might sound weird, but the truth is that when you are in any jungle travel experience, you will need a lot of calories. It’s very common to burn tons of calories in the jungle, especially due to the intense heat. How can you deal with that? Generally, you want to go with calorie-dense foods like granola, peanut butter, pasta, or nuts. They will not weigh you down that much, and you can have plenty of calories here, which is what matters the most.
Get a raincoat
The thing to note about jungles is they always tend to have very random weather. It can be sunny now and rain in an hour. One of the crucial things that you need to take with you for any jungle exploration is a raincoat. It’s not going to weigh you down a lot, but it will protect you against the elements. A raincoat is a great option to consider, especially if you plan on staying in the jungle for more than a day. The chances of dealing with rain at that point are much higher than just going there for a few hours.
The same thing can be said about sunglasses and sunscreen. Protecting your skin and eyes against the powerful UV rays is not something you want to ignore. Focus on staying safe as much as possible, and if you do that, you will find it to work extremely well. In the end, you also want to consider taking some antihistamines and analgesics. Those can be good if you might be dealing with any headaches or insect bites.
Lastly, you should also consider taking some general items with you. A flashlight and canteen are also items that might not seem mandatory at first, but they will provide you with excellent value. You might need them here and there, so having access to them while exploring the jungle is always a great thing to focus on.
Plus, you should create a list of personal items that you need when you are away for over 24 hours. Taking time to appreciate all of that and focus on implementing a better experience is always a thing to consider.
At the end of the day, jungle travel can be fun if you are prepared and know what you are getting into. A jungle is one of those harsh environments that requires physical and mental preparation. If you do that, it will be much easier to enjoy the experience and focus on the process as a whole. Yes, it’s tricky to deal with issues in the jungle, but being prepared and also having a guide can help you quite a bit. Don’t dismiss the challenges you can face in the jungle; instead, focus on staying safe, and you will have an amazing experience. Plus, the jungle is also where you can learn a lot of things, like Kambo, and you should totally give it a try!