What does orienteering require to navigate accurately?

Orienteering fundamentally relies on a combination of a map and a compass to navigate accurately through unfamiliar terrain. This traditional method allows individuals to determine their position on the map, understand their surroundings, and plan their route effectively. A map provides the necessary topographical information, including landmarks and elevation changes, while a compass helps in orienting the map to the physical landscape, ensuring that the navigator can align their direction of travel with the features represented on the map.

While modern technology like GPS devices offers convenience, orienteering emphasizes essential navigation skills that are independent of electronic devices. Similarly, although a team of navigators might enhance the experience or increase safety during a trek, orienteering can be performed individually with just a map and a compass. Aerial photographs could provide visual context for a landscape but do not provide the detailed navigational information necessary for effective orienteering in the same way a map does. Thus, the combination of a map and a compass remains the core requirement for successful navigation in orienteering.