What to Do if You Get Lost on a Hiking or Camping Trip in Africa
Camping in Africa offers an incredible opportunity to connect with nature, but the vast landscapes and remote locations can pose challenges if you lose your way. Whether you’re trekking through a dense forest, navigating the open savanna, or exploring mountainous terrain, getting lost is a real possibility. Knowing what to do in such a situation can mean the difference between a minor detour and a serious survival challenge.
This guide outlines 13 essential steps to take if you ever find yourself lost in the African wilderness. By staying calm, making smart decisions, and using the resources available to you, you can increase your chances of a safe return.
Stay Calm and Assess Your Situation
The first and most important rule if you realize you’re lost is to stay calm. Panic leads to poor decision-making, which can worsen your situation. Take a deep breath and focus on assessing your surroundings.
Start by asking yourself:
When did I last know my exact location?
Have I been following a marked trail?
Do I have a map, GPS, or compass to reorient myself?
What resources do I have in my backpack?
By analyzing your situation instead of reacting emotionally, you can form a clear plan of action rather than wandering aimlessly. Staying put and thinking things through is often the safest initial step.
Mark Your Location and Avoid Unnecessary Movement
Once you realize you’re lost, avoid walking aimlessly. Moving around too much can make it harder for rescuers to find you and increase the risk of injury or dehydration.
Mark your location with rocks, sticks, or anything visible to create a reference point.
Observe your surroundings for landmarks such as rivers, mountains, or clearings that can help with navigation.
Stay put if you’re unsure of the direction—moving blindly can take you further away from safety.
If you must move, do so slowly and deliberately, keeping track of your direction to avoid walking in circles.
Use Natural Landmarks to Navigate
If you believe you can find your way back, natural landmarks can help you reorient yourself.
Look for rivers or streams—following water downstream often leads to settlements or main roads.
Identify high ground—climbing a small hill or ridge can provide a better vantage point.
Observe the sun’s movement—in Africa, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, giving you a rough sense of direction.
If you have a map, match visible landmarks with those on the map to pinpoint your location. If not, use basic navigation skills to move in a steady direction rather than wandering aimlessly.
Create Visible Signals for Rescue
If staying put is your best option, making yourself visible to rescuers increases the chances of being found.
Make a large SOS sign with rocks, branches, or dirt in an open area.
Use sound to attract attention—whistling, shouting at intervals, or banging objects together can help.
At night, use a flashlight or fire to signal for help. A controlled fire with smoke during the day is highly visible.
The more visible and audible you make yourself, the easier it is for rescue teams to locate you.
Conserve Water and Find Additional Sources
Water is your most critical resource, especially in hot and arid environments. If you have a limited supply, ration it carefully while seeking natural sources.
Look for streams, rivers, or rainwater pools—always purify the water before drinking if possible.
Check for dew in the morning on plants and collect it with a cloth.
Avoid drinking from stagnant pools, as they may be contaminated with bacteria or parasites.
Dehydration can set in quickly, so prioritizing water over food is essential. Avoid excessive movement during the heat of the day to reduce sweating and conserve energy.
Find or Build a Shelter
Exposure to harsh elements can be as dangerous as dehydration. Whether you’re in a scorching savanna, dense jungle, or cold mountain region, shelter is key to survival.
Look for natural shelters like caves, rock overhangs, or dense tree cover.
Build a simple shelter using branches, leaves, and grass to protect yourself from the sun, rain, or wind.
Avoid low-lying areas where cold air settles at night or where flash floods could occur.
A good shelter provides shade during the day and warmth at night, ensuring you stay protected while waiting for rescue or planning your next move.
Stay Alert for Wildlife and Avoid Dangerous Areas
Africa’s wilderness is home to a variety of wildlife, some of which can be dangerous if encountered unexpectedly.
Avoid watering holes at dawn and dusk, as they attract predators like lions and crocodiles.
Remain quiet and move cautiously to avoid startling animals.
If encountering an elephant, buffalo, or predator, back away slowly—never run.
