Welsh extreme explorer Ash Dykes has completed his daring 18-day journey through the Congo Basin, successfully paddling the length of the Sangha River and reaching the Congo River.
Dykes and his team arrived near Mossaka in the Republic of Congo on Saturday, October 24, bringing to an end a mission that had captivated millions of followers around the world.
The explorer announced the completion during a livestream, declaring: “We did it,” as the team entered the Congo River at the point where the Sangha meets it.
The journey covered approximately 800 kilometres, according to Dykes’ final update, although the expedition had initially been described as a 700-kilometre route from Nola in the Central African Republic to Mossaka.
A dangerous mission for Ash Dykes
Dykes undertook the challenge in an inflatable kayak as the first expedition in his “Project 6” series, which will see him attempt six extreme journeys in 12 months. He was joined by Cameroonian guide Mebah Markdonald and British videographer Will Pérez.
The route took the team through one of the world’s most remote rainforest regions, exposing them to the threat of hippos, crocodiles, storms, disease and long periods without reliable communication.
Before setting off, Dykes warned that malaria, infection, extreme heat, contaminated water and the distance from medical help were among the greatest dangers.
Read Also: From Namibia with Love: Woman’s Emotional Quest to Trace Kenyan Roots via Facebook
Communications blackout
The expedition’s most alarming moment came on Wednesday, October 21, when Dykes’ support team revealed they had not heard from him for more than 16 hours.
Concern spread rapidly among followers who had been tracking the journey through daily videos and livestreams.
The team later confirmed that everyone was safe. The blackout was caused by equipment failure rather than an emergency, after their Starlink connection went down and their power bank died.
Only a Garmin satellite device remained available, sending short messages when a signal could be found.
Ash Dykes later explained that the team had spent nearly two days without power or proper communication, moving between villages in search of charging points while battling storms.
They found a generator in one community, but it broke down before they could restore the Starlink connection.
From setbacks to success
The mission faced difficulties from the beginning. A bag containing kayak pumps, tents, food and water was delayed in Paris, forcing a two-day wait, while the team was initially refused at a border checkpoint and had to take a five-hour detour before entering the Central African Republic overland.
Despite the setbacks, Dykes pressed on, sharing the journey in real time and turning the expedition into a global online event. His updates attracted millions of views as followers followed every rapid, wildlife encounter and communications scare.
The final stretch
In his final livestream, Dykes said the team had covered the final kilometre before officially entering the Congo River, marking the end of their mission to travel the entire length of the Sangha.
However, the adventure was not immediately over. Dykes explained that the team still faced a five-hour motorboat journey to reach a road, followed by a five-hour drive from Oyo to Brazzaville, as the area around the finish point remained isolated.
The successful completion marks a major milestone for Dykes, a five-time Guinness World Record holder and the first person to walk the length of the Yangtze River. It also confirms the first mission of Project 6, with five further extreme expeditions still to come.
Global reaction and what comes next
Dykes’ completion sparked an outpouring of congratulations from followers across TikTok, YouTube and Facebook, many of whom had followed the expedition from its difficult start in Nola to the final stretch on the Congo River.
Supporters praised the team’s resilience after the communications blackout, equipment failures and exhausting final days on the water.
The successful mission now shifts attention to the remaining five expeditions in Project 6.
Ash Dykes has kept their locations secret, describing them as five of the hardest places on Earth, leaving his global audience awaiting his next extreme challenge.