On 21 February two Australians, Nathan Welch and Mark Kalch became the fourth team to raft the 6400 kilometres down the Amazon River.
In between starting their adventure at high altitude in the Peruvian Alps and finishing at the Atlantic Ocean on the Brazilian coastline, they had some amazing experiences: from serious altitude sickness whilst trekking at over 5000 metres, to snowstorms, dangerous white water and some of the most powerful tidal surges known to man. At one point they almost lost their raft to the river after they were separated from it in white water, the raft eventually becoming snagged on rocks three kilometres downstream.
That wasn’t the end of their problems though; the raft got caught in the middle of the river with dangerously powerful currents either side. After a night spent in a cave separated from all their possessions, they were eventually able to cross at great risk to themselves, free the raft and continue their journey. Along the way they lost various members of their party due to ill health, finally finishing their epic journey after 153 days of paddling.
To find out more about their adventure or to read their gripping blog, visit Expedition Amazonas.