Jungle Expedition with the Penan: How True Survival Skills Are Learned

My First Taste of Jungle Survival: Royal Marines in Brunei

I first experienced the jungle in 1997 with the Royal Marines during  Exercise Ocean Wave. As part of this deployment, we completed jungle survival training in Brunei—and that’s where I fell in love with the environment. The jungle was hot, humid, and alive with challenges: spiky plants, biting insects, and snakes lurking nearby. But none of that dulled the thrill of adventure. We operated in close-knit teams, entirely dependent on one another—a bond forged through shared hardship and mutual trust in an unforgiving environment.

I learnt, first of all, how to live in that environment. How to put up a hammock. How to look after yourself. How to cook your food. How to navigate. And then moving on to the more professional side of soldiering. It was truly, truly testing, but exceptionally rewarding. And it was from this experience alone, after spending several months in that environment, that gave me a lust and a want to go back to the jungle and experience more.

That formative experience led to future adventures—guiding jungle expeditions and solo explorations into some of the most remote parts of the world. The jungle survival training I received with the Royal Marines gave me both the skill set and the confidence to make it possible.

Jungle Survival Expedition: Crossing Mulu National Park

In 2011, I was hired as a private expedition guide to lead a client across Mulu National Park in Borneo—from south to north. No marked trails. No maps to follow. This was raw, untouched jungle, and as far as I knew, no Westerner had completed this particular crossing before. To make it happen, I sought out the only people capable of navigating this kind of terrain—the Penan of Sarawak.

The Seed Was Planted: Discovering the Penan Through Bruce Parry

My fascination with the Penan began years earlier, in 2005, when I watched Tribe on BBC2. Bruce Parry, a former Royal Marine, had immersed himself in their way of life, and I was completely captivated. Their strength, humility, and deep bond with the rainforest left a lasting impression on me. At the time, I remember thinking, one day, I want to experience that for myself.

Years later, that wish became reality.

Meeting Parry: Jungle Commando & Kindred Spirit

Parry—the lead Penan on our expedition—was a lean, quiet man in his mid-fifties, full of dry humour and sharp observation. We hit it off straight away. From the moment we met, he called me “Jungle Commando.” I smiled at the nickname but didn’t say much at first. “Why do you call me that?” I eventually asked.

“I see how you move through the trees,” he said. “You’re strong. You’re confident. You’re agile. And you’re not scared. You are a Jungle Commando.”

Only a couple of days in did I tell him I was a former Royal Marine. He lit up when he heard that. It meant something to him—and his words meant something to me.

Throughout the journey, I carried my own rucksack. It wasn’t about ego; it was just how I was wired. In the Marines, you never let anyone else carry your kit. The client I was guiding didn’t carry his own, which made me even more determined to shoulder my own weight.

Navigating the Wild: Penan Mastery & Ancestral Knowledge

The terrain was, at times, brutally unforgiving. Steep inclines, fallen logs, tangled foliage, and deep mud made every kilometre hard-won. But the Penan didn’t fight the jungle—they flowed through it. When the terrain became too slow, they would guide us into shallow rivers. Wading through water often proved faster, though we had to be cautious—one slip on the slick rocks could spell disaster.

Their navigation skills were on another level. The two young lads with us would often disappear ahead, scouting the best route—not a trail, but a way forward. I still don’t know how they did it. Their connection to the forest was instinctive, ancestral, spiritual.

Preparedness & Survival: Tools of the Jungle

They kept their blowpipes within reach at all times, and it struck a familiar chord. In the Marines, our weapons never left our side. It wasn’t paranoia—it was preparedness. Here, it was the same principle, just a different tool.

Wild Food & Campfire Skills: Jungle Meals with the Penan

Lunchtimes were simple but brilliant. We’d stop by a river, and within minutes, the Penan would toss out their fishing nets, pull in fresh fish, build a fire, and start cooking. They identified edible plants without hesitation—like the wild palm of heart, a tall spiky plant they’d cut open with their machetes. Inside was a bland but edible pulp, a natural carbohydrate you could eat raw. Pure, wild energy.

Evenings in the Jungle: Firelight, Stories, & Camaraderie

Come evening, the Penan made camp with quiet efficiency. Blue tarps went up, a fire sparked to life, and while I struggled just to get my hammock up, they moved around effortlessly. I’d sit by the fire, exhausted, listening to the hum of cicadas, feeling a peace I hadn’t felt in a long time.

It reminded me of evenings in the Royal Marines. After a long day, we’d pass around a hot tea and share stories to lift morale. Here, it was no different—except the drink was hot chocolate, absurdly sweet, shared with a grin. The stories were about hunting, tracking, close calls, and family memories. They were the perfect bedtime tales.

End of the Expedition, Start of Something Deeper

After six days and an estimated 60  kilometres, the trek came to an end. There were big handshakes all around. It felt like a proper finish to something unforgettable. But what I thought was the end turned out to be just the beginning.

Welcome to Happy House: A Deeper Jungle Survival Journey

Parry pulled me aside and said, “John, come back with me to my lodge. It’s called Happy House. If you stay with me, I will teach you the way of the Penan. Everything I know, I’ll share with you.”

It was an invitation I could never have expected—and one I couldn’t possibly turn down.

Into The Interior: No Clients, Just Forest!

After a few days of rest in Miri, I boarded a small domestic plane to a place called Long Lellang. There, Parry was waiting. “We’ve got a big trek ahead,” he said. “But you can handle it.”

This time, there was no client to look after—just me and Parry. My rucksack was heavy again, packed with rice, tuna, coffee, Milo, and more sugar than anyone should ever carry. But mentally, I felt lighter. I could focus entirely on myself, on the moment, on the forest beneath my feet.

The Real Training Ground: What the Jungle Teaches

As we ventured deeper into the remote interior, I began to feel something shifting. The jungle wasn’t just a setting—it was alive, breathing. You could understand why the Penan held such a spiritual connection to it. Their bond with the land goes back hundreds, maybe thousands of years. And I was being invited into that world—not as a tourist or a guide, but as a guest.

As we drew closer to Happy House, I could feel the anticipation rise. My legs were still tired from the last journey, but my energy surged with every step. The endorphins were flowing, and the excitement of what lay ahead buzzed through me.

Happy House wasn’t just a lodge. It was the doorway to a deeper life, a chance to immerse myself in something real. I didn’t know what lessons were waiting—but I knew they would shape me in ways no map or manual ever could.

This wasn’t just an expedition anymore. This was full jungle immersion.

Bringing Jungle Survival Skills to the UK

That time living and learning with the Penan reshaped how I saw the natural world—and myself. It wasn’t just about survival; it was about awareness, adaptability, and connection. These are the same principles I now bring to my corporate events and team-building experiences here in the UK. Whether it’s learning how to make fire, build shelter, navigate, or tackle group challenges, each session is grounded in the real-life skills and mindset forged in the jungle. Delivered at any venue, indoors or outdoors, these experiences are designed to reconnect people with their instincts, improve teamwork, and build confidence—just as I learned deep in the heart of Borneo.

To explore tailored team-building options, take a look at the Team Expedition Challenge—designed to be fully adaptable and can be delivered both outdoors in the wild or in a controlled environment to suit your needs.