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[guggnichso]

Does anyone of you have experience in living in rainforest?
I am going to spend at least a year in South American jungle - like the very center of it, so it is raining for 10 months and dry season is for 2 months.
What advice would you give to me?
I would appreciate real advises, tips & tricks.

Cheers

More info please. You’re not going to squat in a rainforest, where do you plan to stay there? If you actually plan to squat in a rainforest with some crappy camping gear, just don’t. What is your reason to go there and where exactly do you plan to go with whom.

Edit: Ok I just read some of your replies. I would strongly advise you to stay the fuck out of there, and not because I care about you and your ideas, but because there’s enough human contamination in those areas. If you want to escape western civilization, there’s enough other places you can go to which actually would keep you alive. Try a monastery somewhere, Hippies of old went to Asia for this. Do this, don’t put plastic shit in some rainforest that will not rot for thousands of years.

Edit 2: hell, just go into some woods in your local area like people did for decades. You can live completely off grid there like the unabomber did. Also, you can just go to civilization if you fuck up, which you very likely will.

 

[Claus Grimhildyr]

I want to test myself and gain total idependance from toxic western electronic device based culture.



Thanks, actually you made me think twice. However I am not afraid of dying, no matter how strange it may sound to some people.

If you're sick of toxic western electronic device based culture, there are so many alternatives to this idea that won't end with your junk rotting off while you're covered in leeches. Go on a camping trip to a National Park, or trek the Appalachian Trail, or trek to the Everest base camp in Nepal and broaden your cultural horizons. I met a guy who solo bicycled from Mongolia through India winging it on no money and had an amazing journey full of great stories.

I am seconding EL's Appalachian Trail idea. A full trip will take a good while (up to a few monthS), you will meet others in an environment away from technology, and you won't be damaging the ecosystem or risk ending up dead in a ditch. Hell, if you already have the tickets then walk through South America. Learn the language, meet its people, and do so without spending a dime.

 

[Husky]

Being insane myself, I've often thought about trying off-the-grid living, though I've only looked into deciduous forests. I wish you luck with your trial run, but be careful, the rainforest ain't no laughing matter. If you don't have any experience making a shelter or finding your own food, you might want to start somewhere else. But if you're close enough to civilization, hey, maybe this'll work.
If you decide to go, do everything you can not to get sick. And for the love of god don't leave anything behind when you return home--leave no trace.

If you're worried that American woods are too close to civilization, state forests actually get quite large. You can absolutely set up shelter in isolation, and live for years without anyone stumbling on your home. I get the need to go somewhere where you aren't reminded that modern society exists, but even in America you'll find places where you can't see a single building or road in any direction.
But really, you should probably start with basic camping. Learn the technique, see what mistakes you'll make so you can remedy them before you get serious. Just avoid a campground, lmao that's not real camping

 

[Shifty]

Please don't die, OP.

 

[God Enel]

I want to test myself and gain total idependance from toxic western electronic device based culture.



Thanks, actually you made me think twice. However I am not afraid of dying, no matter how strange it may sound to some people.

I do think everyone is afraid of dying. Not death itself but the process of dying.

I wish you the best of luck my friend and I hope to see you here in a year again and to hear your full story.

But just to get it right you’re going to live in the jungle alone and away from everything? Basically just with a knife and.. that’s it? Are you trained in survival? I don’t wanna see you dead ;-;

Just do a backpacking trip to Southeast Asia or travel the world for a year and you’ll be happy. I promise. All alone in wilderness won’t help you I think. But I 100% understand your desire to do that as I’m feeling like that a lot of times too.

What’s your plan once you’re there? Give us some input.

 

[BadHand]

I just spoke to a guy who built a "floating island" home in a remote part of BC and lived there for 3 years. It was powered with solar energy and he had a floating garden, compost, water purification, wood burning furnace/stove and even kept chickens on it. It was still relatively close to a town (5-6 hour walk) if he needed anything major, or needed to make a telephone call or something. He used a docked rowboat to get to land.

Maybe that might be a better place to start, seemed pretty cool to me.

