# Surviving South Africa
> Practical Survival, Food Preservation & Civil Readiness for South Africa.
> Independent reporting and self-reliance manuals by Bryan Botha.

Surviving South Africa (survivingsouthafrica.com) is an educational knowledge base dedicated to providing factual, non-politicized, field-tested preparedness advice tailored specifically to the South African context.

## Primary Topics
- **Food Storage & Preservation**: Long-term pantry building, pemmican making, DIY canning, solar dehydration, and grain storage.
- **Security & Stability**: Realistic situational awareness, farm safety, family defensive planning, and navigating civil unrest.
- **Skills & Self-Reliance**: Off-grid water sanitization, geodesic dome shelters, alternative energy, and bushcraft.
- **South African News & Analysis**: Ground-truth assessments of infrastructure, load-shedding, water shedding, and agricultural realities.

## Core Guides
- [While You Wait](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/while-you-wait): Sorry for keeping you. I am still busy developing this site. While you wait, look at some interesting videos on the situation in South Africa Anything is availa
- [How To Make And Store Pemmican - Practical Survival](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/how-to-make-and-store-pemmican-practical-survival): The word "Pemi" is the Cree word meaning Fat or grease and Pemmican was probably the first MRE (Meal Ready to eat). It was also the traditional means of preserv
- [The Best Lightweight Nutritious Foods For Survival](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/the-best-lightweight-nutritious-foods-for-survival): In this article, I will show you a few of the best options to use to keep the weight of your Bug Out Bag down and your nutrition and energy up. Both of these im
- [The Ultimate Do It Yourself Survival Kit - Pocket Pack](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/the-ultimate-do-it-yourself-survival-kit-pocket-pack-2): In this article, I am going to show you how to make The Ultimate Do It Yourself Survival Kit - Pocket Pack. I call it the pocket pack because it really needs to
- [How To Collect, And Make Healthy, Potable Water In the Wild](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/how-to-collect-and-make-healthy-potable-water-in-the-wild): The purpose of this article is to show you How To Collect, And Make Healthy, Potable Water In the Wild. It might even come in handy in the cities and towns if t
- [How To Prevent The Trots When Camping - Toilet Health](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/how-to-prevent-the-trots-when-camping-toilet-health): You really need to know "How To Prevent The Trots When Camping" - Toilet Health is one of the most important aspects of a camp, whether it be an overnight camp 
- [For The Best Health Benefits - Know What Are The Uses For Honey](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/for-the-best-health-benefits-know-what-are-the-uses-for-honey): Honey has been around for longer than mankind and has been used by us for as long as we have been around. It has many benefits and If you want to get the best h
- [Prepper vs Survivalist - Which One Are You](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/prepper-vs-survivalist-which-one-are-you): There is a huge rise in the prepper and survivalist circles these days and millions of people are starting to consider the possibility of disasters in almost ev
- [Find The Best Probiotic Drink For IBS - Really - It's Called Kefir](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/find-the-best-probiotic-drink-for-ibs-really-its-called-kefir): In this post learn how to find the best probiotic drink for IBS... Really! The WHO has defined probiotics as "live microorganisms which when administered in ade
- [13 Things You Need To Know About Kefir](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/13-things-you-need-to-know-about-kefir): In this post, I will be showing you 13 Things You Need To Know About Kefir. Most people have never heard of Kefir although it has gained popularity over the yea
- [Kefir Sour Dough No Knead Brown Bread Made Easy](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/kefir-sour-dough-no-knead-brown-bread-made-easy): The Recipe for Kefir Sour Dough No-Knead Bread Made Easy is a very basic recipe for a delicious bread that tastes divine. I have made this bread and it is absol
- [How To Save Your Flour From Pesky Flour Weevils - Are They Dangerous?](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/how-to-save-your-flour-from-pesky-flour-weevils-are-they-dangerous): Before we start with How To Save Your Flour From Pesky Flour Weevils, let's look at what they are.The flour weevil belongs to the family called Tenebrionidae. I
- [How To Collect The Best Food For Preppers](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/how-to-collect-the-best-food-for-preppers): In How To Start - A Beginner Prepper Food Supply List we spoke about how to make the list and how to start prepping. Now, in How To Collect The Best Food For Pr
- [How To Get The Best Prepping Results - Don't Buy Commercially Processed Foods](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/how-to-get-the-best-prepping-results-dont-buy-commercially-processed-foods): Since before recorded time, people have been processing food in some way to keep it edible for longer, whether it was by curing, salting fermenting or milling. 
