First (known) man to walk down the Amazon

From source to sea

Update: Since we posted this, Ed has been voted the National Geographic Adventurer of the Year.

Congratulations to Ed Stafford who just finished his epic 2-year walk down the Amazon River. Which Sir Ranulph Fiennes says is “in the top league of expeditions past and present.” I don’t mean to diminish his trip by saying he is the first KNOWN man to walk down the Amazon, but it just seems a little more respectful to all the prehistoric people who must have explored this region. I wonder if they thought of it as an adventure. Probably Ed is the only one to have ever walked the full length.

More about Stafford’s walk down the Amazon

Ed Stafford is an English explorer and survivalist who is the first person known to have walked the entire length of the Amazon River, a distance of over 4,000 miles. He began his journey from the headwaters of the Amazon in Peru and reached the Atlantic Ocean 860 days later. His journey also raised awareness about the importance of the Amazon rainforest and its preservation.

Stafford’s expedition was self-funded, and he relied on his own skills and knowledge to survive in the rainforest. He faced many challenges along the way, including:

• Dangerous wildlife: The Amazon rainforest is home to a variety of dangerous animals, including snakes, spiders, jaguars, and piranhas.
• Disease: The Amazon rainforest is also home to a variety of diseases, such as malaria and yellow fever. Stafford had to take precautions to avoid getting sick.
• Extreme weather: The Amazon rainforest experiences extreme weather, including hot temperatures, high humidity, and heavy rains.
• Food shortages: The Amazon rainforest is not a hospitable place to grow food. Stafford had to learn how to find and gather food in the rainforest.
• Loneliness: Stafford was often alone during his journey. He had to learn how to cope with the loneliness and isolation.

Stafford’s feat is considered one of the greatest endurance feats of all time. It is a testament to his strength, determination, and skills as an explorer and survivalist.