Understanding animal behavior can help prevent dangerous encounters and keep you safe as you navigate your surroundings.
Use Fire for Warmth, Protection, and Signaling
Fire serves multiple survival purposes—it keeps you warm, wards off predators, cooks food, and acts as a rescue signal.
Collect dry wood, leaves, and bark to build a small fire.
Use rocks to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading uncontrollably.
At night, keep the fire burning in a safe spot to deter animals and provide visibility for rescuers.
If making a fire isn’t possible, staying in a well-insulated shelter can help conserve body heat.
Forage for Safe Food Sources
While water is the priority, food can provide energy if your rescue is delayed. Knowing what is safe to eat is crucial.
Look for edible fruits, nuts, and plants that are commonly eaten by local wildlife.
Avoid unknown berries or plants—some can be toxic.
Insects like termites and grubs are rich in protein and safer than many wild plants.
Eating small amounts if unsure about safety is better than consuming something potentially harmful.
Avoid Overexertion and Manage Your Energy
Getting lost can be physically and mentally exhausting, but overexertion can lead to dehydration, injury, or poor decision-making.
Rest in shaded areas during the hottest parts of the day.
Move cautiously to avoid falls or injuries.
Use energy wisely—focus on essential survival tasks rather than unnecessary movement.
Managing your physical and mental energy improves survival chances until you find help or make your way back to safety.
Use Basic First Aid for Injuries
If you sustain an injury, immediate treatment is crucial to prevent infection or further complications.
Clean wounds with available water and cover them with cloth or bandages.
If bitten by an insect or snake, keep calm and avoid unnecessary movement to slow venom spread.
Use natural resources like sap or mud to protect wounds if medical supplies are unavailable.
A basic understanding of first aid can make a significant difference in survival situations.
Plan for an Exit Strategy
Once you’ve stabilized your situation, think about your best course of action for getting back to safety.
If close to a known path, follow it carefully.
If staying put, increase rescue visibility.
If moving, leave markers behind to track your direction.
Choosing whether to wait for rescue or find your way out depends on the circumstances, your condition, and the environment.
Final Thoughts
Getting lost on a camping trip in Africa can be an intimidating experience, but with the right mindset and survival strategies, you can safely navigate your way back or increase your chances of being rescued.
What Would You Do?
If you were lost in the wilderness, which survival skill would you prioritize? Drop your thoughts below and share your best survival tips!
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Who am I? Well, the least you can say is that I am quite crazy about Africa, its nature, its climate, its culture, and more.
As a young woman in my twenties, I had already traveled to several African countries by traveling along in an overlander on my own and mostly camping ( or glamping ) and just fell in love with the diversity of it all.
So much, so that at the age of 26, I went back to university to study biology, which, unfortunately, I couldn’t finish because of health reasons (yes, I got sick from a tropical disease, oh cynicism). But this did not stop my dream of traveling back to Africa several times, and I still do.
My dream was back then to leave Europe and go study animal behavior, especially the elephants (sure, that’s every girl’s dream haha), but I am also very much intrigued by hyenas and other “ugly African animals“.
So, I “kind of” have a little bit of a scientific approach to my articles, when I write about African birds, for example. And most of all: the passion.
But life goes on, you move from one side of the country to the other, you get sick again and top it off with lower back problems, and before you know it, you are over 50 hahaha!
Now, I still travel to Africa, but take it a bit “easier” than the good old camping days, and stay in comfortable, yet affordable accommodations, together with my husband Wouter.
These are some of the countries I have traveled to: Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Tunisia, and a little bit of Lesotho LOL .
While clearly not being African territory, but Spanish, I also visited Gran Canaria and Tenerife, and location-wise, I consider them “African”, because of their climate and nature, sue me :-p
The last trip I took was to South Africa in the year 2023, and it sure got the fevers for Africa back! From the Barberton mountains to the Drakensberg and the Southcoast, one month wasn’t enough at all to see the whole country, so we’ll be back! At ease and with a little bit more luxury than in my younger days haha!
