How to Make a Jungle Hammock

Richard Thomas

When camping in the jungle, a hammock is of more value than any other form of shelter. It is crucial to get it up off the jungle floor, where numerous dangerous and nocturnal creepy-crawlies will be found once it gets dark. Also, the jungle typically experiences buckets of rain during the night, so some overhead shelter is essential. This guide will show you how to build a hammock from vines, thereby saving your poncho for use as a roof. It is crude, but it can be done anywhere in a hurry.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Knife Good supply of vines Personal poncho or backpack cover
Knife
Good supply of vines
Personal poncho or backpack cover

Step 1

Choose two trees or rock outcroppings that are roughly 7 feet apart or more. They should have knots or branches at roughly the same height, if possible. These are going to serve as posts to support the hammock ropes. For a tree, these can be cut. For a stone, they must either be there or not.

Step 2

Choose and cut four to eight lengths of thick vine that are a little longer than the space between your posts. If you have a 7-foot space, get vines that are 8 feet long or longer. If vines long enough to cover your space are not available, you may need to start over with new posts and a smaller space. It will be more cramped, but you need to fit the circumstances. To support a decent amount of body weight, the vines need to be at least 1-inch thick and free of rot.

Step 3

Tie these vines into your posts separately, so that they are firmly supported by the notchings.

Step 4

Cut two shorter, 3- to 4-foot lengths of the same thick vines. Tie these at the ends of the hammock, and weave them around the four vines set up in Steps 2 and 3. This will create a roughly rectangular frame. The connector vines need to be at least your body length apart.

Step 5

Start cutting and collecting plenty of thinner vines. This set should be in lengths of 3 to 4 feet. Tie them into a netting across the width of the hammock. For a 6-foot length of hammock, you will need at least a few dozen of these vines across the width.

Step 6

Test the hammock. It should easily bear your weight. If it feels like it won't hold for the night, start over and add more thicker materials.

Step 7

Cut some more thinner vines to tie your poncho or backpack cover over the hammock. If there are not already loops to run a vine through, cut them with your knife. Place it high enough so that there is headroom while sitting in the hammock, and try to tie it onto trees or rocks in a three- or four-corner pattern.

Step 8

Collect some leaves to serve as bedding. Check the leaves to make sure that they are free of insects before putting them down as a hammock cushion.

Article Written By Edwin Thomas

Edwin Thomas has been writing since 1997. His work has appeared in various online publications, including The Black Table, Proboxing-Fans and others. A travel blogger, editor and writer, Thomas has traveled from Argentina to Vietnam in pursuit of stories. He holds a Master of Arts in international affairs from American University.

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