- [How To Make The Ultimate Two Year Vienna Sausage - A Preppers Guide](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/vienna-sausage): Being a prepper for the past 5 years has taught me a good few lessons and I have built up a good supply of food, tools and other essentials in that time. The on
- [Who Is Targeted in Crime in South Africa?](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/who-is-targeted-in-south-africa): South Africa's crime crisis is often misrepresented by global headlines. This in-depth report looks beyond the narrative, examining who is targeted, why violenc
- [South Africa's Hidden Crime: Beyond The Manipulated Headlines](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/south-africas-hidden-crime-beyond-the-manipulated-headlines): South Africa's crime crisis is being softened and obscured by global headlines. This article exposes the violence, policing failures, and rural attacks shaping 
- [South Africa: Whats Being Hidden From the World](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/south-africa-whats-being-hidden-from-the-world): South Africa faces rising crime, political unrest, and threats to families that few international reports fully cover. This article explores the truth from a co
- [Is South Africa Safe? The Truth for 2025](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/is-south-africa-safe-the-truth-for-2025): Discover the truth about South Africa's safety, crime, and family protection. A common-sense, Christian perspective on survival and global impact.
- [2025 Farm Attacks: Latest Stats and How To Defend Against Genocide](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/2025-farm-attacks-latest-stats-patterns-and-how-to-defence-strategies): In South Africa, rural safety is concerning. As a retired Station Commander, I've seen the harsh realities of "farm attacks," which involve organized violence, 
- [How To Stay Safe During Civil Unrest Or Disaster Areas?](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/civil-unrest-3): Overview of the key steps to stay safe in a disaster zone The most important thing in a civil unrest situation is to stay informed. If you are not aware of thin
- [What is a Boer - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/what-is-a-boer): There are so many opinions of who or what is a Boer, and most of them are based on politics or Religion and are very subjective. This discussion often becomes h
- [Fishing - A How To Beginner's Guide For Preppers](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/fishing-a-how-to-beginners-guide-for-preppers): Fishing is a great way to supplement your food supply in an emergency. Luckily, Fish can be found in almost any dam, river or stream which can be very helpful t
- [How to make prepping a family affair?](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/family-affair): Prepping can be a stressful exercise if you are the only person in the family involved. It is far less stressful if you make it a family affair, and it makes th
- [How To Deal With Naysayers](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/naysayers): Dealing with Naysayers is an art! Prepping is a personal choice. Some people choose to prepare for a variety of reasons, such as natural disasters, economic col
- [How to Be A Prepared Citizen?](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/prepared-citizen): How to Be a Prepared Citizen In today's world, it is more important than ever to be prepared for anything. Whether it is a natural disaster, a terrorist attack,
- [Artisan Bread: A Delicious Way to Enjoy Freshly Baked Bread](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/artisan-bread): Artisan bread is a type of bread that is made with high-quality ingredients and a lot of care. It is often made by hand, and it can take several hours to rise a
- [How to grow food in a survival situation?](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/grow-food): Growing Food to Barter Growing your own food is a great way to prepare for any disaster. When SH!T hits the fan, and you need to withdraw from the cities and bu
- [How to Overcome Anxiety And Tension During Civil Unrest](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/anxiety-in-civil-unrest): Introduction Civil unrest can be a very stressful time for everyone, involved or not. It can be difficult to know what to do or how to feel. This blog post will
- [Can Civil Unrest Breaking Out In South Africa Be Averted](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/civil-unrest-2): South Africa has been facing a number of challenges in recent years, including economic instability, political corruption, and civil unrest. These issues have b
- [How To Select Alternative Housing Options](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/how-to-select-alternative-housing-options): Alternative Housing in times of conflict and displacement is a challenge. Refugees often struggle to find safe and secure housing options. Traditional housing s
