Canoeing the Congo: The First Source-to-Sea Descent of the Congo River
By Phil Harwood
4.5/5
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About this ebook
At 2,922 miles, the Congo is the eighth longest river and the deepest in the world, with a flow rate second only to the Amazon. Ex-Marine Phil Harwood embarked on an epic solo journey from the river’s true source in the highlands of Zambia through war-torn Central Africa. With no outside help whatsoever he faced swamps, waterfalls, man-eating crocodiles, hippos, aggressive snakes and spiders’ webs the size of houses. He collapsed from malaria, and was arrested, intimidated and chased. On one stretch, known as ‘The Abattoir’ for its history of cannibalism and reputation for criminal activity, the four brothers he hired as bodyguards were asked by locals, ‘Why haven’t you cut his throat yet?’
But he also received tremendous hospitality from proud and brave people long forgotten by the Western world, especially friendly riverside fishermen who helped wherever they could on Phil’s exhilarating and terrifying five-month journey.
Phil Harwood
Phil Harwood has worked all over the world as a Royal Marine Commando, expedition leader and outdoor instructor. He is qualified as a mountain leader, canoe and kayak coach, rock-climbing instructor and wilderness emergency medical technician. For this journey he won a fellowship from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust. He's based in Essex www.caneoingthecongo.com
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Reviews for Canoeing the Congo
15 ratings2 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Harwood sets out to canoe the entire length of the Congo river, from the attributed source to the sea. It is an unbelievably tough journey, with 10 hours paddling in his canoe each and every day. The route is through one of the most desperate parts of the world, with the fall out from years of poverty and civil war.
He meets the entire spectrum of humanity along the way, from nasty pieces of work, real death threats, and people who could not be any friendlier and more generous, and who are embarrassed about their fellow countrymen's behaviour. Through all the trial he survives and learns as much about himself, as Africa.
A book that those who have read Blood River will like. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Recommend this for anyone with an interest in outdoor adventure in Africa, but not as an introduction. It could been a better book, given the material and journey. On the plus side I was able to follow the trip with Google Earth and could see the territory and rapids he went through which was very satisfying, even if Harwood doesn't describe them very much you can still view it yourself in detail. I now have a basic sense of the river I didn't have before. As well the people who live at subsistence levels. In a lawless land beset by war and poverty there is a desperation that creates a sort of common every day evil that wore Harwood down and I suspect hardened him from really being able to enjoy the trip. He even says at one point Congo would be a great place if not for the people (the bad ones). Nevertheless he says most were good people.
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