Few mysteries remain on Earth, but Gabon’s remote Ivindo River is one of them. Join the SEND crew on a daring 12-day expedition through untouched nature, conquering towering waterfalls and treacherous rapids in a story of friendship, teamwork, and passion. With breathtaking drone footage and unforgettable challenges, this journey redefines adventure. Gabon Uncharted: Sending Ivindo Falls is now streaming on Red Bull TV.
In 2024, the four elite whitewater kayakers Adrian Mattern, Bren Orton, Dane Jackson and Kalob Grady took on their greatest adventure to date in the jungle of Gabon: the first descent of the 145-kilometer-long Ivindo River in Gabon, West Africa. The twelve-day expedition took the SEND crew far away from civilisation through untouched nature and over challenging rapids and waterfalls up to 26 meters high. Through the use of camara drones, they were able to safely explore remote areas and river arms in search for spectacular rapids for the first time and while also capturing breathtaking images. The 44-minute documentary provides a deep insight into the world of the internationally top-tier kayak crew, whose passion for the sport, survival skills as well as one hundred percent trust and camaraderie on and of water made this extraordinary expedition possible. “Gabon Uncharted: Sending Ivindo Falls” is now available on Red Bull TV: www.redbull.com/int-en/films/gabon-uncharted
Originating in the northeast of Gabon near Makokou, the Ivindo River stretches for over 145 kilometers to the southwest, where it flows into the Ogooue River inland. As early as 2007, Olaf Obsommer, one of the most experienced filmmakers in kayaking, explored the Ivindo River for the first time. But during the first descent of Obsommer, numerous sections, such as Kongou, Mingouli, Kouata Mango and Tsengue Leledi, remained untouched due to a lack of overview and high risk. Inspired by the returned footage, German Adrian Mattern studied water levels, satellite images and internet videos for years, in order to realise his dream of a complete navigation of the river 17 years later. With Olaf as a mentor and a world-class crew including star kayaker Dane Jackson that is now able to tackle technically challenging whitewater spots and high waterfalls, this dream became a reality last January. Thanks to modern drone technology, the team was not only able to capture spectacular shots, but also to make critical decisions from a safe distance before navigating the riverin their kayaks. “Not only could we see all the danger and the places that we knew we didn´t want to go but it opened up the opportunity to scout and find channels we might not have been able to find if we didn´t have drones,” Dane Jackson stated.
Team Spirit and Trust – The true core of elite kayakers
Adrian Mattern, Dane Jackson, Bren Orton (†) and Kalob Grady – known in kayaking as the SEND Crew – are more than just world-class athletes; they are adventurers who have been exploring the world’s most remote waterways and redefining their sport for many years. “For me, Gabon is the combination of all the things it takes to make something like this possible: the whitewater experience, the crew that you can trust 100 percent and ultimately the technological progress. Only if these things align perfectly can you realise such an expedition,” explains Mattern. The journey through Gabon is characterised by intensive teamwork, in which quick decisions and blind trust are indispensable in order to safely master dangerous rapids and waterfalls.
An adventure in the heart of wild and untouched nature
The Ivindo River in Gabon is not only a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but also a true paradise full of fascinating biodiversity. The untouched nature of the 25,000-acre Impassa Reserve presents the SEND crew with exciting challenges every day. For twelve days and hours away from the nearest hospital, the athletes navigate their 49-kilogram kayaks through the wild landscape, complete with sufficient dry food, camera equipment and satellite phone, encountering elephants and snakes and constantly on the lookout for crocodiles, gorillas and hippos that roam along the branches of the river. In addition, insect plagues turn the nights into real tests even for the seasoned adventurers, while the total seclusion – no reception, no one far and wide – exudes a feeling of freedom and adventure. The journey shows the crew that nature is unpredictable – and that it is precisely this uncertainty that makes the adventure an unforgettable experience.
The 44-minute documentary “Gabon Uncharted: Sending Ivindo Fall” is now available HERE on Red Bull TV. Find more information on the expedition on RedBull.COM
