Hi guys
I thought long and hard before I've decided to bring up this topic on this thread,and hope it could be of value/educational for all.
I'm starting this new thread, as I'm really interested in this topic [ though in my younger days we have just called it merely outdoor camping or 'roughing it'!]
As more [back= packer] tourists from 'outside' the country/continent are visiting Africa each year [hiking trails,photo safaris, camping, touring,etc apart from hunting] ,I think some relevant African survival tips,advice/experiences could be valuable for all [young/old]
Excellent practical courses are available for the African-bush conditions !
This topic is very much commercialized and miss-used/abused on some other sites [not all!] where a lot of armchair 'know-it-alls' are verbal diarrhea a lot of nonsense, or fantasies [eg, how to kill an elephant with a knife..bah! NOT SO EASY!] to the inexperienced masses and the genuine 'survival-scholar' alike who really want to find out what/how/where to do in Africa in an unfortunate emergency until help arrives. [getting lost,guide is hurt etc.etc.]
There really are a lot of [GOOD] info/books about this topic,[army manuals etc] but focusing mainly on other continents than Africa.
[Most of the tv shows like bear grylls,dual survival,survivor man etc try to address this topic in their own unique ways,[and some are quite good-I personally like Ray Mears] but in some episodes I can only shook my head with a wry smile!]
99% of the info on the net on this topic deal with other continents outside of the unique situations/wildlife/terrain etc of Africa,but can be used with confidence here as well.
Apart from some real experts on this topic, most game rangers,trackers, hunters, PH, and others in the hunting industry are walking encyclopedias on this topic and have their 'doctorates' in the African bush university!
Another reason that I think this thread and its experienced contributors on this forum could be of great value in the long term, is that most of the knowledge on this topic resides in the 'older' and 'uneducated' [sorry!] people.
This knowledge are shared with the view that came in contact with them. I know that there are excellent courses,veld-schools,books etc on this topic, and I for one am very grateful that this 'ancient'[?] knowledge can be preserved for future 'technology minded' generations.
An 'open university' on this topic [especially for African conditions] by our own knowledgeable 'common' [sorry again!] highly experienced experts, where we share our knowledge for the benefit of all, can only do good to someone,somewhere wishing/planning an African trip,looking out of the window at the cold and snow outside while trying to digest some of the rubbish on certain websites[not all!] about the theory of this topic.
Lets share our 'roughing it' common knowledge on bush camping/survival tips in Africa here for the benefit of all , and learn from each other .[It can maybe even save someone's live sometime!]
[Books/articles/movies/practical tips/sound advice/stories/essential equipment/skills/photo's etc]
I know the chances of such a survival situation are slim on most game ranches/concessions, as the client is cared for like gold, but its here more about your tips in the ...what if...situation.
It can become interesting to hear from you all!
I thought long and hard before I've decided to bring up this topic on this thread,and hope it could be of value/educational for all.
I'm starting this new thread, as I'm really interested in this topic [ though in my younger days we have just called it merely outdoor camping or 'roughing it'!]
As more [back= packer] tourists from 'outside' the country/continent are visiting Africa each year [hiking trails,photo safaris, camping, touring,etc apart from hunting] ,I think some relevant African survival tips,advice/experiences could be valuable for all [young/old]
Excellent practical courses are available for the African-bush conditions !
This topic is very much commercialized and miss-used/abused on some other sites [not all!] where a lot of armchair 'know-it-alls' are verbal diarrhea a lot of nonsense, or fantasies [eg, how to kill an elephant with a knife..bah! NOT SO EASY!] to the inexperienced masses and the genuine 'survival-scholar' alike who really want to find out what/how/where to do in Africa in an unfortunate emergency until help arrives. [getting lost,guide is hurt etc.etc.]
There really are a lot of [GOOD] info/books about this topic,[army manuals etc] but focusing mainly on other continents than Africa.
[Most of the tv shows like bear grylls,dual survival,survivor man etc try to address this topic in their own unique ways,[and some are quite good-I personally like Ray Mears] but in some episodes I can only shook my head with a wry smile!]
99% of the info on the net on this topic deal with other continents outside of the unique situations/wildlife/terrain etc of Africa,but can be used with confidence here as well.
Apart from some real experts on this topic, most game rangers,trackers, hunters, PH, and others in the hunting industry are walking encyclopedias on this topic and have their 'doctorates' in the African bush university!
Another reason that I think this thread and its experienced contributors on this forum could be of great value in the long term, is that most of the knowledge on this topic resides in the 'older' and 'uneducated' [sorry!] people.
This knowledge are shared with the view that came in contact with them. I know that there are excellent courses,veld-schools,books etc on this topic, and I for one am very grateful that this 'ancient'[?] knowledge can be preserved for future 'technology minded' generations.
An 'open university' on this topic [especially for African conditions] by our own knowledgeable 'common' [sorry again!] highly experienced experts, where we share our knowledge for the benefit of all, can only do good to someone,somewhere wishing/planning an African trip,looking out of the window at the cold and snow outside while trying to digest some of the rubbish on certain websites[not all!] about the theory of this topic.
Lets share our 'roughing it' common knowledge on bush camping/survival tips in Africa here for the benefit of all , and learn from each other .[It can maybe even save someone's live sometime!]
[Books/articles/movies/practical tips/sound advice/stories/essential equipment/skills/photo's etc]
I know the chances of such a survival situation are slim on most game ranches/concessions, as the client is cared for like gold, but its here more about your tips in the ...what if...situation.
It can become interesting to hear from you all!