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Three Men in a Raft: an Improbable Journey Down the Amazon
When Ben Kozel casually accepted a friend's invitation to raft down the Amazon he was setting out on the adventure of a lifetime. It was a journey that would take him from the ultimate source of the Amazon high in the Andes to its mouth on the Atlantic coast of South America - a distance of over 7000 kilometres along the length of the world's wildest river. The journey from source to sea had only ever been completed by two expeditions, both of them assisted by first-class training, state-of-the-art equipment and major budgets. Ben, the Australian on the team, Colin Angus from Canada and Scott Borthwick from South Africa - all in their mid-twenties - were attempting the epic journey with fifteen thousand Australian dollars between them, some second-hand camping gear, a grand total of five afternoons' training in whitewater rafting and a large dose of blind optimism. Five months later they arrived at the Atlantic Ocean, having survived some of the planet's most dangerous whitewater, wild storms, disgusting tropical diseases, several hundred species of venomous insects and reptiles, not to mention being pursued and shot at by guerrillas from Peru's murderous Shining Path rebel movement and mistaken by paramilitary police for drug smugglers. Three Men in a Raft is the account of their extraordinary journey. It's both a travel book and an adventure story, laced with humour, danger and vivid description - unlikely, endearing and enthralling.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 9, 2024
The titular three men in question are the author, Ben Kozel, an Australian; Colin Angus, a Canadian and Scott Borthwick from South Africa. While Kozel and Angus knew each other fairly well, for Kozel the South Africa was an unknown quantity, although he was a friend of the Canadian. All three men were in their young twenties, and would likely consider themselves thrill seekers. They came across as trying to be risk averse, but I don't really think they pulled that off - there were some genuine risks taken here!
It is am ambitious undertaking, rafting down the Amazon. A journey from source to to mouth: over 7000 kilometres; a journey of five months. Their relatively meagre budget and an inability to convince anyone to sponsor them meant even further challenges with the equipment they could afford. A state of the art raft was their key purchase, given the massive challenge the white water would be, but much of their other equipment was budget or second hand.
Travelling light was also a major factor, especially once clear of the white water, when rowing a raft not designed to be propelled in this fashion, as any unnecessary weight would be burden.
To commence their journey from the source it meant climbing into the Peruvian Andes near the Pacific Ocean. There was some debate as to which source was the most distant from the Atlantic Ocean. To think of the Amazon as a single river is so far from the mark. There are so many feeder rivers, branches and name changes it is a massive challenge to even keep track of it. The river they were on changed its name very often, and at times I resorted to Google Maps to try to figure it all out - without success if I am honest. The map in the book it pretty good, providing lots of town names on the route to allow tracking, even if not the waterways themselves.
Mt Mismi was one of the two likely candidates for source, and Kozel visited the summit while the other two were laid low with illness. However they covered their bases, the other pair visiting Mt Quehishua the following day. From there they hike on downriver as far as Pilpinto, the starting point for the rafting. This was challenging hike for the men, although they were not carrying all of their equipment, just what they needed for the hike.
Thankful to reach Pilpinto, they returned to Lima by bus to collect their raft and other equipment, then set off on the white water. Given their very brief training in white water, and no time with all three in the same raft before, there was a steep learning curve. They met with incidents and challenges and not all went well. The white water on the Apurimac river was well up to the challenge of these three men, two of whom you would describe as rookies; Angus having been a rafting guide.
There is no doubt the white water was exciting, and Kozel does well to keep the pace of the writing up, while blending in the forming of the relationships, building a routine, dealing with complex rapids and laborious portages when rapids were too great a risk.
Once the white water is dealt with, they are pushed by the challenge of getting the raft to the Atlantic. Just beyond the town of San Franciso they convert the raft to a rowboat by erecting a balsa frame allowing redistribution of equipment and a primitive form of rowlocks, converting paddles to oars. Simply drifting down what had become a massive river (and only getting bigger) was not an option as it would be taking far, far too long.
Again Kozel does a pretty good job of keeping the writing interesting through the balance of the journey. Spread through the the book is some light history - nothing heavy, just background. There are plenty of interactions and events to keep the chapters punctuated with activity. Encounters with the Shining Path, and other rogues; night navigation with the large and fast ships transporting up and down river; the army and militias; and then the commencement of their 24 hour rowing programme. Plenty of risks needed assessing through this section - whether they did a good job, or just got away with it is left to the reader.
