Kayaking Africa’s Great Rift: 780 km of Lake Tanganyika from Zambia to Burundi

South African paddler Alex O’Riordan has set out on a solo, unsupported expedition to kayak the full 780 km of Lake Tanganyika, from Zambia to Burundi. Starting in September 2025, he is carrying all his supplies and camping along the way, raising funds for the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and its work rescuing orphaned elephants. While still out on the water, we caught up with Alex O’Riordan to talk about his mission and the project driving it.

I’m about a quarter of the way into a solo, unsupported kayak journey down the full length of Lake Tanganyika. The plan is to paddle from Mpulungu in Zambia all the way north to Bujumbura in Burundi. Along the way I’m camping on remote beaches and in small villages nestled among the steep cliff faces that define much of the shoreline. The expedition is raising funds for the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, which rescues and rehabilitates orphaned elephants in Kenya.

So far the lake has given me everything: headwinds that feel endless, glassy stretches of calm, lively towns bursting with energy, and empty beaches where the only neighbours are hippos. I’ve seen wildlife along the banks, and I’ve had long, quiet hours far offshore, with nothing but water stretching to the horizon in every direction. The variety of moments — harsh, beautiful, and surreal — has already made the expedition life-changing.

Lake Tanganyika is vast — 700 km long, more than 1,400 m deep, and running through the heart of Africa’s Great Rift Valley. Its scale means real remoteness: long stretches of untouched shoreline, sudden storms, and days of isolation. For a solo paddler, that means battling strong katabatic winds, riding out waves that build without warning, and carrying every bit of food, gear, and power myself.

It’s also a place full of history. David Livingstone traced its shores during his journeys, and during World War I it even saw naval battles, a rare thing for an inland lake. Today, Jane Goodall’s chimpanzee research site at Gombe sits on its eastern bank, adding another layer of global importance. Tanganyika is at once a lifeline for millions, a stage for history, and one of the last great frontiers for paddlers.

This journey isn’t just about adventure, though. I’m using it to raise funds and awareness for the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, a Kenyan organisation that rescues and rehabilitates orphaned elephants, among other conservation efforts. More than 300 calves have been saved, with many now living back in the wild. By kayaking the length of Tanganyika, I want to draw attention to Africa’s wildlife and the broader conservation work that protects it. It’s a low-impact, non-intrusive adventure — just me and a kayak — showing that we can explore these wild places lightly while making a meaningful impact.

If you want to support me in this action, visit my Go Fund Me page.

As I continue north, I hope to inspire others to explore, protect, and connect with the wild places that make our world extraordinary.

About Me: I’m Alex O’Riordan, a management consultant based in Cape Town. I’ve spent three months solo trekking in the Himalayas, including climbing Ama Dablam, I’ve climbed Kilimanjaro, summited Mount Kenya and Meru, and spent many months travelling and working around East Africa. These experiences have given me a deep connection to Africa’s landscapes and a love for challenging solo adventures. Now I’m combining that passion for exploration with a cause I care about, using this expedition to support conservation in a way that leaves a light footprint.

Follow Alex on Instagram @alexintheberg to keep up with his journey.