Explorer Lucy Shepherd on exploring the untamed Amazon, hair-raising wildlife encounters, and advice for budding explorers

“I guess it comes down to experience. You work your way into categories: sleep, shelter, food utensils, safety, water, etc. It’s not even possible to overpack when you’re carrying as much food and camera kit as we did because there just isn’t room. For an overpacker I would say: focus on quality over quantity, use multi-functional items, and pack for the most likely conditions. Test your pack’s weight/space for food, remove non-essentials, and trust your adaptability to handle…