Expedition co-founder Ian Bannister has launched an exciting new webiste, specifically designed to link up travel partners. It can be difficult to find someone to travel with and even harder if you have more adventurous plans. This is the first site that helps singles find people who also want to trek through the Andes, go horseback riding through surf, or stalk elephant deep in the African bush. Mango Tree offers adventure inspired by its members and the opportunity to tailor not only their trip but also whom they explore far flung corners of the earth with.
Start your adventure today find travel companions

This wonderful depiction of the expedition team was sent in by Pamela Stevenson and drawn by Neil an Ambulance Paramedic and part time cartoonist. Neil has also drawn cartoons of the seven marathons run in seven days on seven continents by Sir Ranulph and Mike Stroud.
Many thanks to Pamela for coming up with the idea of the cartoon and to Neil for the fantastic drawing. You obviously have a great talent for drawing but your day job is obviously too important to give up though!
The Team

On the 7th of January 2006 a five-page spread will be printed in the Telegraph (UK). The article is a must read as it features a day by day account of the intimate moments as seen through the eyes of writer Richard Grant (pictured right). The intrepid reporter slotted so well into the team we often forgot why he was with us. None of the team has managed to preview the article and consequently are waiting in nervous anticipation of just how much of the inside scoop will make it to print!

A link to the online article will be posted here soon.

Special thanks to Richard for joining us on the trip, for documenting this achievement and for bringing his own special brand of humour to the camp fire.

The Team

The expedition went off without a hitch. Safety was paramount and we are happy to report that despite some close encounters with Hippo and Elephant there were no mishaps. The scenery, people and wildlife varied greatly on our 180km trip but all were awe inspiring. As a team the expedition members could not have gelled together better with nightly racus laughter around the campfire. A big thank you to all the team especially Sir Ranulph and Lady Fiennes who made the long trip from the UK and to expedition founder Simon Wild (pictured here paddling hard !) of Siankaba who’s tireless efforts ensured the flawless execution of this experience, the memories of which will last a lifetime.

You can read our daily diary of the expedition below, however watch out for the final expedition report (and new photos) soon to be posted on the website. In addition keep your eyes open for newspaper and magazine articles which will be posted in the UK (in January 06) and possibly South Africa and America.

Expedition Artist, Guy Hammond has had the unique opportunity to provide an added expedition tribute to the great Thomas Baines who was employed by Livingstone as the official artist and recorder of his treks, and whose originals are displayed at the National Archives in Harare. Baines was the first European ever to record the Victoria Falls on canvas. Guys paintings of the Zambezi, captured a few months ago on the rekkie, was displayed at the closing ceremony. More work of the expedition will be on sale in the near future.

Some of Guys work can viewed in the gallery or on his website http://www.guyhammond.com or contact him via email on

It has proven difficult to obtain detailed maps for this remote, uncharted section of the Zambezi, however in this hi-tech era, we’ve been able to obtain stunning satellite imagery of the entire expedition route.

To view these images in detail, click on expedition map page.