You could also look for rock formations that form natural pools and collect rainwater, but it is best to do this after a fresh rainfall to avoid pools that have been sitting for a long time and may be contaminated with bacteria. If you don’t have a water bottle or other container to collect water, try to find other natural containers in the jungle such as a coconut shell or piece of wood shaped like a bowl. You can also leave these items out when it rains to collect the fresh water.
If you don’t have a pot to boil water in, then you can use a tin can, single-walled stainless steel water bottle, or any other metal container. If you have no way of making a fire or boiling the water, then you should avoid drinking water from streams. It can be contaminated with many types of bacteria from animals that will make you very sick. Always avoid drinking water from stagnant pools as the water is likely contaminated.
The plastic sheet will accumulate condensation that will drip down the underside of the sheet and into the container. This water is distilled and safe to drink. You can use natural containers such as bamboo or a coconut shell if you don’t have a bottle or can. A solar still does not collect large amounts of water. It should be used as a supplemental source of water rather than a primary source.
Look for common jungle fruits you have eaten before such as bananas, pineapples, oranges, passion fruit, coconuts, mangos, and avocados. Bamboo and palms are also safe to eat and commonly found in jungles. Almost all types of palm trees have an edible “heart” that you can harvest from the inside of the tree. You can eat bamboo shoots, in other words bamboo that is just starting to grow, but you should boil them before eating them as they are quite tough.
Make sure that the hole is deep enough that the animals can’t get out once they fall in. Animals you could trap in the jungle include monkeys, lizards, and rodents, and other small mammals. Don’t waste your energy trying to hunt for food unless you are an experienced hunter and really know what you are doing. Setting traps is much more efficient and you just have to wait for the animals to come to you instead of wasting energy and time trying to hunt them. If you don’t have a knife to skin or butcher animals, then try to find sharp rocks to use as tools. You can also use the rocks to carve knives and spears out of bamboo or other branches.
To fish with your spear, stand on a rock in the middle of a stream or wade into knee-deep water. Stand still and wait until you see a fish, then spear it with the pronged end of the bamboo and pin it to the ground of the stream.
Check around the tree and look in any cracks with a flashlight, if you have one, to make sure there are no snakes, large spiders, or other animals.
You can tie the sticks to the center pole and to each other where they meet in the middle with pieces of vine to make a more stable shelter.
Make sure to build a shelter each night before it gets dark and always sleep at night to rest.
Keep in mind that rivers and other waters may contain dangerous animals as well. Watch out for things like leeches and larger threats like crocodiles.
Mosquitoes can carry diseases in the jungle such as malaria, yellow fever, and dengue fever. If you get sick with any of these, it will be very hard to keep moving and survive in the jungle.
Stop and rest if you feel like you are overheating, or avoid traveling during the hottest parts of the day and in direct sunlight.
The main jungle predators to watch out for include panthers, jaguars, leopards, or tigers, depending on what part of the world you are in. Also watch out for underwater predators such as alligators, caimans, crocodiles, and anacondas. You also need to watch out for smaller animals that can harm you, such as snakes and spiders. Try not to grab any vegetation with your hands where animals could be lurking and end up biting you.
Try your best not to panic when you find yourself in a survival situation. You need to clear your mind of emotions like fear in order to think logically and increase your odds of survival.
Listen for sounds like helicopters or planes, and try to stay in a clear area where you can be seen.
Check around you for evidence that shows which direction you came from, such as footprints or broken branches and foliage. Follow signs like these to get you back to a trail or village.
Look for obvious animal trails that are going in the same direction as you and follow them to try and find a water source. Streams eventually lead to rivers, and rivers eventually lead to civilization, so following streams is your best chance of getting out of the jungle and getting rescued.
