Kane squatsontherain forestfloornexttoHarnan,hisguide.AframeofsticksrestsoverafirethatKanehasbuilt.Ontop,piranhasroastin thesmoke.Thesefisharefiercepredators.Butnow,they’relunchforKaneandhis team.

KaneisdeepintheAmazonrain forestintheMatsés (MAT-sess)NationalReserveinPeru.Milesawayfromanytownsorfarms,theMatséspeopleliveoffthegrid.Noelectricity.Noplumbing.Nocellphones.Justmilesofwaterwaysanddense jungle.


Kanetraveledthroughtherainforestfor twodaystoreachthisremotevillage.Hiscompanionswerehisfather—Paul Hameister—andphotographerDomFarrell.TheirlocalguideswereSergio; Harnan,chiefoftheMatséstribe;andHarnan’sfather, Armando.

KanewasonamissiontoliveliketheMatsés.Whatachallengeitwould be!

Challenge 1: Jungle DIY

LiketheMatsés,Kanehadtomakemanyofthethingsheneededtosurvive.Natureprovidedallthebasicmaterials.Kanejusthadtolearnhowtousethem.Hisbasictoolwasakindofaknifecalledamachete.Heusedittochopdownwoodandhackintotoughrain forestvines.TheMatsésusemachetesformakingeverythingfromfirewoodtofishing rods.


Next,Kanelearnedthatifhewantedlunch,hewasgoingtohavetocatchorkillsomething.Hisguidestaughthimhowtomakeafishingrod.Kanecutasmall,thintreeoffatitsbase.Heburnedittostrengthenit.Thenhepeeledbackthebark.Thenheattachedsomefishinglineanda hook.Leftovermeatscrapswereusedasbait.Kanecaughtpiranhas,wolffish,andpeacockbass.Catchingthefishwasn’tenough,though.Nofire,nodinner.Kanealsohadtolearntochopupbarkforstartinga fire.

Kaneusesamachetetocutdownathintree. Withit,hecanmakeafishing rod.

Kane wassuccessfulasafisherman!

Kanelearnedotherlessonstoo.Hisguideshowedhimhowtomakeabridgefromafallenlogtocrossafast-movingcreek.Usinglongbranchesaspolesforbalance,Kaneslowlymadehisway across.


Theyreturnedtocampatdusk.Kanewastiredandwantedtogotobed.Butfirsthehadtobuildashelter.Hecuttwobigtreebranches,each withaYatthetop,anddugthemintotheground.AstrongbranchbetweenthetwoY’smadeanA-frameforatarp.Hetieddownthetarpedgeswithvines.Withpalmbranchesforthefloor,heplacedhissleepmatunderthe tarp.

MatsésNationalReserve

Bolivia

Brazil

Colombia

Ecuador

Guyana

Peru

Venezuela

AtlanticOcean

PacificOcean

Amazonrain forest

Matsés NationalReserve