 

[hecatomb]

theres also some tribes in the rainforest that have poison blow darts, that can kill you instantly, since they use poison from the poison arrow head frogs

 

[Azurro]

Lol, please tell me you are trolling. You are going to die in like a month if you are serious.

 

[Husky]

I do think everyone is afraid of dying. Not death itself but the process of dying.

I'm not worried about the process of dying, oh no, I am very terrified about the idea of not being alive. Anything would be preferable to that.

 

[iconmaster]

I am seconding EL's Appalachian Trail idea.

I'll third it. Start small, OP. Work your way up to the really hard stuff.

 

[hecatomb]

Ya I don't think he's thinking about having a wild cat jump on him and tear him to shreds, or piranhas ripping you to pieces. There are plenty of things that can just kill you there.

 

[Kamina]

Look up the most common diseases and get shots against them.
Also look up which survival equipment is best to bring.
And arm yourself.

 

[JareBear: Remastered]

Maybe OP is actually super badass, and this is just a front

I see you OP

 

[Shifty]

Maybe OP is actually super badass, and this is just a front

I see you OP

Shopping list:

• Grenades
• Minigun
• Bullet Belts (lots!)
• Big knife
• Smaller knives
• Choppa

 

[God Enel]

I'm not worried about the process of dying, oh no, I am very terrified about the idea of not being alive. Anything would be preferable to that.

I never thought about it like that
Maybe because I think life isn’t that precious and valuable. But that’s another topic

Btw I love the Neogaf emojis. I wanna have them on iOS. Is there a way to import them EviLore ?

 

[Kamina]

Shopping list:

• Grenades
• Minigun
• Bullet Belts (lots!)
• Big knife
• Smaller knives
• Choppa

Austrian Accent, must not forget that!

 

[cr0w]

Austrian Accent, must not forget that!

 

[mekes]

A family member of mine went to the rainforest to film a tv show. Whatever insect bit him, he become infected with a unknown degenerative disease that slowly killed him over 10 long years. Perhaps consider a slower way of life in a the countryside somewhere?

 

[jufonuk]

Is this a cry for help ? Speak to someone op.. don’t just fuck off into the rainforest unprepared.. please speak to someone if you are upset or depressed.

 

[hecatomb]

Shopping list:

• Grenades
• Minigun
• Bullet Belts (lots!)
• Big knife
• Smaller knives
• Choppa

thats not going to save you from malaria and ring worms, also look up the botfly. And the only water you can drink is rain water, cause you can die from amibas. Then you always have to look up in the trees for Anacondas and Jaguars

 

[King of Foxes]

Delete the rainforests number and hit the gym

 

[Whitesnake]

This is a video game forum, my guy.

Most of us probably don’t go outside unless forced. And I don’t think a rational person of any kind would want to spend a long period of time in the rainforest.

I don’t know what you expected.

 

[Punished Miku]

Delete the rainforests number and hit the gym

 

[hecatomb]

Delete the rainforests number and hit the gym

you would like the South Park rainforest episode.

 

[JareBear: Remastered]

This is a video game forum, my guy.

Most of us probably don’t go outside unless forced. And I don’t think a rational person of any kind would want to spend a long period of time in the rainforest.

I don’t know what you expected.

I thought everyone here was a retired Navy SEAL.

 

[Chairman Tickles]

Does anyone of you have experience in living in rainforest?
I am going to spend at least a year in South American jungle - like the very center of it, so it is raining for 10 months and dry season is for 2 months.
What advice would you give to me?
I would appreciate real advises, tips & tricks.

Cheers

Leeches and bugs. Maybe some internal parasites. Learn to love them. You will sleep with them, they will feed on you and it will be a very one sided relationship. You will have to come to terms with this and accept it 100%.

Apart from that, enjoy the crisp forest air. It will do wonders for your lungs.

 

[NiiloPielinen]

Watch this documentary about a tribe that lived in isolation in the jungle. They don't seem to enjoy it much. Relatives getting killed by animals, staying hungry for 4 days because it was raining etc.

