Immersion in the Amazon: Axel Deambrosis' captivating expedition
Gear(s) used
“You have to be willing to get lost to discover the world.” This is the philosophy that guided Axel Deambrosis, explorer and JAWS ambassador, through one of the most intense adventures of his life: a total immersion in the heart of the Amazon. Armed with his packraft and minimalist equipment, he braved the rainforest, tamed untamed rivers, and encountered little-known cultures in a quest for authenticity and self-improvement.
A departure into the unknown
It all begins with a flight to Manaus, the bustling capital of the Brazilian Amazon. Far from the beaten track, Axel doesn't have a guidebook. His goal is simple: to navigate the forgotten tributaries of the Amazon River and immerse himself in the vast green of the rainforest.
“The forest reveals its secrets only to those who stop to listen to its whispers, feel its breath, and understand the wisdom hidden in every sound.”
The Jungle Challenge
One particularly memorable night, while bivouacking under a hammock suspended between two trees, a tropical storm hit the region. Torrential rains transformed the ground into a slippery swamp, and the sounds of the jungle (animal cries, cracking branches) mingled with the pounding water.
The Amazon is not just a forest. It’s a labyrinth of rivers, where the water becomes both your guide and your challenge.
These rivers are alive. They can be calm and welcoming at sunrise, then become raging torrents by the afternoon. Navigating them requires constant vigilance: floating tree trunks, unexpected rapids, and aquatic wildlife, always fascinating but sometimes threatening, such as caimans or piranhas.
Equipments