If you've been on TikTok in the last month, you might know about one man's mission to kayak through one of the most dangerous rainforests on the planet.
Extreme adventurer and influencer Ash Dykes is mere hours from starting his journey inside the Congo Basin, with millions of viewers around the globe watching with either fascination or major concern (or both).
Once he enters the Central African city of Nola, the Welshman will embark on a month-long, 434-mile journey down the Sangha River in an inflatable kayak. Yes, you read that right — an inflatable kayak.
Over the last few months, Dykes has been promoting the dangerous expedition on his social media accounts and has amassed over 3 million TikTok followers.
Dykes is a five-time world-record holder,
with his previous expeditions including trekking solo and unsupported across Mongolia, traversing the length of Madagascar and becoming the first person to walk the entire length of China's Yangtze River, according to Yahoo Creators.
This is just the first of six expeditions he plans to do as part of his new “Project Six” adventure. According to People Magazine, he is joined by a local guide and a fellow U.K.-based videographer.
What is the Congo River Basin? Where is it?
The Congo Basin is home to the world’s second-largest tropical forest after the Amazon, according to the World Wildlife Fund. Bigger than Alaska, its forests span around 500 million acres and cover six countries: Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Republic of Congo (RoC), Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon.
"Accounting for over 70% of Africa’s tropical forests, the region is a hot spot for biodiversity, including the critically endangered forest elephant and the largest number and diversity of great ape species," the WWF writes.
Britannica also notes the Congo Basin, located in west-central Africa, is the drainage area for the Congo River. It is the world's second-largest river basin.
Where is Ash Dykes now?
According to his latest TikTok post, Dykes and his team had left Cameroon's capital, Yaoundé, for Nola, the starting point of their journey. He noted they spent hours on harsh road conditions and dealt with "unpredictable checkpoints."
As of 1 p.m., he has not said if he has reached Nola yet.
Is Ash Dykes actually kayaking in the Congo River Basin?
Yes. Specifically, he will kayak along the Sangha River, a tributary of the Congo River in Central Africa.
Is the Congo Basin dangerous?
A decent chunk of Dykes' videos promoting the expedition feature clips of dangerous wildlife and conditions set to unsettling music. But is the Congo Basin really that risky?
Yes. According to Discover Magazine, the Congo Basin poses significant dangers due to harsh terrain, aggressive wildlife, and severe health risks. Some of the animals that call the basin home are hippos, Nile crocodiles, gorillas and venomous snakes.
Mosquitoes also pose a threat, as they can transmit malaria in the Republic of Congo. And to top it off, there are also concerns about parasites in contaminated freshwater. Discover writes that these parasites can cause an infection called schistosomiasis, and that "even stopping to wash or cool off can mean exposure."
The Congo Basin is also very dense and thick, making it very hard to navigate if Dykes has to hike inside a kayak in some areas. If he or another team member gets injured, emergency medical care is extremely difficult or impossible to reach in remote parts of the basin.
What is Ash Dykes' next adventure?
According to People Magazine, he has not yet revealed his next expedition, only sharing that he will have two weeks to rest and prepare once he finishes his Congo Basin journey. He teased that the next adventure will be in a location with temperatures of about 5°F.
Where can I watch Ash Dykes' Congo Basin adventure?
Viewers can tune into his social media accounts, such as TikTokand Instagram, to follow his journey through the Congo Basin.
Samantha Neely is a trending reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering pop culture, theme parks, breaking news and more. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Who is the 'Congo River Basin' guy on TikTok? Is he there yet?
