In the camps the scouts live for a period of months, leaving the camp early in the morning and returning at night. They experience great hardship especially during the rainy season. Many do not have tents and some do not have boots or shoes. The are very much open to the elements and as you can imagine morale reaches rock bottom. Disease and injury were also common.
Scouts regularly die from diseases such as Malaria.
In addition battles with poachers adds to the dangers. The poachers, often with automatically rifles, four wheel drive vehicles and better equipment kill or wound a number of scouts every year. It is a dangerous job. In return for protecting the wildlife of North Kafue the scouts receive a monthly income of around 20 per month. Imagine trying to support a family on 5 pounds a week.