Wilderness Survival with Druid System

Chapter 332: Chapter 1: Acquaintances

The last day of January, February 28th in the Gregorian calendar.

Chen Wen and his two assistants traveled together by plane to Namibia.

Namibia is located in the southwest of Africa and is an obscure small country.

Chen Wen’s survival area this time is called the Caprivi Strip, a narrow area shaped like an axe.

Located approximately at latitude 18° South and longitude 19° East.

It is 450 kilometers long and 30-100 kilometers wide.

This is a special area unknown to most people, but it holds important strategic positions.

Some countries even deploy special forces here for tropical tactical training.

The climate here is tropical.

The terrain consists mainly of dry sand, tall grass, dry woods, and bushes.

Due to rivers like the Okavango, Kuando, and Zambezi passing through, there are many reed-filled marshes along the riverbanks.

The survival journey starts in mid-March on the Gregorian calendar and lasts for a month.

It is currently the end of summer and beginning of autumn in Caprivi, marking the end of the rainy season.

This causes the rivers to overflow and the marshes to expand.

The overall terrain is dominated by sparse tree savannah desert and marshlands.

”Below us is the Caprivi Strip.”

On the plane, looking at the map displayed on the screen ahead, Lin Jiawei quietly reminded Chen Wen.

Chen Wen nodded slightly, looking down from the side window.

The entire Caprivi Strip is primarily yellow-green, with several rivers meandering, resembling blue ribbons.

They add a different charm to the land.

The scenery is quite nice.

”You can’t see much from up here; you can only see the real dangers of this place after you arrive.”

Chen Wen quietly replied to Lin Jiawei.

The most dangerous aspect of the Caprivi Strip is the wildlife.

This area has unique terrain, and the water and grass are relatively abundant.

Therefore, a diverse array of wild animals gather in this fertile land.

This place is like Masai Mara National Park, a part of wild Africa.

Agitated African elephants, ferocious Nile crocodiles, territorial and aggressive hippos, hordes of lions, solitary yet mighty leopards, lightning-fast cheetahs...

A variety of wild animals pose the biggest danger Chen Wen will face in this journey.

”Yes, I read the information Mr. Qu sent you; this is the stereotypical Africa.”

Lin Jiawei browsed through the information and said, ”Wild animals of all kinds are everywhere; your beast taming skills, if used appropriately, will be a huge help.”

Listening to Lin Jiawei’s analysis, Chen Wen glanced at him in surprise.

This kid normally only cares about the program’s flow, not survival matters.

Why does he suddenly have insight now?

It’s similar to Liu Yu’s insight.

Noticing Chen Wen’s gaze, Lin Jiawei gave a simple smile: ”I’ve been educated by Miss Luo, felt a bit irresponsible as an assistant before, so during the holidays, I learned a lot from Miss Luo and supplemented my survival knowledge.”

”Well done, this analysis is quite spot on, I’ll have the association raise your salary.”

Chen Wen said with a smile.

On the side, Jiang Chang said: ”Chen Wen, I checked our itinerary; today we can spend the whole day in the capital of Namibia, Windhoek!”

”I saw the travel guide here; do you like visiting cathedrals? If you do, we can take a walk around, have lunch at a famous Thai restaurant here, shop at the mall for some daily necessities in the afternoon, and there’s a renowned local restaurant for dinner with local specialties, we’ll stay at a hotel near the airport, and in the morning we’ll catch a flight to the Caprivi Strip.”

Impressed by the arrangements, Chen Wen immediately said: ”Alright, you get a raise too!”

Jiang Chang laughed quietly.

Lin Jiawei helplessly shook his head, quite helpless about his colleague’s strong competitive spirit.

Soon, the plane landed.

Following Jiang Chang’s plan, Chen Wen and his team spent a day in Windhoek, a city reminiscent of a European city.

They bought some essential daily supplies, as well as local crafts and clothes.

The next day, the three of them, refreshed, headed to the administrative center of the Caprivi Strip, Katima Mulilo.

Here, Abel sent someone to pick up the three of them.

They traveled for five hours in a bumpy ride in an off-road vehicle, and just before dusk.

They finally reached the survival program crew’s campsite.

A training center built by the military.

This place was rented by the crew to become the recording base camp.

...

”Ha! Chen Wen! You finally made it!”

Seeing Chen Wen get off the vehicle, Abel, who had gotten the news long ago, enthusiastically walked up and hugged Chen Wen warmly.

”Abel, long time no see, I missed you greatly!”

Chen Wen said with a smile.

Abel nodded, looking quite eager: ”I missed you too, but I miss your beast taming skills even more.”

”This show’s highlights and key points, at least fifty percent depend on you!”

Chen Wen chuckled and didn’t say much more.

”Have all the other participants arrived?”

Chen Wen asked.

Abel shook his head: ”Including you, just five people have arrived, only half; oh, there’s an old acquaintance of yours here!”

An old acquaintance?

Chen Wen paused for a moment.

Before he could think more, Abel said: ”Come on, you haven’t had dinner yet, right? I’ve prepared a lavish Hua Country welcoming banquet for you, you’ll find out at the dinner.”

...

Although the dinner was called Hua Country’s welcoming banquet, apart from a cloyingly sweet Kung Pao Chicken.

Chen Wen couldn’t taste any Hua Country flavor.

But his focus wasn’t on the food.

It was on that familiar face.

”Who would have thought, who would have thought, that the acquaintance Abel referred to is you.”

Chen Wen looked at the familiar face in surprise and said, ”What, had a rough time in South America, came to South Africa for redemption?”

The so-called acquaintance was the newcomer king of the American Expedition Association, Adam, who was once beaten by Chen Wen in the Sonora Desert.

Adam maintained a calm expression: ”This isn’t the trash talk session, there’s no need to belittle me like that, right?”

”Haha, just a habit, why are you here?”

Chen Wen laughed and raised his glass for a toast with Adam.

Adam drank the clear and refreshing drink, said helplessly: ”All because of you Hua Country people. I lost to you in the Sonora Desert and didn’t get a spot, went to South America, encountered Mr. Zhao and Mr. Feng, got played by them, and missed out on a spot again.”

”This is my last chance, by the way, this is my friend, also a member of the American Survival Association, named Rock Diaz.”

Adam introduced the young man next to him to Chen Wen.

This man was also Caucasian, seemingly younger than Adam, somewhat handsome, and relatively quiet.

Rock nodded to Chen Wen: ”Nice to meet you, just call me Rock.”

”Hello, are you competing together?”

Chen Wen curiously asked.

Adam nodded, not shy before Chen Wen, said directly: ”According to our association’s requirements, I must achieve a top three spot in this survival to qualify for the second round of the wilderness solo selection, so I requested Rock to join me, we’re teaming up for this survival.”

Hearing this, Chen Wen’s expression showed some changes.

Teaming up in survival vs. solo survival are not at the same difficulty level.

Taking Yukon for example, if Chen Wen survived alone and encountered a grizzly bear, he would choose to avoid it.

Instead of hunting.

In the Caprivi Strip, where large animals are more frequent, this point is more prominent.

If a solo participant encounters a hippo or a Nile crocodile, the likelihood of fleeing is high.

But if two survivors encounter a hippo or Nile crocodile, the situation is unpredictable.