Natural shelters: learn about the main types and how to build them

In the journey of survivalism, there is some essential knowledge to ensure safety in emergency situations. Knowing how to build a natural shelter is one of them! A cave is a great example of a hideout that we can find ready-made, but not every place will have such an easy resource. So, if you love to venture out there, you should be prepared to build your own cave using few materials or whatever is available.

To help you in this mission, today CIMO brought a complete guide on natural shelters, describing their importance and practical tips on how to build yours to stay safe and survive in the wilderness. Check it out!

What is a natural shelter?

A natural shelter is a structure whose main function is to offer a safe and temporary refuge in outdoor environments. They can be found ready in nature or even built with materials found on site. They are useful in emergency situations or survival activities, where there is no access to man-made shelters.

These natural hideouts are simple and effective solutions to protect against climatic elements such as rain, wind, cold, intense sun, and dangers of the jungle and forests, such as insects and wild animals.

Types of natural shelters

Natural shelters can take various forms, from simple structures made of leaves and branches, rock cavities, or under dense trees. The choice of the type of natural shelter often depends on environmental conditions, material availability, and the specific purpose, such as taking shelter during a forest hike or jungle camping.

Below we list some types of natural shelters, with their main characteristics and a step-by-step guide on how to build them when necessary. Check it out!

1. Cave

Let's start with a natural shelter that you can find ready in nature: a cave. If the place you are in has this resource, this is the priority location to protect yourself. The rocky structure provides protection against climatic elements, wild animals, and is relatively constant in terms of temperature and humidity, but you can make a campfire at the entrance to make the place warmer.

However, some precautions are important before entering any cave! It is necessary to analyze its location and its risk conditions to assess whether the place can easily flood or even collapse.

2. Debris natural shelter

The debris natural shelter is one of the simplest hideouts that can be used in survival situations. It uses very few materials and requires low effort in its construction. However, it is an improvised place to be used extremely temporarily.

How to build a debris natural shelter

Below, we have made a step-by-step guide on how to build a debris natural shelter:

1. Define the location: try to find natural formations that offer some type of structure for the shelter, such as a vertical tree trunk or the side of a rock. Also think of a place where you can lie down, flatter and without protrusions;

2. Clear the surface: remove foliage and stones from the ground to improve your comfort and also check if there are no venomous animals that can sting you such as spiders, scorpions, and snakes;

3. Gather materials for the structure and cover: look for fallen trunks and branches of sufficient size to support the structure you found as a base. For the cover, gather leaves and grasses that can make the shelter warmer.

Remember that the construction material and the shape of the debris shelter will depend on what is available at the moment.

3. A-frame natural shelter

The A-frame natural shelter has a triangular shape and can be built with logs, foliage, and vines. It is a structure that looks like a cabin and is very effective in environments such as jungles and forests.

How to build an A-frame shelter

Here's a basic guide to building an A-frame shelter:

1. Gather the necessary materials such as branches, long logs, wide leaves, dry grasses, and vines. It is very important to have in your survival tools a knife, axe or a machete with a saw to shape the wood;

2. Choose a safe location with a flat surface, away from areas that may flood;

3. Use your cutting tool to make the branches a uniform pattern to facilitate assembly;

4. Position two branches or logs on the ground forming an inverted "V" to represent the A-frame structure;

5. Use vines or ropes to tie the upper ends of the logs, forming the top of the "A";

6. Stabilize the structure by fixing the lower ends of the logs in the ground;

7. Line up the branches in an A-shape until you reach the desired size for the shelter;

8. Place branches, leaves, or grasses over the structure to create a dense cover. Ensure the cover is thick enough to protect against rain and wind.

9. Line the ground inside the shelter with leaves, grass, or other materials to create an insulating layer against cold and ground moisture.

Knowing how to fend for yourself in nature and seeking to overcome difficulties are part of a survivalist's life! Today we brought some options for natural shelters that can help you create a safe place to sleep or protect yourself in an emergency.

Follow the CIMO blog if you like to live with adventure and stay tuned to the posts so you don't miss our tips! See you next time!