Ash Dykes | The Terrifying Reality of His Congo Expedition
Performance People
32,706 views
700 kilometres through the Congo Basin. An inflatable kayak. And a firm instruction to be home for Halloween.
Adventurer and five-time world-first record holder Ash Dykes joins Georgie Ainslie to discuss the expedition launching Project Six: six missions across six extreme environments, with barely enough time between them to recover.
Having crossed Mongolia alone, hiked the length of Madagascar and spent nearly a year following China’s Yangtze River, Ash knows what it takes to keep moving when everything is telling you to stop. He also knows how quickly confidence can become complacency and why the jungle won’t give you much room for either.
Ahead of his Congo mission, Ash explains the planning behind the apparent madness, why an inflatable kayak makes more sense than it sounds, and the responsibility of taking a small team into unfamiliar territory. He also revisits his encounters with malaria and heatstroke, and the mental challenge of returning to environments that nearly killed him.
There’s ambition beyond the adventure, too. Frustrated with television, Ash is betting on himself and taking his expeditions directly to audiences through YouTube and social media.
A conversation about fear, leadership and wanting more from life, with a man who admits he’s scared of dying, but refuses to let that stop him living.
FAQs
Who is Ash Dykes?Ash Dykes is a Welsh adventurer, extreme athlete and five-time world-first record holder. His expeditions include crossing Mongolia solo and unsupported, hiking the length of Madagascar and walking the length of China’s Yangtze River.
What is Ash Dykes’ Congo expedition?In this conversation, Ash outlines his plan to travel approximately 700 kilometres along the Sangha River through the Congo Basin to its meeting with the Congo River. The expedition is the opening stage of Project Six.
What is Project Six?Project Six is Ash’s plan for six consecutive expeditions across different extreme environments, including jungle, desert, polar conditions and high-altitude mountains. He expects the programme to take roughly six to eight months, with around two weeks at home between missions.
Is Ash Dykes going to the Congo alone?No. Ash describes a three-person team: himself, a videographer and a local guide. He discusses the additional responsibility of looking after others while managing his own safety.
Why is Ash using an inflatable kayak?Ash explains that the kayaks are durable, repairable and portable. Being able to deflate them and carry them around obstacles allows the team to continue where a heavier boat could make progress difficult.
What does Ash consider the biggest risk?Ash identifies complacency and overconfidence as major dangers. He explains how exhaustion can cause people to let their guard down and overlook small details with serious consequences.
Why is Ash taking his expeditions to YouTube?Ash says frustration with television distribution and long production timelines prompted him to take more control. YouTube and social media allow him to share the journeys more directly and decide how and when his stories are told.
#AshDykes #PerformancePeople #GeorgieAinslie #CongoExpedition #ProjectSix #Adventure
The Performance People podcast, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Private Bank, talks to high-performers in the world of sport and beyond, to bring defining moments, hard-earned insights and expert advice to everyday performance. New episodes every Tuesday.
00:00 Preview: Into the Congo
02:11 Meet Ash Dykes: Five World Firsts
05:07 What Drives Someone to Live Like This?
09:16 Project Six: Betting on Himself
13:04 Congo Dangers and the Three-Man Team
18:26 The Mindset to Survive and Lead
26:25 Why the Congo and How Much Risk Is Too Much?
34:17 Love, Family and Coming Home Alive
38:06 Has Modern Life Become Too Comfortable?
41:58 An Inflatable Kayak in Crocodile Country
46:06 Surviving Malaria and Heatstroke
49:05 Fearing Death, Loving Life
_____
ainslie + ainslie NIGHT POWDER, winner of Best Sleep Supplement in the GQ Sleep Awards 2025.
We love performance, which is why we’ve launched ainslie + ainslie – the first supplement brand to be developed inside elite sport. Now available for everyone. Find out more at www.ainslieainslie.com
_____
Connect with Performance People
Hit subscribe today for the latest.
🎧 Spotify/Apple Music
http://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/
Instagram: performance.people
______
The views and opinions expressed on Performance People are those of the guests and hosts, and do not necessarily represent the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, or any affiliated organisations.
This podcast is produced by Gameface Limited and is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only.
© Gameface Limited 2026. All rights reserved.
