Living her big dream, and after two years of intensive planning and preparations to venture on an incredible and unprecedented journey, Sarah set off on her mission to paddle the Nile from Source to Sea.
The Paddle the Nile journey plan is to start at the Nile’s source in Rwanda through Tanzania and Uganda, paddling up north along the White Nile through Sudan and into Egypt where the River Nile meets up with the Mediterranean Sea; a distance of nearly seven thousand kilometres for a trip expecting to last around 6 months. Carrying various equipment, different types of crafts according to the ventured section of the Nile, required gear, food, medical supplies and water, Sarah and her team has set off in the mission. Through her journey Sarah has different groups of local paddlers and kayakers in the team.
I had the pleasure of meeting up with Sarah upon her arrival in Sudan after she accomplished the paddling phase through Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. The next phase of the plan is to travel along the White Nile in Sudan to Egypt and then onto the Mediterranean Sea. Sarah is such an amazing and inspiring figure, and with her project and risk management background, she has got the right recipe for success in her mission. Being a swimming instructor and a lifeguard herself, she was very interested in Nile Swimmers work and the programmes implemented by the organization.
From the start of her trip, Sarah was faced with challenges, including encountering angry hippos and crocodiles. Hippos, not being Sarah’s favourite animals proved her right when one of them punched a big hole in their raft early in their trip. Luckily and miraculously they managed to escape without harm and had the right fix for their raft. Sarah actually describes the most dangerous moments such as when at one point they couldn’t get off the river, and when facing fierce and hungry hippos as ‘amusement’ and ‘fun’!
Sarah was inspired by Winning Women and she now wants to do the expedition to inspire others and build a community of ‘Winning Women’. As Sarah quotes: ‘’ The idea is we encourage and inspire each other to dream big, get out of our comfort zone, go on adventures and see what we are capable of’’.
Sarah surely amazed and inspired me. Well done Sarah and we all wish you the best of luck in your mission and we look to hearing your adventures in Sudan and the remaining part of your trip.
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