Hostile Environment Medicine Course
Namibia
Course Dates
- 18 April 2027 12:00 - 25 April 2027 13:00
- 24 May 2026 12:00 - 31 May 2026 13:00
Prepare to deliver medical care where risk, isolation, and uncertainty define every decision.
The Hostile Environment Medicine Course is an intensive, seven-day, field-based programme designed to prepare healthcare professionals to operate safely and effectively in hostile, remote, and high-risk environments.
Set within a private wildlife reserve in Namibia, the course immerses participants in the realities of operating with limited resources, delayed evacuation, environmental threats, and evolving security risks. Learning focuses on personal safety, team dynamics, and delivering time-critical care when definitive medical support is not immediately available.
This course includes Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC – All Service Members) certification, delivered in partnership with Kings Paramedical Services, providing internationally recognised training in battlefield-proven trauma care principles.
Your Teaching Faculty
Course Content
Gregory
This was a well run course that provided a good foundation of prehospital care showing the delegates the value of the basics that save lives in addition to how to keep yourself safe to be able to deliver care.
Stéphanie
You are great! Thanks a lot! Scott and Andy are of a great value!
Molly
Thank you! Truly exceeded my expectations.
Joseph
The whole experience was phenomenal! I really felt that everyone enjoyed learning the content personally I feel that I have grown as a clinician. Andy Scott and Faan really delivered a memorable course.
What's Included?
Field-Based Training & Scenario Learning
Teaching is delivered through immersive, scenario-based training conducted entirely in the field. Learning takes place in real terrain, reflecting the unpredictability of hostile environments.
Expert Faculty & Local Support
You’ll be supported by experienced medical faculty alongside local security and logistics teams who manage movement, safety, and environmental risk.
Accommodation, Meals & In-Country Transfers
Your course fee includes:
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Group airport pick-up and drop-off from Hosea Kutako International Airport
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Accommodation throughout the course
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All meals during the course
Accommodation is tents, with basic facilities. Expect to spend the majority of your time outdoors.
CPD & Certification
You will receive a certificate of attendance upon completion which includes 39 CPD hours awarded by RCSEd, plus Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC – All Service Members) certification on successful completion.
Book Now
Price range: GBP £2,999.00 through GBP £3,099.00
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this course right for me?
This course is designed for healthcare professionals and students who want to develop the skills required to operate in hostile or high-risk environments. It is particularly suited to those interested in:
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Expedition and remote medicine
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Humanitarian or NGO deployment
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Security or hostile environment roles
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Prolonged field care
If you’re unsure whether this course is appropriate for you, we strongly recommend using the Course Fit Checker or booking a discovery call.
What level of fitness is required?
You don’t need to be an elite athlete, but a good level of physical fitness is essential. As a guide, you should be able to walk 15km carrying a 10kg pack and repeat this over multiple days.
The fitter you are, the more capacity you’ll have to focus on learning rather than fatigue.
What course content is covered?
This Hostile Environment Medicine course covers the medical, environmental, security, and human factors considerations of working in hostile and remote environments where resources are limited and evacuation may be delayed.
Learning begins from day one, with participants based on a private wildlife reserve in Namibia. Teaching takes place predominantly outdoors, reflecting the realities of operating in austere settings.
Course content includes:
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Firearms safety and managing ballistic injuries
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Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC – All Service Members) principles
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Emergency medicine protocols for austere and hostile settings
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Prolonged Field Care fundamentals
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Tracking, evasion, and wilderness survival
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Personal safety and situational awareness
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Casualty movement and extraction in remote terrain
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Managing trauma with limited resources
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Team dynamics and decision-making under pressure
Across the week, you’ll develop the mindset, clinical judgement, and practical skills needed to respond to life-threatening trauma and illness in hostile environments. Teaching focuses on stabilisation, prolonged care, and maintaining safety when definitive medical support is not immediately available.
Learning is delivered through a structured mix of focused teaching, practical workshops, and immersive scenario-based training, designed to reflect the complexity and uncertainty of real-world hostile environments.
Where is the course based?
The course takes place on a private wildlife reserve in Namibia’s Ovita Region. The environment includes open savanna, bush, and desert terrain, with wildlife present. All activities are carefully planned and supervised.
Travel & Insurance
Participants must meet the group at Hosea Kutako International Airport by 13:00 on Day 1. Transfers are provided.
Comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory and must include:
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Aeromedical evacuation
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Repatriation
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Cover for hostile or remote environments
World Extreme Medicine reserves the right to refuse participation if adequate insurance details are not provided.
What kit do I need to bring?
Participants must bring appropriate personal clothing and equipment for operating in a hot, remote, and austere environment. Much of the course takes place outdoors, often over uneven terrain, and you should expect exposure to sun, heat, dust, and variable conditions.
A detailed kit list is available here and should be reviewed carefully before booking and travel. As a minimum, you should expect to bring:
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Lightweight, broken-in walking boots suitable for bush terrain
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Long-sleeved shirts and trousers for sun and environmental protection
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Warm layer for early mornings and evenings
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Wide-brimmed sun hat and sun protection (SPF 50 recommended)
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Head torch
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Personal first aid kit
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Reusable water bottles or hydration system
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Personal toiletries and towel
All essential safety equipment required for planned course activities is provided.
Participants are responsible for their own personal clothing, footwear, and comfort items as outlined in the kit list.
Poor kit preparation can impact both comfort and participation, so we strongly recommend reviewing the kit list well in advance. If you have any questions about kit suitability, please contact the team before travelling.
Pre-Course Preparation
Ahead of the course, you’ll receive:
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Detailed joining instructions
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A WhatsApp group (shared approx. 8 weeks before the course)
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Optional pre-course reading and listening
The WhatsApp group allows participants to ask questions, share travel plans, and learn from faculty and peers.
I have another question
If you wish to learn more or have any additional questions, we invite you to book a 30-minute discovery call with our team.
→ Click here to book a discovery call.
The call will be with the team who organise our courses and work closely with our medical teaching faculty. They’re best placed to explain what our attendees really get out of attending a course with us.
You can choose between a video or voice call — whatever suits you best.
Register for a time that works for you, and we look forward to speaking with you soon.
Prefer email? Then feel free to contact us.
Your Safety
The comprehensive curriculum and field scenarios are carefully designed to push your limits while mitigating risks.
We take every precaution to keep participants safe by:
- Rigorous gear checks before all expedition days
- Mandatory evacuation insurance policies
- Close coordination with local emergency responders
Resources
