Dos And Don'ts When Hiking In The Jungle

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Adventure tourism is becoming more popular and, as such, more and more people are finding themselves in wildernesses, miles from home and any form of civilization. These wild adventures are a lot of fun and an opportunity to find yourself. However, they can also be extremely dangerous if you’re not careful for a whole host of reasons.

In this post, we take a look at some of the dos and don’ts of hiking in the jungle. Here’s what you need to know.

Do Wear Boots

Top of your list of kit priorities should be an exceptionally robust and durable pair of boots. You need something that can take whatever you throw at them. After all, you won’t be able to pop down to your local shoe store for a replacement when you’re in the wilderness.

Do not wear sandals, flip-flops, or regular sneakers. These forms of footwear are wholly inadequate and you could wind up hurting yourself or even losing a foot. Get armored footwear that will keep all your toes safe.

Don’t Dress For The Cold

The term “jungle” isn't actually a scientific term. Instead, it just means a forested space where all the plants are overgrown and there aren’t any well-defined trails anywhere.

We typically consider a jungle to be a rainforest, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s just anywhere that’s basically impassable.

With that said, you’ll struggle to find jungles in northern countries. Sure, they exist, but they’re rare. Most jungles are in the tropics, along the equator. And that’s probably where you’re headed if you’re planning an adventure of a lifetime.

Therefore, don’t dress for the cold. Make sure that you have the right clothes for the heat and humidity. You need garments that can wick sweat off your body and keep you cool. Hiking pants and a base layer are both great ideas. You want to cover as much of your body as possible while remaining cool at the same time. The jungle can get extremely humid.

Do Pack A Bandana

Don’t forget to pack your bandana when you travel. You’ll need it to wipe the sweat off your brow and keep your face dry while you hike. It comes in handy in the middle of the day when the sun is beating down and all you want to do is rest.

Don’t Forget Your Rainwear

Jungles in the tropics are the wettest places on earth, so don’t forget to pack your rainwear. Make sure that you have all the items you need to keep you dry.

If you’re not sure what you use, get a packing list maker with a sketchbook. This way, you can remember to bring all of the garments you need for a successful trip. Make sure that you pack a waterproof jacket and pants with Gore-tex or equivalent. This way, the rain will simply form beads and drip off instead of leaving you damp and smelly.

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Do Beat The Bugs

When you go hiking in the jungle, you’ll meet a lot of bugs. It’s a totally different environment from the desert or a northern temperate country.

The best way to do this is by wearing insect repellent. You can also wear clothing specifically designed to keep insects off your skin, including nets you can wear around your head.

Don’t Miss The Opportunity To Spot Wildlife

Because jungles are so overgrown, they’re an incredible habitat for wildlife. Millions of species live side by side in a complex ecosystem found nowhere else on Earth.

What species you see depends on where you go. If you head to the jungles of India, you’re more likely to see lions and rhinos. If you go to Central America, though, sloths and howler monkeys are more likely.

Just make sure that you go with a guide. Many wild animals you’ll see are outright dangerous and should never be approached. 

Do Bring Poles With You

When you’re hiking through the jungle, poles come in handy all the time. When the terrain is so wild, it makes sense to have an extra point of contact on the ground.

You can buy trekking poles for cheap from any outlet store that sells camping and hiking gear. Once you’ve bought them, you can then twist and adjust them so they’re long enough for your hands and body.

Poles come in handy all the time. They’re great for removing dangerous creatures from your path, climbing steep mud banks, and traversing rivers and ponds. Everyone takes them with them.

Don’t Forget Your Machete

On a similar note, don’t forget your machete. As you make your way through the jungle, you’ll need to regularly cut back vegetation in front of you to make a path. At some points, you simply can’t progress without it because the undergrowth is so thick.

Most guides carry machetes and will cut a path for you. However, you can also make one yourself if you’re traveling alone or without professional assistance.

Do Filter Your Water

While it might be tempting to drink directly from a clear stream, don’t do it. In the jungle, that sort of thing is extremely risky because of all the waterborne diseases that naturally occur. 

The good news is that these days you can bring water filters with you easily. These take all of the nasties out of the water, protecting your stomach.

What’s more, today’s water filters are incredibly lightweight. They’re usually just plastic bags with a small filter attached to the end. That’s it.

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Don’t Forget Your Tick Tool

Ticks are everywhere in the jungle. And they can bring terrible diseases with them. Therefore, always take your tick removal tool with you. These are small and lightweight and shouldn’t add much to your pack, particularly if you get a plastic one.

To use these, you just place them around the tick’s body and twist them. This way, you can remove the entire tick and any poisonous parts at the same time.

So, there you have it: our do’s and don’ts for hiking in the jungle.