Young British explorer completes epic uncharted Amazon adventure 

British explorer Lucy Shepherd, 29, who was made a fellow at the Royal Geographical Society at 23 and the youngest ever member of the Scientific Exploration Society Council, has become the first ever person to trek east to west across the Kanukus, Guyana, one of the last remaining unexplored wildernesses on earth.

The expedition, endorsed by the Scientific Exploration Society, is considered to be one of the most remarkable journeys through jungle territory in recent years. Shepherd set out on the 24th September with a team of four indigenous brothers from local Amerindian tribes to conquer the epic 253 mile trek, following the Kanuku mountains east to west through dense Amazon jungle.

Beginning at the Essequibo River and finishing on the border of Brazil, Lucy and her team completed their incredible journey in 50 days, having crossed endless miles of unforgiving mountains as high as 1300 metres, hacked through dense jungle and navigated dangerous caiman infested rivers.

Along the arduous and uncharted route, the team spent 17 days at a time without seeing sunlight due to the density of the jungle’s canopy. They experienced unwelcome encounters with bushmaster snakes (South America’s largest venomous snake), were stalked by jaguars, chased by giant swarms of wasps, and forced to climb trees to escape 500-strong herds of aggressive ‘peccary’ (wild boar). And where the jungle’s wildlife didn’t defeat them, the unforgiving river tried its best; the team nearly lost their lifeline when they had to cling to their rucksacks as their raft capsized on the strong rapids of the Essequibo River.

Pioneer Shepherd said of the journey; ‘I’m exhausted but elated. It was a dangerous but unimaginably rewarding journey and to see what we’ve achieved together as a team is just incredible. The spirit of everyone involved, from my team to the local villagers and farmers who shared their produce, has kept me buoyant throughout the challenge. And to know I have witnessed the beauty of one of last remaining unexplored wildernesses on earth is the reward that will stay with me forever.’

The expedition has been done to celebrate and highlight the need for Protected Areas in wild places.

As diverse as it is dangerous, the Kanukus are known locally as The Mountains of Life, on account of the sheer diversity of flora and fauna in the mountains, which have been a protected wilderness since 2011. However, the area is facing growing pressures from unsustainable wildlife hunting and trapping, logging and mining, as well as land encroachment and forest clearing for agricultural expansion, which all threaten this unique ecosystem.

After weeks of foraging and fishing with a bow and arrow, eating sardines and local Maniok, Lucy’s first port of call when she gets home will be to replenish with fresh fruit and vegetables, before she begins planning her next extraordinary adventure. Lucy’s next unchartered expedition will see her explore the Arctic in early 2022, facing -40C temperatures and extreme weather conditions.

Lucy’s mission is rooted in sharing her love of the planet’s most extreme yet fragile wild places and encouraging others to not only take on their own pioneering challenges but also gain wider knowledge of our endangered lands.

Read more at https://www.lucy-shepherd.com/

Are you looking to advertise your holiday home? Renowned for our classified advertising, The Lady provides the perfect platform to promote your property. For more information, contact Andrea today: andrea.taylor@lady.co.uk