Hostile Environment Medicine

We will meet at Namibia’s Hosea Kutako Airport and transfer by road to the Ugab River Valley in northwest Namibia, here, we will set up camp, prepare for the week ahead and finish the day around the campfire.

The Ugab River is an ephemeral river and can only be seen above ground for a few days per year. Despite this, it is a significant source of water and a vital resource for species in the Damaraland region, such as the rare desert elephant, giraffe, lions, mountain zebra and the largest population of free-roaming black rhinoceroses in the world. The region is also famous for its stunning rock formations, canyons, and sand dunes.

The area surrounding the Ugab River has limited access to medical facilities, making it a prime location to simulate scenarios where healthcare providers have to work with minimal resources and adapt to challenging circumstances. This hands-on experience prepares participants for medical emergencies in remote or disaster-stricken areas.

The area offers a unique and realistic training ground for a hostile environment medicine course, allowing participants to develop valuable skills and knowledge required to respond effectively in challenging and remote medical situations.

On your first full day in camp, you will learn about common firearms and get a chance to operate firearms on a controlled range under the expert supervision of our team. In the afternoon, we will build on this experience and explore the management and treatment of ballistics and penetrating injuries.

The following days will teach you how to travel, track, survive and stay safe in the bush. As you progress through the course, you will advance your wilderness skills, ensuring transferability to various environments.

Throughout this highly practical course, we will continue to combine medical content covering wilderness trauma and emergencies, primary care, common medical issues, animal and insect bites, stings and envenomation, tropical medicine and more.