A self proclaimed extreme athlete is pushing himself to the limit by paddling through the densest, most dangerous jungle known to man, in none other than an inflatable kayak.
Welshman Ash Dykes is embarking on a set of back-to-back extreme challenges as part of his latest challenge, dubbed Project 6, beginning with a month-long expedition down the Congo Basin’s remote Sangha River – a 700km stretch of crocodile and hippo infested water.
The 35-year-old is no stranger to extreme environments, having already trekked solo across Mongolia, hiked the full length of Madagascar and even become the became the first person to walk the entire length of the Yangtze River across China.
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With more than 2.5 million TikTok followers at the helm tuning in to see the daredevil undertake his most daring adventure yet, the stakes had never been higher for the Welshman as he set off on his crazy challenge over the weekend.
In a video uploaded to his Tik Tok page on Saturday evening, the explorer documented the start of the challenge with a clip captioned “So it begins.”
“This is it – we are flying to Cameroon. We have said goodbye to our partners who we’ll hopefully see in three to four weeks,” he explained, smiling sheepishly as he walked through the airport terminal with his band of trusted friends, who will support him through the African adventure.
“It feels real. It’s some around so quickly but we’re prepped, we’re ready. Lets go!”
Unfortunately, the Walian’s journey has already gone against the tide, with a bag containing vital kayaking equipment going missing in transit.
The explorer has already survived landslides in the Alps, and being hunted by Tibetan Mastiffs. Credit: Ash Dykes
“We’ve arrived in Cameroon but its not the best of starts. Our bag — which contains the pumps for the inflatable kayaks — is stuck in Paris. So it’s not ideal,” Mr Dykes said.
But luck seemed to be on his side, with the explorer revealing in his latest video uploaded on Sunday evening that the team were back on track, saying: “We’ve got the bag! It’s now a two maybe three day drive to the jungle.”
With millions of fans at his side, eager to see what happens next the athlete revealed what inspired him to embark on his latest extreme adventure.
“I had a passion for the world, for meeting new people, exploring new cultures. I was also highly competitive, so that’s what’s driven me to physically and mentally push myself to this challenge,” he explained.
With no serious money behind him or any higher education or a military background, Mr Dykes says he draws inspiration from James Bond, Action Man and Tomb Raider.
“I wanted to fly, jump out of helicopter, breathe underwater, be dropped in the desert,” adding that he was envious of the seemingly endless list of qualifications and licences.
“I worked in a fish and chip shop and as a lifeguard in Wales to fund my travelling, which would cost me pennies. I’ve cycled the length of Cambodia and Vietnam on a £10 ($AU 18) bicycle, and over time it’s morphed into bigger and better adventures.”
Despite the dangers that lurk in the Congolese river, this Welshman doesn’t scare easy — having already survived landslides in the Alps, being held at gunpoint by a drunk military officer, and even being hunted by Tibetan Mastiffs.
“My previous world record were tougher in many ways. I almost died in Mongolia. I know the risks I’m taking but a lot of planning has gone into this — we’re working with locals and their knowledge will be the final say.
“It would be amazing to see a forest elephant or a silverback gorilla — I definitely don’t want to come face-to-face with a Nile crocodile, that’s for sure.”
