Expedition Amazonas

Team

Brought together by shared values, skills and ambition, the Expedition Amazonas has a multi-national team, with members hailing from Australia, South Africa and the UK.

Complimentary skills and experience forged on rivers and explorations around the globe combine to form an awesome team.

Mark Kalch:

Mark is an experienced professional explorer and guide who has paddled on and led expeditions throughout the islands of the Great Barrier Reef and on rivers in Australia and Africa, including the Mitta Mitta, Tully (Australia), Orange (South Africa) and most recently, the isolated Omo River in Ethiopia.

His extensive immersion in developing countries provides him with unmatched experience in rapidly changing environments and the harsh realities of life present there.

As a global adventurer and explorer, his aim is to walk alongside such luminaries as Thesiger, Burton, Park and Horn.

Nathan Welch:

Not satisfied with a ‘comfortable’ existence and a ‘life is for living’ attitude has seen Nathan eternally push his personal boundaries and seek adventure in life. Nathan is the driving force behind the expedition – a series of profound events nearly 5 years ago resulted in the spark that is now the Expedition Amazonas fire!

Many years working, along with expedition style travel in some of Africa’s harshest environments provides him with much knowledge and the mental fortitude for the huge challenge that awaits!

Nathan is an accomplished whitewater kayaker and river guide who has paddled extensively throughout Australia, South Africa, Namibia, and Uganda. Having spent time training with some of the most skilled river personalities both in Australia & South Africa has provided him with a solid grounding in river life and the ability to effectively negotiate the treacherous Apurimac headwaters and the mighty Amazon River herself!

“Life is about pursuing new adventures and being the best you can be – learning to be comfortable being uncomfortable is the only way to improve and grow!”

Philip Swart:

Philip is a South African paddler and paramedic who has worked and paddled throughout South Africa, Kenya, Namibia and Uganda. He is a professional expedition medic and is responsible for the ongoing health and safety of the team throughout the journey.

He brings to the expedition many years of river experience and a cool head in times of emergency. Philip lives to paddle and is a key inclusion in the team for both his skill set and unabashed excitement and enthusiasm.

Holly Tett:

Holly has worked for the British Foreign and Commonwealth office since 2002 as a political officer. She has worked on a range of key foreign policy issues including security and defence policy, climate change and sustainable development.

She has been an integral member of historic expeditions on the Blue Nile and Omo Rivers. As a keen mountaineer she has summited mountains in the Alps and in East Africa, including Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and Ras Dashen in Ethiopia.

Holly’s deep understanding of international politics and development is a vital addition to the expedition.

Adrian Ward:

Adrian is an expert outdoorsman and skier, with backcountry expeditions to Alaska, Japan, Europe and New Zealand already completed. He is also a professional action-sport documentary producer and editor with past clients including Schoffel and Black Diamond Safaris.

Adrian has been integral in designing the expedition logo and interim website, as well as editing photos, footage and other content. His input has made expedition preparation and completion an infinitely smoother process.