Pip, Ness & Laura are already well known in the adventure world, but to hear that the three of them are teaming up for a world first is pretty special.
As we write, the trio are flying out to Guyana to paddle their way up the Essequibo river which flows north through forest and savanna into the Atlantic Ocean.
A significant portion of the upper river has never been travelled on, making it one of the last great exploratory wonders of the world and a genuine world record in the making.
Let’s take a look at their combined experience (and trust me when you see what these girls have done in the past, you will be amazed).
Laura has sailed the Atlantic, cycled unsupported across South America without spending money, travelled the world for four years and is MIRA (Medicine in Remote Areas) qualified.
Ness is first female to swim the River Thames from source to sea, and has cycled 2,000 miles solo across the Namib Desert. Oh and she has ran 15 marathons in 15 days.
Pip has cycled 10,000 miles from Kuala Lumpur to London and the Transamazonian highway, a 4000km journey. Her series ‘Transamazonica’ is due for release through Fox International later this year. More than this though, Pip is passionate about travel, exploration and increasing the profile of women in the adventure world.
The three of them have been training in the UK throughout the winter (and in all of its brutally cold weather these past few months) setting them up nicely for the challenge ahead.
Ness says: “Having previously paddle boarded over 1,000 miles down the Missouri River I have grown to understand how immersive and unique a perspective you can gain when travelling by river. You can quietly glide past native wildlife without disturbing their behaviour. Also uncovering the stories and lives of the local people is a huge motivation for embarking on this expedition.”
Ness cycled through Bolivia with Laura Bingham with no money, in doing so the pair have formed a strong bond and have learnt how to both push and support one another.
You can visit Ness’ personal website here.
Pip is passionate about travel, exploration and increasing the profile of women in the adventure world. Pip cycled 10,000 miles from KualaLumpur to London. Most recently, she cycled the Transamazonian highway, a 4000km journey through the Amazon. The series ‘Transamazonica’ is due for release through Fox International later this year.
“Having spent time in the Amazon documenting how deforestation impacts the indigenous tribes I know what a magical place the jungle is. For me, what appeals is going with the flow of the river, feeling the rhythms of nature, the physical challenge, learning new skills and overcoming the ‘Oh God, can I do this?’. Human willpower is a phenomenal thing, and I can’t think of anyone better to take this on with than Laura and Ness.”
Pip has produced political and travel multimedia stories for The Telegraph, Forbes, the BBC, & CNN amongst others.
You can visit her personal website here.
Supported by the Transglobe Expedition Trust the trio will be photographing and videoing their journey from start to finish using cutting-edge Canon cameras and lenses. They will also be looking closely at the wildlife they encounter en route from the wide range of bird species to the potential 300+ fish varieties known in the river, while keeping a keen eye out for caimans and anacondas.
During the expedition they will be keeping as light a footprint as possible as sustainability is something which all of the team find hugely important. By using special expedition rations from Firepot©, 100% natural nutritional supplements from Nuzest© to keep them in peak health, as well as reusable Mooncup© menstrual cups, they will ensure they travel as light as possible without leaving any trace of their presence behind.
Good luck ladies and we look forward to following your progress.
Photos by Ian Finch
