Every river has a rhythm. But on Indonesia’s Kampar River, that rhythm becomes a roar.

Twice each month, when ocean tides collide with river currents, something extraordinary happens: a tidal bore known locally as Bono Seven Ghosts charges upstream. It’s the world’s longest surfable wave, running more than 13 miles and carrying surfers for up to 90 minutes at a time.

Chasing the Bono, a Rivers are Life adventure film, dives into this phenomenon and the communities living alongside it. What could easily be seen as just a natural spectacle has become something deeper: a bridge between culture, sport, and stewardship.

For local villages, the Bono has long been woven into spiritual traditions and river lore. For surfers who travel from across the globe, it’s the ride of a lifetime, one that defies oceans and redefines what’s possible on a river. Together, these worlds collide on the Kampar, creating a vibrant space where people and water are inseparable.

But the film doesn’t just capture adrenaline. It asks a bigger question: what does it mean to truly live with a river? By highlighting how surfing has deepened community ties to the Kampar, Chasing the Bono shows that conservation isn’t just about science—it’s also about joy, respect, and the ways rivers shape our identities.

Whether you’re an adventurer chasing waves, a conservationist seeking connection, or someone curious about the wildest places on Earth, this story reminds us that rivers don’t just flow through landscapes, they flow through us.