World · Africa · 19 hrs ago
Ash Dykes reports a painful mystery insect sting on Congo Basin river trip
Welsh adventurer Ash Dykes says an unidentified insect stung him while he was travelling down the Sangha River in the Congo Basin.
He felt something moving under his shirt and described the sting as painful, but he does not know what caused it.
Dykes is attempting to kayak 434 miles from Nola in the Central African Republic to Mossaka in the Republic of Congo, with a local guide and a videographer.
The trip is the first of six adventures in his Project Six challenge, and he is making the journey in an inflatable kayak.
The river journey carries risks from wildlife and remote conditions, and Dykes has already faced travel setbacks, including problems with his luggage and visas.
He plans to start another adventure two weeks after finishing, in a place where temperatures are expected to be about 5°F.
Ash Dykes reported a painful sting from an unidentified insect while kayaking down the Sangha River in the Congo Basin.
He said he felt something moving under his shirt before trying to grab it.
Dykes said he did not know what stung him, but thought it might have been a bee or something similar.
He is attempting to kayak 434 miles down the river as the first expedition in his Project Six challenge.
The journey runs from Nola in the Central African Republic to Mossaka in the Republic of the Congo.
- Who
- Ash Dykes, an extreme adventurer.
- What
- He reported a painful sting from an unidentified insect while kayaking.
- When
- October 20, 2026.
- Where
- On the Sangha River in the Congo Basin.
- Why
- He is attempting the river journey as the first expedition in his Project Six challenge.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Dykes began his Sangha River expedition, according to Outside Magazine.
Outside Magazine published an assessment of the expedition and his inflatable kayak.
Dykes shared a video saying an unidentified insect had stung him.
- Adventurer
- Ash Dykes
- River route
- 434 miles down the Sangha River
- Starting point
- Nola, Central African Republic
- Destination
- Mossaka, Republic of the Congo
- Challenge
- First of six expeditions in Project Six
3 sources
What people are saying
Not entirely sure what got me, but it’s certainly made itself known
It was either a bee or something; I don’t know. Painful, though.
It’s the most robust, but it’s also easy to portage.