There can be little doubt they were brave and ambitious, and balanced with that is some risk taking. The reader is left to wonder whether these men would have undertaken this journey if they knew of some of the hardships they endured on this adventure. Kozel says no, but perhaps they would have, as Kozel and Angus team up again for another river journey in Russia shortly after - but that is another book (which I own).
For me, 3.5 stars, rounded down.
It is am ambitious undertaking, rafting down the Amazon. A journey from source to to mouth: over 7000 kilometres; a journey of five months. Their relatively meagre budget and an inability to convince anyone to sponsor them meant even further challenges with the equipment they could afford. A state of the art raft was their key purchase, given the massive challenge the white water would be, but much of their other equipment was budget or second hand.
Travelling light was also a major factor, especially once clear of the white water, when rowing a raft not designed to be propelled in this fashion, as any unnecessary weight would be burden.
To commence their journey from the source it meant climbing into the Peruvian Andes near the Pacific Ocean. There was some debate as to which source was the most distant from the Atlantic Ocean. To think of the Amazon as a single river is so far from the mark. There are so many feeder rivers, branches and name changes it is a massive challenge to even keep track of it. The river they were on changed its name very often, and at times I resorted to Google Maps to try to figure it all out - without success if I am honest. The map in the book it pretty good, providing lots of town names on the route to allow tracking, even if not the waterways themselves.
Mt Mismi was one of the two likely candidates for source, and Kozel visited the summit while the other two were laid low with illness. However they covered their bases, the other pair visiting Mt Quehishua the following day. From there they hike on downriver as far as Pilpinto, the starting point for the rafting. This was challenging hike for the men, although they were not carrying all of their equipment, just what they needed for the hike.
Thankful to reach Pilpinto, they returned to Lima by bus to collect their raft and other equipment, then set off on the white water. Given their very brief training in white water, and no time with all three in the same raft before, there was a steep learning curve. They met with incidents and challenges and not all went well. The white water on the Apurimac river was well up to the challenge of these three men, two of whom you would describe as rookies; Angus having been a rafting guide.
There is no doubt the white water was exciting, and Kozel does well to keep the pace of the writing up, while blending in the forming of the relationships, building a routine, dealing with complex rapids and laborious portages when rapids were too great a risk.
Once the white water is dealt with, they are pushed by the challenge of getting the raft to the Atlantic. Just beyond the town of San Franciso they convert the raft to a rowboat by erecting a balsa frame allowing redistribution of equipment and a primitive form of rowlocks, converting paddles to oars. Simply drifting down what had become a massive river (and only getting bigger) was not an option as it would be taking far, far too long.
Again Kozel does a pretty good job of keeping the writing interesting through the balance of the journey. Spread through the the book is some light history - nothing heavy, just background. There are plenty of interactions and events to keep the chapters punctuated with activity. Encounters with the Shining Path, and other rogues; night navigation with the large and fast ships transporting up and down river; the army and militias; and then the commencement of their 24 hour rowing programme. Plenty of risks needed assessing through this section - whether they did a good job, or just got away with it is left to the reader.
There can be little doubt they were brave and ambitious, and balanced with that is some risk taking. The reader is left to wonder whether these men would have undertaken this journey if they knew of some of the hardships they endured on this adventure. Kozel says no, but perhaps they would have, as Kozel and Angus team up again for another river journey in Russia shortly after - but that is another book (which I own).
For me, 3.5 stars, rounded down.
November 11, 2018
I very much enjoyed this book. Three men, all in their 20s, from 3 different countries, decide to raft down the Amazon, from its source high in the Andes, to its mouth on the Atlantic coast of South America. This was no high finance trip backed by wealthy sponsors. These guys had no sponsors, used second-hand camping gear, had very little money, and not a lot of experience. They had guts ... and a desire to LIVE life, rather than just watch it slowly seep through their fingers. They were Ben Kozel from Australia (the author), Colin Angus from Canada, and Scott Borthwick from South Africa.
