John Wayne. Clint Eastwood. Iconic men who have embodied the American West and set a standard of ruggedness that is the requisite of the cowboy profession.

Unfortunately for many men and women who desire embarking on this independent path of being a cowboy or a cowgirl, the road to get to cowboy status seems far-fetched. Having grown up in a city or suburb, far from the high-plains of the spacious Western frontier, many may consider the cowboy lifestyle impossible.

Fear not, city-slicker. You too can be a cowboy if you follow these tips:

1.   Familiarize yourself with horses. Do anything – volunteer to clean stalls, take lessons, ask questions – that will get you increasingly comfortable with horses.

2.   Do your research on the lifestyle. Read what it takes to be a wrangler, work on a dude ranch, or be a ranch hand, and study-up on cowboy culture.

3. If you can afford it, travel to areas where cowboy work is prevalent – mainly the Rocky Mountain West (Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana) – to talk to ranch owners and their workers to learn more about the industry and get contacts for future job opportunities.

4. After becoming more aware of what the cowboy lifestyle is, and what your expectations are as a wrangler, apply for a position as an entry-level wrangler to get headway into the industry.  Who knows where things will take you! 

An African safari can be a thrilling, exotic adventure vacation. However, it’s important to realize that, though it is a vacation, safaris are in the wild with wild animals, and danger is eminent if proper safety precautions are not taken.

One particularly threatening animal that is possible to encounter during a safari is a lion, or maybe a pride of lions. If you are on foot when crossing paths with a lion, this is a highly dangerous situation to be in.

Remember the following to avoid harm being inflicted upon yourself or others:

Never run in the presence of lions. Lions will instinctively chase and hunt running prey.

• Instead, back away slowly, facing the lion.
• If a lion charges at you, make as much noise as possible and stand your ground.
• At night, never leave your lodging (be it a house or a tent) without an escort. 

With over 65,000 people employed every year in the Alaskan fishing industry, newcomers have a great shot at getting a high-paying job in a short season on an Alaskan fishing boat.

Work hours generally range from 12 to 16 hours a day, up to seven days a week. Typically processors (performing repetitive tasks, like gutting salmon) make $750 to $1,500 a week. Fishermen earn around $1,000 to $2,500 a week, sometimes more.

Processing jobs are the easiest to get, as some of the tasks are considered undesirable. Usually no experience is required, but long hours and working in factories is usually required of all new processors. These jobs are a good way to break-into the Alaskan fishing industry for those who aspire to work on a fishing boat as a harvester, or fisherman.

Besides the pay, many employers in the industry also offer free room and board and free round-trip airfare from the point of hire (usually Seattle, WA) to Alaska.

Most of these positions are contractual, lasting from one to four months, with the standard being three.

Before you begin your journey, be sure to have the following documents and make extra copies! Start a traveling file and keep copies of all your important documents in it at home. Take copies of the policies you’re bringing with you and place them in your carry-on or money belt.

Health Insurance

Keep a copy of your insurance policy, contact phone numbers, and policy numbers. Make notes on what is covered while you are away from home.

Travelers Insurance

 If you use travelers insurance, keep copies of policies for quick reference. These policies can include trip interruption or cancellation insurance, travel life insurance, baggage replacement, and travel medical coverage.

Credit Card Insurance Coverage

Many credit cards will provide travel insurance for a variety of situations such as lost luggage, lost or broken items, and even life and medical coverage if your trip is paid using the card. Know what your credit card covers while traveling, and keep a copy of the policy.

Passport

If you are a frequent international traveler, keep your passport up-to-date in case of last minute trips. Some countries require that your U.S. passport be valid at least six months or longer beyond the dates of your trip. It can take several weeks to receive or renew a passport. Make two copies of your passport, keep one for your travel file, and take one with you while traveling. A copy of your passport will help agents to replace it if your passport is lost or stolen.

Credit Card Numbers and Contacts

Write down the card numbers, expiration date, and contact phone numbers of all credit cards and phone cards, and travelers check replacement numbers. Make two copies, one for your travel file and one to take with you. Inform your credit card company that you will be using your card to make purchases in a foreign country. Many credit card companies have security controls that will invalidate your credit card if the card shows “out-of-pattern” buying such as foreign purchases. Having the credit card company putting a hold on your credit card can be embarrassing and time consuming to straighten out.

Emergency Contact Names

You should have a list of names and phone numbers of family and/or friends that can be contacted in case of an emergency. Make at least 3 copies and carry one on your person, one for your home file and one for your carry-on.

Medical Records

Make sure your health insurance covers you in foreign countries. If you have a specific health condition, have your doctor make a copy of the condition and possible treatment to carry with you in case of emergencies. Make an extra copy and carry this on you in case you become incapable of taking care of yourself.

Health Considerations

Have a list with the name and phone number of your doctor in case of emergencies.

If you require medication, take enough extra in case of extended stays or loss of baggage and pack your prescriptions and medications in your carry-on luggage. Your medication may be considered illegal in foreign countries so check with the embassy website of the country you will be visiting for listings of medications that you may need to take. 

Location of U.S. Embassy or Consulate

Before you leave the U.S. write down the address and phone number of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Registering at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate makes your presence and whereabouts known in case of an emergency. During a disaster overseas, American consular officers can assist in evacuation if necessary. But they cannot assist you if they do not know where you are. A country where there are no U.S. officials, you should register at the U.S. embassy or consulate in an adjacent country and leave an itinerary.

Information on your welfare or whereabouts may not be released to friends or family at home without your written consent. Remember to leave a detailed itinerary and the numbers or copies of your passport or other citizenship documents with a friend or relative in the United States.

The American Citizens Services has offices set up at U.S. embassies and consulates throughout the world to assist Americans abroad in emergency situations, including arrests, death cases, financial or medical emergencies, and welfare and whereabouts inquiries.

Most of us will never deal with major emergencies while traveling; but, when an emergency occurs, it can be critical to be prepared.