Adventurer Completes 434-Mile Congo Expedition After Losing Contact With Team
British adventurer Ash Dykes has completed a 434-mile (700km) expedition through the Congo Basin in Central Africa after losing contact with his UK team for almost 24 hours.
The 35-year-old explorer from Old Colwyn, Conwy, encountered elephants and gorillas and was chased by what he described as “killer” bees while rowing along rivers during the challenging journey. The expedition marks the first stage of Project 6, a series of six consecutive adventures in extreme environments.
Towards the end of the trip, Dykes lost communication with his team after his portable power bank failed, leaving his satellite equipment without power. He said it took about 20 hours before he could send his first message after finding a signal.
“My parents and fiancée were worrying, but as soon as I had a bit of signal I made sure I got in touch,” he said.
Dykes explained that the incident had taught him lessons about broadcasting expeditions in real time. Although he intends to keep followers updated, he said future communication plans would need to change to prevent unnecessary panic if contact was lost again.
The adventurer said extreme heat was his biggest concern during the expedition, particularly while kayaking for hours on rivers inhabited by crocodiles and hippos, often without shade.
“We took the warnings seriously. Experience means listening to local advice, reading the conditions and making the decisions that get your team through safely,” he said.
One of the highlights was meeting the Baka people, a semi-nomadic Indigenous group who welcomed the team and demonstrated their traditional hunting and gathering practices.
Dykes also recalled seeing a group of gorillas inside Sangha National Park, including a silverback from approximately five metres away.
He was accompanied by local guide Obed Temba Tuyumvire and videographer Will Perez, who documented the expedition through regular social media updates. Dykes said his popularity on TikTok increased during the journey, with followers closely tracking the team’s progress.
However, the explorer acknowledged that viral attention came with mixed reactions, as some viewers expected more dramatic encounters while others criticised the risks involved.
Dykes, who lost 11 pounds (5kg) during the expedition while relying largely on ration packs, described the journey as a demanding experience filled with challenges and remarkable wildlife encounters.
The explorer has previously walked 4,000 miles along China’s Yangtze River in 2019 and kayaked the length of Suriname’s Coppename River from source to sea in 37 days.
In a social media post marking the end of the first stage of Project 6, Dykes said the team had faced numerous ups and downs but had successfully completed the challenge.
He is expected to announce the second stage next week, hinting that the next destination will be considerably colder than the Congo Basin.
By Oluwafemi Shodipe.
