In May 2022 Oscar Scafidi and Ben Ziehm Stephen set out to complete the first ever source-to-sea expedition along Madagascar's longest river, the Mangoky. Paddling and carrying a collapsible Klepper kayak, they embarked on a journey of 750km, in support of two charities in Madagascar: the World Food Programme and Our Kids, Our Future Madagascar.
Over twenty-seven days the pair kayaked, hiked and waded towards the Mozambique Channel. Along the way they bumped into security forces, hunters, farmers and fishermen, as well as paddling past crocodiles and the odd shark. Things didn't always go smoothly. Last-minute route changes led to a brutal 200km+ trek over a parched mountain range, where they ran out of water (still carrying the 40kg kayak). They picked up nasty foot injuries and both became very sick later in the journey, with Ben contracting Bilharzia (Schistosomiasis).
Oscar and Ben's expedition has thus far raised over $5000 for their chosen charitable causes. The documentary film they made of the journey is being aired in film festivals worldwide. Their journey is currently under review as a world record. This is the story of how they did it.
THE AUTHOR WILL BE DONATING 25% OF THIS BOOK'S PROFITS TO OUR KIDS, OUR FUTURE MADAGASCAR, TO HELP EVERY CHILD IN MADAGASCAR ACCESS A GOOD EDUCATION
