Welsh explorer Ash Dykes is bracing for a 435-mile inflatable kayak journey down the Sangha River through the Congo Basin.
Dykes, who in 2019 became the first person to walk the entire length of China’s Yangtze River, is launching Project Six, a series of six expeditions through extreme environments that will be released as a global digital adventure series. The 32-year-old said he has spent months mentally preparing for dangers ranging from venomous wildlife to parasitic disease.
“Luckily I’ve got experience so that really helps but I’ve mentally prepared by visualizing the absolute worst case scenario,” he says. “I’ve studied it. I’ve looked at other people who have been attacked, what they did and the different methods they used.”
The Sangha River route, expected to take three to four weeks, will put Dykes and two companions in close proximity to elephants, hippos, gorillas, venomous snakes, and scorpions. Hippos pose a particular threat to the inflatable craft. “What if we see a hippo and it panics and attacks? We’re in an inflatable kayak and unable to get away quick enough,” he says.
Dykes has also been flooded with warnings from TikTok users cataloging potential fatal outcomes. “It’s hard, I’m trying my best to prepare,” he says. “There are venomous snakes and scorpions, and if we do make a mistake, if we do get stung or bitten, we could pay the ultimate price.”
The explorer emphasizes that his fear centers on human error rather than the jungle itself. “I’m more nervous about making a mistake and the jungle making us pay,” he says. Disease presents another lethal risk: malaria, dengue, and parasitic worms thrive in the region. The team carries antibiotics, anti-malaria medication, and satellite communications that could summon rescue within hours. “It’s about getting on top of it before it’s too late,” he says.
Despite the hazards, Dykes says he has long been drawn to what he calls “one of the most baddest, most dangerous place on the planet.” He adds, “It’s the crème de la crème.” The childhood fascination with the Congo helped drive the creation of Project Six, which he designed as a fully digital series accessible to British and global audiences—unlike his previous television work, much of which never aired in the UK.
The expedition will also include time with the local Baka people, whose knowledge Dykes is tapping for survival strategies in the basin. “Making their presence heard so the big and small animals are a little bit more fearful” forms part of the team’s protective approach, he says.
Dykes has built his reputation on record-breaking endurance feats. The 352-day Yangtze trek established him as a figure willing to commit more than a year to a single journey. For the current project, he says any lingering doubt would trigger postponement, as has happened with past plans.
The explorer is already looking past the Congo to his next undisclosed location, which he teases will demand rapid adaptation: “It’s going to be about 35-40°C (95-104°F) in the Congo and the second location is looking to be about -15 to -20°C (5 to -4°F),” he says. “So there’s a good 60 degree difference there. Oh my gosh. I’ve got two weeks to adapt and acclimatise to you know that that difference that’s going to be tough.”
After completing the river run, Dykes will return to London for a fortnight of recovery and preparation, expecting to shed roughly 10 kilograms during the paddle. “I’ll be back to swap out kit, and put some weight back on,” he says, adding that he’ll also be “getting rid” of any parasites picked up along the route.
His optimism about the region remains undimmed. “I think I’m going to fall in love with the Congo. I predict that when I come back, I’ll have all these rich stories and experiences, and most likely, will want to come back in the future,” he says. “I’ve always really wanted to go there and I want to tick that off personally it will be like a childhood dream come true.”
Dykes will return to London immediately after the Sangha River expedition to begin two weeks of preparation for his next Project Six adventure.