How Will Ash Dykes Survive the Congo River Basin?

Most guys test their limits with a mud run. Ash Dykes chose an inflatable kayak and one of the wildest waterways on the planet. The Welsh adventurer’s Congo River Basin expedition has millions following along online. Finishing will take routines he repeats every day.

What Exactly Is Ash Dykes Attempting?

The plan sounds simple. Dykes pushed off from the Central African town of Nola and is riding the Sangha downstream to Mossaka, the Congolese town where this tributary empties into the Congo River. It’s a stretch of 700-plus kilometers, or approximately 434 miles, that he aims to cover in 21 to 28 days. That pace demands roughly 15 to 21 miles of paddling daily.

What Will It Take to Finish a Congo River Basin Expedition?

Survival out here comes from routine, not bravado. These best practices could decide whether Ash Dykes finishes his Congo River Basin journey in one piece.

Treat Every Drop of Water

Drinking straight from the river is a gamble. Boiling remains one of the most reliable purification methods, with filters and tablets as lighter backups. Since tablets won’t remove debris, letting murky water settle first gives them a better shot at working.

Make Every Evening a Mosquito Drill

Malaria is a major threat, and antimalarials are the first line of defense. Because Anopheles mosquitoes bite mostly at night or in the evening, dusk is when his routine matters most. Treated clothing, repellent and a net turn sundown into a deliberate drill.

Choose Campsites With Care

Hippos and Nile crocodiles share the river, and hippos leave the water at sunset to graze, so the riverbank Dykes makes camp may be their territory. Camping well back from the water with a clear shoreline view buys time to spot trouble.

Keep an Exit Plan Ready

Much of the route winds through remote forest, so the nearest hospital can be a long way off. Visitors to the area are advised to carry insurance that covers medical evacuation before setting out.

Emergency tech earns its spot in the dry bag. Personal locator beacon activations helped rescue 70 people on land in 2025 alone. A clear rule for when to quit, set in advance, keeps ego out of the call.

Can Ash Dykes Make It to Mossaka?

Dykes brings experience, a capable team and a huge audience cheering him on. None of that treats water or keeps mosquitoes away at dusk, though. If he reaches Mossaka, the credit belongs to the unglamorous routines he repeats every day.

Oscar Collins

Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Modded

With almost 10 years of experience writing about cars, gear, the outdoors and more, Oscar Collins has covered a broad spectrum of topics during his time as a blogger and freelancer. Oscar currently serves as the editor-in-chief of Modded, which he founded to spread his love of cars with an international audience.

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