 

[TheGreatYosh]

Watch out for Jaguars. Other than that, I have nothing. You have my respect if you make it out of there.

 

[keraj37]

Thank you all, I know you are mostly saying that this is foolish and likely suicide but I am still going to do it or fail trying.
Jaguars, yes bad cats however almost extincted today, but there are like 10000 other species that want me dead.

 

[hecatomb]

well I hope you know how to hunt, cause most likely you will stave to death.

 

[andrespi]

Can't you just rent/buy a cabin in the woods, somewhere? I mean I don't know how it works in your country, but if you really want to get away from modern world and technology, there are plenty of safer alternatives.

just to make an example, here in my country (Italy) there are several cabins lost in the woods for sale at really cheap prices (i'm talking less than 15K euro). Some of them are literally several hours (by foot) away from towns that are like taken from 20 years ago in terms of "technology", with no real roads, but just small trails (one or two in best scenarios). If you get one of the most isolated you would be lucky to meet people stumbling there once every few weeks. The oldest ones and most isolated cost very little (less than a cheap car) and are still as large as a proper home. At least you would have a roof on your head (and in case of emergency you can reach a small town in a few hours), but you could live without any sort of technological device as long as you set up burocratic matters before going there. And there would be no deadly animals (apart from occasional sheeps or deers staring at you while taking a walk) or diseases ready to kill you.

 

[keraj37]

well I hope you know how to hunt, cause most likely you will stave to death.

There is plenty of fruits in amazon jungle. And I will prefer fishing.

Can't you just rent/buy a cabin in the woods, somewhere? I mean I don't know how it works in your country, but if you really want to get away from modern world and technology, there are plenty of safer alternatives.

just to make an example, here in my country (Italy) there are several cabins lost in the woods for sale at really cheap prices (i'm talking less than 15K euro). Some of them are literally several hours (by foot) away from towns that are like taken from 20 years ago in terms of "technology", with no real roads, but just small trails (one or two in best scenarios). If you get one of the most isolated you would be lucky to meet people stumbling there once every few weeks. The oldest ones and most isolated cost very little (less than a cheap car) and are still as large as a proper home. At least you would have a roof on your head (and in case of emergency you can reach a small town in a few hours), but you could live without any sort of technological device as long as you set up burocratic matters before going there. And there would be no deadly animals (apart from occasional sheeps or deers staring at you while taking a walk) or diseases ready to kill you.

I know as I just came back from my trip to south Italy and along side highways del sol and the mediterranean highway I was astonished how many abandoned cabins and homes on the hills there are. Also I wasn't aware that Italy is so full of mountains.

 

[andrespi]

There is plenty of fruits in amazon jungle. And I will prefer fishing.


I know as I just came back from my trip to south Italy and along side highways del sol and the mediterranean highway I was astonished how many abandoned cabins and homes on the hills there are. Also I wasn't aware that Italy is so full of mountains.

Yeah, a lot of abandoned cabins also there in the south. I live in the north of italy and in the alps you can fine gorgeous woods and trails, and a lot of old cabins there, especially in trentino alto adige, there are many abandones ones in the middle of huge forests and mountains. When I was younger I used to go on trails in trentino with my family and sometimes in the loniest trails, really seemed (at least at first sight) like a separate world far away from modern society.

Also can I ask you something? (if you don't want to answer I understand) is this the first time you do something similar? It seems too extreme just to get away from technology and I think (I'm not an expert) it's way too life-risking to even consider it. How long have you been preparing for this? Wouldn't it be safer to start gradually with something shorter and safer to get used to it before committing to a full year in the rainforest (which is one of the most extreme scenario)? Just curious, I'm not judging, it just raises some eyebrows.

 

[JimmyJones]

My advice is don't do it.

 

[dionysus]

Stay less than 1 days travel away from help/rescue, because you are going to quickly realize how dumb this is and want to get back to civilization.

There is a lot more to Western culture than cell phones. Like AC, clean tap water, sewer systems, access to emergency medical care, no malaria, baths, cheap food you don't gather or kill yourself, being dry and not having you feet rot off, etc. Minor things like that.

