Ash Dykes, a 35-year-old adventurer from Old Colwyn, Conwy, has finished the opening stage of Project 6, an ambitious series of six back-to-back expeditions across extreme environments, despite losing satellite communication with his UK support team for nearly 24 hours. According to BBC News, Dykes completed the Sangha River journey in the Congo Basin after encountering elephants, gorillas and aggressive bees while navigating waterways inhabited by crocodiles and hippos. The record-holding explorer holds five world records and has previously walked 4,000 miles along China's Yangtze River in 2019 and kayaked the length of Suriname's Coppername River from source to sea in 37 days.
The communication blackout occurred as Dykes's portable satellite power bank depleted while the team remained beneath dense jungle canopy. He explained the situation:
"We were underneath the jungle canopy, because we were staying with a small community, and then it took me about 20 hours before I could get out the first message."Dykes acknowledged the impact on those monitoring his progress, saying
"my parents and fiancée were worrying but as soon as I had a bit of signal I made sure I got in touch."
The expedition traversed from the Central African Republic into the Republic of the Congo, covering nearly 800 kilometres according to reports published on October 27. Dykes completed the Sangha River journey in 18 days, finishing in Mossaka after starting in Nola, with the crew sometimes spending more than 15 hours paddling daily. Storms flooded riverbanks and prevented docking, while mosquito and tsetse-fly bites compounded the physical toll.
Before the river expedition began, the team faced logistical obstacles. Their kayak-pump luggage went missing, causing delays, and visa complications forced them to locate an alternative overland route into the Central African Republic. Dykes was accompanied by local guide Obed Temba Tuyumvire and videographer Will Perez, who documented the journey through regular social media updates.
Dykes reflected on the communication crisis and its implications for future live coverage. He stated:
"I don't think the world's ready for a truly live expedition so I've learned from that... If I lose contact again with the team, we have to keep it within the team because I do know that that hit alarms and a lot of people were stressed and panicked. So it's important to make this as live as possible, but moving forward, it can't be that live anymore."His social media following, particularly on TikTok, surged following the expedition, though Dykes noted the paradox of audience expectations.
"Everyone wanted that excitement, that danger, but if something was to happen, I'd be criticised: 'this is dangerous'. Now that I've made it unscathed, everyone's like: 'It's easy, there were no crocs'. So there's no true winning when you go that viral."
What were the biggest physical challenges?
Dykes identified extreme heat as his primary concern rather than wildlife or disease.
"We took the warnings seriously. Experience means listening to local advice, reading the conditions and making the decisions that get your team through safely."The expedition's physical demands were substantial; Dykes lost 11 pounds during the journey, relying primarily on ration packs for sustenance. The combination of prolonged paddling, tropical conditions, and insect exposure tested the team's resilience throughout the 18-day crossing.
What was the expedition's cultural highlight?
The most meaningful moment came during time spent with the Baka tribe, a semi-nomadic indigenous ethnic group inhabiting the region. Dykes described their impact:
"They were amazing, they took us under their wings, they showed us how they survive, how they hunt, how they gather."The Baka demonstrated their hunting techniques, employing nets set throughout the jungle to trap animals. The community also guided Dykes to Sanga National Park, where he encountered a silverback gorilla at approximately five metres distance.
"They took us to an area where we saw a group of gorillas within Sanga National Park. I was about five metres away from silverback."Reflecting on the shared experience, Dykes said:
"It felt like the world was on the river with us."
In a social media post marking the expedition's completion, Dykes wrote:
"It's been a lot. We've faced ups and downs - seen some crazy wildlife, but more importantly we've survived."
What comes next in Project 6?
Dykes indicated that the second stage of Project 6 would be revealed the following week, hinting at a dramatically different environment. He described the next location as reaching temperatures around 5°F, suggesting a shift to an arctic or high-altitude setting far removed from the tropical Congo Basin. The remaining four expeditions will continue testing Dykes's endurance across varied and extreme terrain, maintaining the ambitious scope of his multi-stage challenge.
Key Facts:
- Dykes completed the Sangha River expedition in 18 days, covering nearly 800 kilometres from the Central African Republic into the Republic of the Congo
- The team lost satellite communication for approximately 20 hours when the portable power bank depleted beneath dense jungle canopy
- Crew members spent more than 15 hours daily in kayaks, navigating storms and insect-borne disease risks
- Project 6 comprises six consecutive expeditions in extreme environments, with the second stage planned for a location with temperatures around 5°F
- Dykes holds five world records and previously completed a 4,000-mile walk along China's Yangtze River and a 37-day kayak journey in Suriname
