Welsh adventurer Ash Dykes has begun a more than 700-kilometre journey through the Congo Basin, launching the first mission of his ambitious Project 6 challenge after several setbacks threatened to delay his expedition.
Dykes set off from Nola in the Central African Republic on Thursday, October 8, 2026, beginning a journey along the Sangha River towards Mossaka in the Republic of the Congo. He plans to cover approximately 434 miles using an inflatable kayak, with the expedition expected to take three to four weeks.
The journey will take him through one of the world’s most remote tropical rainforest regions, where wildlife, tropical diseases, extreme humidity and limited access to medical assistance pose significant challenges.
Dykes is travelling with a local guide and a United Kingdom-based videographer as he documents the expedition for his followers.
The journey marks Mission One of Project 6, a series of six expeditions across six extreme environments over 12 months. Dykes plans to use the challenge to explore unfamiliar landscapes, document the people and environments he encounters, and test his endurance in demanding conditions.
His website describes the wider undertaking as “Six expeditions. Six extreme environments. One global adventure series.”
Ash Dykes overcomes setbacks before departure
Although Dykes planned the expedition months in advance, reaching the starting point proved difficult.
The explorer and his team travelled from London to Cameroon before discovering that a bag containing essential equipment had gone missing. The luggage held pumps needed to inflate the kayaks, as well as tents, food and water supplies.
The missing equipment threatened to delay the journey by one or two days. Dykes later confirmed that the team recovered the luggage, allowing them to resume their preparations.
However, the equipment problem was only the beginning of their difficulties.
The team subsequently encountered visa complications that prevented them from entering the Central African Republic through their original route. Dykes explained that their paperwork did not meet the requirements for the overland crossing, forcing them to find an alternative way into the country.
“We’ve been traveling for four days,” he said, explaining that the group had encountered officers, checkpoints and other obstacles.
Dykes also said the team had to change its route after authorities declined to accept their travel documents for the crossing. The group eventually secured a way forward and continued towards Nola.
Bad weather added to the difficulties. Dykes recounted travelling by motorboat in darkness and heavy rain, with lightning flashing around them, before the team continued its journey overland.
Reflecting on the difficult journey to Nola, Dykes reassured followers who had expressed concern about whether he would reach the river.
“We always knew that it was gonna be hard to get onto the river or to get to Nola. We always knew that it was gonna be an adventure,” he said.
Why the Sangha River presents a challenge
Dykes now faces the main objective of the mission: travelling more than 700 kilometres along the Sangha River before reaching Mossaka, where the river joins the Congo River system.
The route passes through the Congo Basin, a vast rainforest region that supports exceptional biodiversity and provides habitat for numerous animal species.
Crocodiles, hippos, forest elephants, snakes and other wildlife form part of the environment Dykes must navigate. However, the presence of these animals does not mean he will necessarily encounter all of them during the expedition.
Dykes has also identified less visible dangers, including malaria, other infections, extreme heat and humidity, contaminated water and the distance from proper medical assistance.
In a September post outlining the mission, he warned that the journey would involve more than navigating wildlife.
“Malaria, infection, extreme heat and humidity, contaminated water and being days away from proper medical help are all very real risks,” he wrote.
Dykes has said the expedition involves route planning, medical supplies and satellite communication arrangements. His team must also manage food, drinking water, camping equipment and the demands of travelling for weeks through a remote landscape.
Why he chose an inflatable kayak
Rather than use a conventional rigid kayak, Dykes has opted for an inflatable vessel that he can deflate and carry when river conditions make paddling impractical or unsafe.
The design allows the team to move around obstacles and difficult sections without relying entirely on the river as a navigable route.
Dykes has also highlighted the need to choose campsites carefully because parts of the forest contain elephant corridors. The team must avoid pitching tents in places where elephants regularly travel.
He expects the journey to require a sustained daily effort, with the final schedule dependent on river conditions, weather and obstacles along the route.
First of six expeditions
The Sangha River mission is the opening stage of Project 6, which will take Dykes through six extreme environments over approximately a year.
The explorer has previously undertaken major expeditions, including crossing Mongolia solo and unsupported and walking the length of China’s Yangtze River. Those experiences have helped establish his reputation for long-distance journeys through demanding terrain.
The Congo Basin expedition presents a different set of challenges, particularly the combination of tropical disease risks, remote waterways and limited access to emergency assistance.
Dykes has also said he plans to spend time learning from the BaAka people, whose generations of experience living in the rainforest offer valuable knowledge of the environment.