Also get your yellow fever vaccination and have a supply of malaria medicine.

 

[fatsest typist aliev]

check your shoes before you put them on.

Just this, tbh

 

[keraj37]

Yeah, a lot of abandoned cabins also there. I live in the north of italy and in the alps you can fine gorgeous woods and trails, and a lot of old cabins there, especially in trentino alto adige there are many abandones ones in the middle of huge forests and mountains. When I was younger I used to go on trails in trentino with my family and sometimes in the loniest trails, really seemed (at least at first sight) like a separate world far away from modern society.

Also can I ask you something? (if you don't want to answer I understand) is this the first time you do something similar? It seems too extreme just to get away from technology and I think (I'm not an expert) it's way too life-risking to even consider it. How long have you been preparing for this? Wouldn't it be safer to start gradually with something shorter and safer to get used to it before committing to a full year in the rainforest (which is one of the most extreme scenario)? Just curious, I'm not judging, it just raises some eyebrows.

Good question - actually no, it is not the first time I do something like this, however it is first time in tropics and in jungle.
But I have my experience living off the grid.

 

[Kamina]

thats not going to save you from malaria and ring worms, also look up the botfly. And the only water you can drink is rain water, cause you can die from amibas. Then you always have to look up in the trees for Anacondas and Jaguars

 

[Holgren]

Ever heard of the Hanta Virus? It is a pulmonar disease transmitted by rats through their poop. It is not by contact or anything, you just breathe the contaminated air the poop leaves and you get sick. It is proliferating now here in South America (I'm from Chile) and it can easily kill you if you don't take care of it after a few days. Even more, the sickness has evolved and it can now be transmitted from person to person.

Also, I won't play the humanitarian and wish you a save travel. There is a reason why people don't leave there and it is because its dangerous for you and the environment. Large parts of natural places around here have been destroyed because of fucking dumb people who believe they are Rambo and end up accidentally burning numerous acres of unique ecosystems. If you're tired of Western civilization go live in the country and refuse to use technology (watch Alone in the Wilderness documentary for a good example of this). But a rainforest? Honestly, I hope nature takes care of you fast.

 

[Straight Edge]

Learn to speak Hovitos STAT.

 

[Patrick S.]

Get vaccinated against everything known to man, most importantly against yellow fever
Bring: Iridium phone, porn, toilet paper, machete, knife, Halazone water purification tablets, gas stove, lighters, flashlight, batteries, chocolate bars, diarrhea medication, gauze, sewing kit, etc. etc...

 

[JareBear: Remastered]

Get vaccinated against everything known to man, most importantly against yellow fever
Bring: Iridium phone, porn, toilet paper, machete, knife, Halazone water purification tablets, gas stove, lighters, flashlight, batteries, chocolate bars, diarrhea medication, gauze, sewing kit, etc. etc...

You uh, done this a few times yourself, I take it?

 

[Patrick S.]

You uh, done this a few times yourself, I take it?

Nah I just sat and thought what I would take along

 

[Chittagong]

Prepare for creatures crawling everywhere, and nothing being ever dry.

I have been now 5 weeks in Indonesia and Malaysia at the edge of forests and my stuff hasn’t been dry after day one. I keep hearing weird noises that are insects I don’t recognise all around our bungalow. We’ve had a few rats try to steal a bunch of bananas under our eyes, thankfully there was a lid.

And mind you, these are four or five star resorts where our bungalow gets sprayed with some highly toxic stuff twice a day and has AC.

 

[bad guy]

Just stop paying your electricity and water bills.

 

[JareBear: Remastered]

Just stop paying your electricity and water bills.

What about plumbing? Should he start pooping in his garage?

 

[Ailynn]

Use the environment to your advantage...

(Seriously though...please don't go through with this trip.)

 

[JareBear: Remastered]

Use the environment to your advantage...

(Seriously though...please don't do this.)

If it bleeds....he can kill it.

 

[EverydayBeast]

Sounds hard and would make anyone nervous I think don’t forget an umbrella. Rooting for you OP!

 

[JareBear: Remastered]

Another bit of advice, straight from the source