This means covering your body to keep it safe from the biting, pricking,
bloodsucking, and stinging things that lurk there.
Long pants work better than shorts, and long pants that are tucked
into socks work better than ones that hang loose. Jungles by their very
nature are hot and humid, however, and the last thing you want to do is
tuck in your long pants. So when packing, choose pants you can see your
self wearing tucked in for the duration of your journey. Beware of the “zip
off ” pants that change from long to short; the zipper around the thigh can
severely chafe in the heat of the jungle.
At the opposite end of the spectrum are native peoples, such as the
Waorani, who live in the Amazon jungle. They spend a lot of their time
naked, because clothes rot so quickly. And clothes take a long time to dry
after hours of jungle rain; naked skin does not. The biggest difference
between the Waorani and us is that they have generations of knowledge
about the jungle in which they live. They know every plant and creature
that can hurt them as they run naked through the thick growth. (They still
end up with numerous bites and stings!) I wouldn’t take the chance on
the naked approach, not without years of jungle living under my belt, so
to speak.
The Waorani men also wear a string around their waist. It is tied to
their foreskin to keep their penis out of the way while they travel through
the jungle. Their cultural belief is that when you wear the string around
your waist you are “clothed.” When you don’t wear the string, you are
naked, and this is considered shameful. I wore my pants.
On the Sea or Open Water
Similar to snowblindness in the Arctic, sunblindness can affect you out on the
open water. Always carry a brimmed hat and sunglasses for water travel.
(^298) | Survive!