- [What Is The Best Way To Be Resilient In Times Of Civil Unrest Or Civil War](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/civil-unrest): Introduction In a world where political stability can sometimes be uncertain , it is important to consider alternative approaches to living that can ensure our 
- [How To Select The Best Shelter - A Versatile Geodesic Dome](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/how-to-select-the-best-shelter-a-versatile-geodesic-dome): In this article How To Select The Best Shelter - A Versatile Geodesic Dome, I am going to discuss the Geodesic Dome and some of its outstanding features and use
- [How To Grow African Horned Cucumber (Kiwano) In A Drum](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/african-horned-cucumber): In our quest to prepare for whatever disaster might drive us from our homes and cities, we gather and store all sorts of store-bought foods and equipment to ens
- [Bicarbonate Of Soda(baking Soda) Is An Incredible, All-Purpose Fix-all For The Home and Prepper](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/bicarbonate-of-soda): If you are anything like me, you probably have a box of bicarbonate of soda in your pantry for baking, a bowl of it in your refrigerator to absorb odours and an
- [How To React When Caught In Terrifying Civil Unrest Or Riots](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/caught-in-a-terrifying-civil-unrest-or-riots): Civil Unrest or Riots are a daily occurrence in South Africa. One is more Surprised at not having a day with violent unrest than anything else. Riots and terrif
- [How To Become A Killer Prepper To Butcher Your Own Meat](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/the-killer-prepper): To become a prepper In today's world, Where food comes from a shelf or refrigerator in the supermarket will take some planning and learning. When my son was abo
- [The Ultimate 3 Day Light Weight Meal Pack for Your Bug Out Bag](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/the-ultimate-3-day-light-weight-meal-pack-for-your-bug-out-bag): The Ultimate 3-Day Lightweight Meal Pack for Your Bug Out Bag meets the need of most Preppers in the South African scenario. It is put together to: keep weight 
- [How To Select And Build Semi-Permanent Home Structures For The Prepper](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/semi-permanent-home-structures): Bugging Out to a new, safer location is not something that many of us look forward to. Unfortunately, it is not something that we may have many choices over, es
- [Are You Packing Dead Weight In Your Bugout Bag - Leave These 11 Things Out](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/packing-dead-weight): Have you ever read a post or watched a video that tells you what not to pack? I haven't, so I am writing this article to deal with common mistakes that I have c
- [Practical Prepping With Powdered Milk - How To Make, Store And Bake](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/practical-prepping-with-powdered-milk-how-to-make-store-and-bake): Milk is not an absolute necessity to sustain life, not like water, but When SHTF, it is like coffee, it provides that emotional lift that makes it worth the eff
- [How to Avoid The Emotional Threat And Devastating Effects Of Crime - Hijacking](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/how-to-avoid-the-emotional-threat-and-devastating-effects-of-crime): How to Avoid The Emotional Threat And Devastating Effects Of Crime - Hijacking (Carjacking), mugging, attacks and the like is a necessary skill in today's world
- [Welcome 2021 - Crime, Covid & The ANC](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/welcome-2021-crime-covid-the-anc): Here, on the last day of the year, I sit and ponder what was in 2020 and what is to come this new year, and I must say that it brings on a certain amount of tre
- [How To Prep For Survival - For City Dwellers](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/how-to-prep-for-survival-in-2021-for-city-cwellers): How To Prep For Survival - For City Dwellers is written for the South African situation. I address some of the issues that we South Africans have to face, and t
- [Caution - Can Illegal In-Store Searches Increase Your Risk Of Covid 19](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/caution-can-illegal-in-store-searches-increase-your-risk-of-covid-19): Customer Searches Are Humiliating It has become the norm these days for stores to insist on searching your purchases and to check the items against the till sli
- [12 Things Diabetics Must Prep To Survive](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/12-things-diabetics-must-prep-to-survive): In today's global village, when disasters that strike on the other side of the world occur, we learn about them in minutes. We even get to watch videos of them 
- [Becoming a Refugee In My Own Country](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/becoming-a-refugee-in-my-own-country): To Survive you need to be prepared. You need to know if Are You Bugging In or Bugging Out? You must have your Bug Out Bags ready and accessible.
