| Setting up a camp in the jungle starts with finding trees with adequate distance from each other to hang up everything on them in a terrain which is unlikely to be washed away in heavy rainfall. First, the ground vegetation and any disturbing branches are cleared away with a machete. Then the tarpaulin top that shields from the rain (but unfortunately, not necessarily from falling branches) is extended over part of the camp area by ropes tightened to the trees. Then comes the hanging of mosquito net, and finally the hammock (with a sleeping bag in it) is extended inside the net. Gear is either hang up on trees, or placed onto a made-on-the-spot shelf or table-like structure. Research, photo, and other precision equipment, as well as food are stored in a watertight bag or container to prevent damage from rain or animals. The real adventure of the jungle camping starts after sunset, and it is quite diverse experience that depends on the actual geographical location. |
The forest floor, tree trunks start to glow in pale green, terrestrial crabs start to crawl under the hammock, branches break down and split the forest canopy with a huge noise (one just can hope this does not happen exactly above the hammock), and all sorts of animals suddenly became active, which in the dark forest night translates into noises, the most incredible noises: endless variety of barking, crying and everything else. Mosquitoes handled by sprays (only in the first few days, then no more left in the can), smoke rings inside the mosquito net pushed in the ground, or just focusing attention on the leaches around the ankle instead. Food is a conservative combination of rice and bean flavored with some type of canned food or fish from a nearby river. Shown: Borneo, Guatemala, Papua New Guinea, French Polynesia, Irain Jaya. |
