Attire
Track Pants or loose comfortable trousers; Preference is for trousers whose material is light; can stretch if washed should dry fast. Avoid heavy jeans. (Carry one or two spare trousers)
You may carry spare one or two (Shorts or Capri).
Wear loose full sleeves shirt or t-shirt of material that can breath, but does not retain liquid. (Wearing thin hosiery material banyans or slips under your shirt / t-shirt is recommended). Carry 3 pairs of spare shirts / t-shirts.
Cap or hat with good shade (Try Nature Knights Cap)
The temperature may dip during the night; you may carry light woolens or light jackets (Your rain jacket will also do or carry light winter jacket)
Carry Monkey cap or Muffler.
Shoes � trekking shoes or tough sports shoes. Avoid shoes with high heals.
Carry Spare floaters, slippers, or light canvas shoes.
Socks � carry two pairs of spare socks and enough spare underwear.
Basic First Aid Kit and Toiletries
Bandages:
Crepe Bandage, Gauze Bandage, Gauze Dressing, (Limb Plaster & Digit Plaster) Band-Aid. You may carry Corn Pads ad Felts.
Tablets:
Painkillers
Crocin (paracitimol) � for fever
Stomach Infections � ( Ocid � D; Anthinoquinoll etc.)
Acidity � Ocid � D; Pudinhara or Dygiene
Anti-Vomit
Anti-Allergies
D-Cold Total or Dispirine
Note: Pain killers and / or any other personal medication consult your family doctor.
Rubs
For cold; cramps etc
Creams:
1) Velbet Skin cream for ticks or insect bytes
2) Bettnovet � C �Anti Fungal Skin cream�
3) Anti-septic cream � Soframycine and Burnol
4) Mosquito / Insect repellent
For Dehydration:
Glucose � D / C or Electrol
Toiletries
1) Detol soap (small)
2) Small shampoo soap
3) Tiny pouch of coconut oil or preferred hair oil
4) Toothpaste, tooth brush and shaving kit
5) Comb
6) Small Hand mirror
7) Carry all Personal medical kit and personal toiletries in a separate pouch.
Your medical Kit should contain your blood group and emergency phone number.
Other essentials in your survival kit
1) 2 meter x 2 meter plastic sheet (will be available in any hardware store)
2) Hand Sanitizer
3) Torch
4) Pocket Knife (Preferably Swiss Knife or equivalent)
5) Towel (light) and carry one cloth, useful for wiping dirt.
6) Small Plate
7) Mug
8) Thread and Needle (Carry one large needle and one small needle)
9) Walking Cane (should be 65% to 70% of your height � strong and light)
10) 3 to 4 water bottles (1 liter each).
11) Snacks for the route � Dry Fruits; Fruits; Salad Items; chocolates; biscuits etc.
12) Emergency money (Rs.500/- per head)
13) Route map (1 copy will be provided by Nature Knights to all)
14) Basic Magnetic compass
15) Back Packers Adventure Handbook � Xerox Copy of this can be purchased at cost from Nature Knights.
16) Bedding � sleeping bag or 2 bed sheets
17) optional � Air Pillow.
18) One bundle of 3 mm Nylon or 5 mm Carnamental ropes (around 10 meter).
19) Carry a note pad and two ball pens for your diary writing.
20) Pet Jars and Tiffin�s of different sizes to carry food items and medical kit
Backpack or Rucksack (50 to 80 liters)
Carry all your belongings in a backpack or rucksack with light items at the bottom and heavy stuff loaded around your shoulders level. If you have, compression straps in your bag use them to compress your luggage to make it well balanced.
Goodies
You may also carry goodies like camera; small - binoculars, magnifying glasses and pocket field guide to make most of the trip.
Eco-Tourism Etiquettes to be followed in All Nature Knights Events.
Camps organized by �Nature Knights� are in the eco / culturally -sensitive area like Sanctuaries, Jungles, and places of Historical importance.
While visiting these places we should blend into the community of Original Inhabitants and respect their culture and sentiments.
Jungles and Sanctuaries have a very delicate eco-system that is under constant pressure from the growing human population and its modernization. We being a guest visitor to this region should appreciate environment and understand problems that can be caused to this delicate eco-system by our misbehavior. We strongly believe in traveling in small groups, and follow the principle leave only footprints and take only memories. Forest and mountains by its very nature implies certain code of conduct to be adhered and we need to blend with these rules to make the trip safe and enjoyable for individuals and the groups. As guidelines, we have laid down certain rules that must to be followed while on field trips.
Dos
Take initiative in participating for all group activities, your team initiatives will make the trip more memorable for you and others.
Be a team player, do not be a city snob. Be responsible for yourself and others.
The group leader is the final authority during decision-making
Stay with the group; never cross the designated lead person and never lag behind the last person designated. Remain with the group, venturing out on your own could prove to be dangerous.
General Attire - Wear dull clothes like brown, green, grey and flat blue to blend with jungle. Wear right trekking / mountaineering shoes depending on the location of camp.
Go through the �What to carry?� matrix while packing your backpack.
Play a Nature Detective. Carry Binoculars, Camera, pocket knife, magnifying lenses and Field guide to make the trip more enjoyable and fruitful, but take care of your belongings it could very easily get lost or misplaced.
Always carry a note pad and pen; they are always handy.
Carry personal medical kit, even though general first aid kit is available with the group.
Rehearse packing and un-packing of your bags with proposed items to be packed.
Don�ts
Do not throw garbage of any description (including bottles, film wrappers, cigarette packets, tissues, plastic bags etc) in the jungle or rivers etc. They deface and pollute nature.
Do not shout at, harass or feed animals. Your silence will help you appreciate and enjoy the jungle environment better.
Do not carry radios and walkmans, the sound may not only distract animals but also you would not be able to hear / senses the beauty or the beast in the Jungle.
Unless necessary; do not pick up dead wood, chop wood or pick flowers and plants. This may seriously damage the forest ecosystem balance.
Alcohol / Drugs not allowed
Avoid smoking during nature trials, this could cause forest fire or also distract the animals, as their sense of smell is far greater than ours.
Do not carry very expensive items which are not necessary like jewelry, very flashy clothes etc.
At the end always report on time for scheduled events and do not forget to enjoy selves and have a great adventure with new and old friends in Nature Knights Family.
How to prepare your self for any treks?
Fitness � Most important
1) Start walks 3 to 4 times per week; go for 45 minutes to 60 minutes brisk walk. If you can go for walks with your backpack or a smaller one nothing like it.
2) Do stretching exercise (stiff body can break down easily).
3) Built strength training (weights or GYM or at least do Surya Namaskar; Pushups; Squats and Stomach Crunches). 20 minutes 3 to 4 times per week is OK.
4) Eat good food (have 3 to 4 servings of vegetable or fruit salads per day).
5) Pranayam � Breathing exercise for developing stronger lungs.
Research � Browse net; talk to friends who may have gone to proposed location; investigate publications etc.
Go through Backpackers Adventure Handbook and educate yourself more on survival in out doors.
If you have purchased a new shoe for trek, start wearing it at least 10 to 15 days in advance to get used to the new shoe.
Learn basic function of magnetic compass and how to read maps (available in Adventure Handbook).
Trekking Around Mumbai, Maharashra and India
Mountaineering around Mumbai, Maharashtra and India
Eco Adventure Group around Mumbai, Maharashtra and India