- [Surviving South Africa - Post-COVID 19 Lockdown](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/surviving-south-africa-post-covid-19-lockdown): In this post, I am trying to explore ways of Surviving South Africa - Post-COVID 19 Lockdown. I don't have all the answers and my idea is to try and spark some 
- [No Job-No Food-No Future-No Parliament - What Now South Africa](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/no-job-no-food-no-future-no-parliament-what-now-south-africa): https://youtu.be/MuII2Po3w2k Day 53 of this Carona virus Lockdown here in Pretoria, South Afric a. Now I am not a terribly political person, in fact, I suck at 
- [Overcoming Anxiety And Tension During COVID-19 Lockdown](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/overcoming-anxiety-and-tension-during-covid-19-lockdown): https://youtu.be/3f0VRtY9oTs In this article about Overcoming Anxiety And Tension During COVID-19 Lockdown I am going to talk about my personal experience and m
- [Prepping For Seniors - And Their Families](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/prepping-for-seniors-and-their-families): Intro If You are not a Senior but you have family or close friends that are, this article is for you too. I am sure that this "Lockdown" caught many of us unawa
- [Panic Buying In South Africa - Is It Necessary](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/panic-buying-in-south-africa-is-it-necessary): Panic Buying In South Africa - Is It Necessary? Millions of South Africans were caught with their pants down when the SA President made his public address on Su
- [Preppers, Who And What Are They - Are You One](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/preppers-who-and-what-are-they): Preppers, Who and What Are? Are You One? Are you sure? Are they not just people taking out a different type of insurance ? Maybe we should take a look at them f
- [Important Prepper Supplies for 2021 - Are You Being Ripped Off](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/prepper-supplies): We all know how, when you say Prepper or survival , the price seems to sky-rocket. Everyone seems to be jumping on the bandwagon and trying to make a quick buck
- [What Is The Best Prepper Food You Absolutely Need - NO JOKE](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/what-is-the-best-prepper-food): In this article that I titled "What Is The Best Prepper Food You Absolutely Need - NO JOKE" I aim to give you an insight into what is important to store for whe
- [The Jerusalem Group - Is It Resolved?](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/the-jerusalem-group-is-it-resolved): The Jerusalem Group - Is It Resolved? Well, I am pleased to be able to tell you that there has been some progress in this regard and as I stated in the original
- [Why You Should Join A Prepper Group - Or Should You](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/why-you-should-join-a-prepper-group): In this article, I am playing Devil's Advocate. It is very important that you carry out your own due diligence when considering joining a group, large or small.
- [Lockdown On Our Farm - A South African Farmer's Story](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/lockdown-on-our-farm-a-south-african-farmers-story): On 25 October 2017, I got at 2 in the morning a call on my cell. My sister in law and her twin girls of 15 screaming. I will

 never, ever forget that. My husba
- [How To Use A Compass When Hiking - The Basics For Beginners](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/how-to-use-a-compass-when-hiking-the-basics-for-beginners): If you want to go out in the woods today, don't be in for a big surprise! Learn How To Use A Compass. How to use a compass when hiking - the basics, is th first
- [How To Plan A Practical Long Term Survival Supplies List](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/how-to-plan-a-practical-long-term-survival-supplies-list): Before We Start In this article, I will suggest to you How to plan a Practical, long-term survival supplies list, But as usual, I am not going to give you a lis
- [What Is A Bug Out Bag And What Goes In It](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/what-is-a-bug-out-bag-and-what-goes-in-it): In this article, we will discuss What Is A Bug Out Bag And What Goes In It. Don't just download a list of BOB contents and take it as gospel. Download my sugges
- [What Happens When The Lights Go Out - Permanently](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/what-happens-when-the-lights-go-out): Have you ever seriously considered what happens when the lights go out....permanently, or for a long period? It is a chilling thought, no matter where you are i
- [How To Make Waterproof Matches In Less Than 10 Minutes](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/how-to-make-waterproof-matches-in-less-than-10-minutes): No Survival Kit is complete without waterproof matches! So in this article, I will show you how to make waterproof matches in under 10 minutes with items most h
- [DIY Food Preservation Vs Buying In Processed Food](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/diy-food-preservation-vs-buying-in-processed-food): In this article, we discuss the pros and cons of DIY Food Preservation vs Bought processed foods. The reason for this is that there can be a considerable differ
- [How To Start - A Beginner Prepper Food Supply List](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/how-to-start-a-beginner-prepper-food-supply-list): Before writing "How To Start - A Beginner Prepper Food Supply List", I was doing research on an article called "Food Preservation Vs Buying In Processed Food". 
- [Surviving South Africa - 2018](https://survivingsouthafrica.com/surviving-south-africa-2018): "It is better to be prepared and never need it than to not be prepared and need it!" It is in that spirit that I write these articles and make these pieces of t