3 Stars = I liked the book. I'm glad I read it.
3 Stars = I liked the book. I'm glad I read it.
January 3, 2023
Inspiring stuff! Well written and insightful to life on the river and through remote regions. Travelling back then seemed way more fun!
July 6, 2017
A starkly non-spiritual book in the midst of the spiritual reading binge I was going through at the time. It is what it is; it’s a pretty cool adventure story that’s well written and not really groundbreaking in any way. If you’re into the adventures I’d recommend it; these kids did this one quite well.
May 15, 2021
3 very ordinary guys attempt something that they really had no prior knowledge of. Yet they held up to the ordeals that were dealt to them in a very remarkable fashion. Ben asked himself at the end "what have I learned?" Only to realise that he had always had the required skills inside of him. Very interesting book
January 6, 2018
For those who love a story of the journey and challenge of people sharing hardships. Read this about every two years to revitalise my sense of adventure.
August 23, 2020
Read this many years ago. Enjoyed it.
January 1, 2025
Great, easy, interesting read
July 1, 2025
What an awesome adventure these guys went on. Very entertaining read!
November 22, 2012
I bought this book as I have always wanted to see the Amazon some day. So I read it with great interest and wasn't disappointed. The writing style is direct and honest. I suppose one of the disadvantages of a trip where you float down a great river is that you are always on the move and perhaps don't get to discover as much about the landscape and people as you would if you stayed in one place for a long time. So it is a book of glimpses into the lives of the people who live beside the Amazon and of the great rainforests without imparting an in-depth account of them. Personally, being on a tiny raft for months on end with 2 other guys would drive me CRAZY - and Kozel is quite candid about the tensions that developed and how the travellers coped with them (although I suspect there is more to tell). There are funny stories too about travelling in South America: the hygiene horrors of Belen markets in Iquitos and the man who wanted the lads to make love to his wife (while he watched). An enjoyable read and highly recommended for Amazon bound travellers.
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September 7, 2015Ben Kozal, an Australian, with two friends, one from Canada and one from South Africa, decide to navigate the Amazon River from its source to its outlet to the Atlantic Ocean. The trip is fraught with difficulties. In the high Andes they are very close to succumbing to a lack of water. They lose their maps (which they find out are about 50 years out of date)in the river. In a rubber raft, they deal with rough rapids and lose most of their supplies. Some of the locals that they meet up with are helpful and many see them as an opportunity to make some money from these "wealthy" tourists. They complete the journey and live to tell the tale!
August 7, 2016
One hell of an adventure by Colin Angus of Canada, Ben Kozel, Australian, and Scott Borthwick, South African who paddled a rubber raft down the complete length of the Amazon River - from the start in the mountains of Peru to the Atlantic Ocean. A they said at the end, "would we have done it knowing what we know now?" and the answer was "no!" I would FULLY agree, adventurous as I am. The rapids of the upper tributaries would scare the hell out of me, but what would really cap it off were the gun toting rebels along the river in Peru. No thanks! They were extremely lucky to survive the trip. A great read.
August 6, 2015
If you are the adventure type person, that likes discovering new places and getting of the beaten track, then these 3 men will become your heroes and make you dream and think if you could push yourself through all that, as amazing as their narration is, Its a mad and insane trip from the birth of the amazon river until the end of it, crossing countries, facing dangerous animals, armed people, thirst and hunger.
January 26, 2008
Entertaining read. Actually quite exciting in the first half, but the storyline slows toward the middle of the book, making it a bit hard to get through. Crazy tale nonetheless...
March 5, 2010
A top notch real life adventure book. It would impossible today what these 3 guys did back in 1999.
March 7, 2011
Not a bad read. A pretty interesting story, though parts got a bit tedious. But overall a good adventure tale!
July 30, 2011
A fantastic adventure! Highly recommended. One of those books that is great as a gift for someone who you've got no idea what to buy for ^_^
August 2, 2011
Great account of three young blokes on a journey along the Amazon River from summit to the ocean. Very entertaining if you like road/boat trips and traveling to interesting countries.
January 12, 2013
Absolutely gripping and inspiring! This book got me hooked into adventure travel writing!
January 4, 2014
This was a great book about an amazing adventure down the Amazon. It was written in an engaging style that documented some really interesting and, at times, scary experiences.
July 24, 2013
I loved this book. Quite an incredible journey.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews