Adventurer completes 400-mile expedition after losing contact with team
Ash Dykes has completed a 434-mile expedition along rivers in the Congo Basin, the first of six planned endurance challenges in his Project 6 series. Near the end, his satellite kit lost power and he could not contact his UK team for almost 24 hours, raising concern among his family and supporters.
Travelling with local guide Obed Temba Tuyumvire and videographer Will Perez, Dykes encountered elephants, gorillas and “killer” bees, and said extreme heat was his greatest concern. He lost 11lb during the trip and spent time with the Baka people, including seeing a silverback gorilla at close range. Dykes said future updates would be less immediate after the loss of contact caused alarm; he plans to announce the next, colder expedition next week.
In short
- Ash Dykes completed a 434-mile Congo Basin river journey.
- A failed power bank cut contact with his UK team for nearly 24 hours.
- It is the first of six expeditions in Project 6.
Explained simply
Ash Dykes is a Welsh adventurer known for long, demanding journeys. Project 6 is his plan to complete six endurance challenges in different environments; the Congo Basin rivers expedition was the first.
The Congo Basin is a vast region of central Africa, with dense rainforest and major river systems. Journeys there can involve extreme heat, difficult travel and encounters with wildlife, so adventurers often rely on local guides and communications equipment to stay connected with support teams.
Dykes travelled with local guide Obed Temba Tuyumvire and videographer Will Perez. The expedition highlights the physical demands of remote travel and the challenges of keeping in contact when equipment loses power.
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