2 Comments
Ash Dykes | The Terrifying Reality of His Congo Expedition
Performance People
32,706 views
700 kilometres through the Congo Basin. An inflatable kayak. And a firm instruction to be home for Halloween.
Adventurer and five-time world-first record holder Ash Dykes joins Georgie Ainslie to discuss the expedition launching Project Six: six missions across six extreme environments, with barely enough time between them to recover.
Having crossed Mongolia alone, hiked the length of Madagascar and spent nearly a year following China’s Yangtze River, Ash knows what it takes to keep moving when everything is telling you to stop. He also knows how quickly confidence can become complacency and why the jungle won’t give you much room for either.
Ahead of his Congo mission, Ash explains the planning behind the apparent madness, why an inflatable kayak makes more sense than it sounds, and the responsibility of taking a small team into unfamiliar territory. He also revisits his encounters with malaria and heatstroke, and the mental challenge of returning to environments that nearly killed him.
There’s ambition beyond the adventure, too. Frustrated with television, Ash is betting on himself and taking his expeditions directly to audiences through YouTube and social media.
A conversation about fear, leadership and wanting more from life, with a man who admits he’s scared of dying, but refuses to let that stop him living.
FAQs
Who is Ash Dykes?Ash Dykes is a Welsh adventurer, extreme athlete and five-time world-first record holder. His expeditions include crossing Mongolia solo and unsupported, hiking the length of Madagascar and walking the length of China’s Yangtze River.
What is Ash Dykes’ Congo expedition?In this conversation, Ash outlines his plan to travel approximately 700 kilometres along the Sangha River through the Congo Basin to its meeting with the Congo River. The expedition is the opening stage of Project Six.
What is Project Six?Project Six is Ash’s plan for six consecutive expeditions across different extreme environments, including jungle, desert, polar conditions and high-altitude mountains. He expects the programme to take roughly six to eight months, with around two weeks at home between missions.
Is Ash Dykes going to the Congo alone?No. Ash describes a three-person team: himself, a videographer and a local guide. He discusses the additional responsibility of looking after others while managing his own safety.
Why is Ash using an inflatable kayak?Ash explains that the kayaks are durable, repairable and portable. Being able to deflate them and carry them around obstacles allows the team to continue where a heavier boat could make progress difficult.
What does Ash consider the biggest risk?Ash identifies complacency and overconfidence as major dangers. He explains how exhaustion can cause people to let their guard down and overlook small details with serious consequences.
Why is Ash taking his expeditions to YouTube?Ash says frustration with television distribution and long production timelines prompted him to take more control. YouTube and social media allow him to share the journeys more directly and decide how and when his stories are told.
#AshDykes #PerformancePeople #GeorgieAinslie #CongoExpedition #ProjectSix #Adventure
The Performance People podcast, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Private Bank, talks to high-performers in the world of sport and beyond, to bring defining moments, hard-earned insights and expert advice to everyday performance. New episodes every Tuesday.
00:00 Preview: Into the Congo
02:11 Meet Ash Dykes: Five World Firsts
05:07 What Drives Someone to Live Like This?
09:16 Project Six: Betting on Himself
13:04 Congo Dangers and the Three-Man Team
18:26 The Mindset to Survive and Lead
26:25 Why the Congo and How Much Risk Is Too Much?
34:17 Love, Family and Coming Home Alive
38:06 Has Modern Life Become Too Comfortable?
41:58 An Inflatable Kayak in Crocodile Country
46:06 Surviving Malaria and Heatstroke
49:05 Fearing Death, Loving Life
_____
ainslie + ainslie NIGHT POWDER, winner of Best Sleep Supplement in the GQ Sleep Awards 2025.
We love performance, which is why we’ve launched ainslie + ainslie – the first supplement brand to be developed inside elite sport. Now available for everyone. Find out more at www.ainslieainslie.com
_____
Connect with Performance People
Hit subscribe today for the latest.
🎧 Spotify/Apple Music
http://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/
Instagram: performance.people
______
The views and opinions expressed on Performance People are those of the guests and hosts, and do not necessarily represent the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, or any affiliated organisations.
This podcast is produced by Gameface Limited and is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only.
© Gameface Limited 2026. All rights reserved.