Mike Horn is recognized worldwide as one of the greatest explorers of modern times. Whether descending the Amazon solo and unassisted, completing a circumnavigation of the globe following the equator without an engine, or facing the most extreme conditions at the poles, his exploits redefine the limits of human adventure. His list of achievements as a solo explorer is unprecedented, testifying to his unshakeable endurance, determination and passion for exploration.
Mike Horn was born on 16 July 1966 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The eldest of four siblings, he grew up alongside his two sisters and brother. His mother, Blanche, is an economics teacher, while his father, Michael, is a former professional rugby player and university lecturer. A true inspiration to Mike, he passed on his passion for sport and adventure at an early age.
From an early age, Mike felt more at home in nature than in a classroom. He favors learning through experience rather than theory, and develops a strong taste for action. With his competitive spirit, he excelled in a wide range of sports, from triathlon and cricket to tennis, golf and rugby, all of which he played at a high level.
In 1974, when he was just 8 years old, South Africa was condemned and expelled from the United Nations because of apartheid. The international sanctions prohibited South African athletes from competing on the world stage, shattering his dream of taking part in the Olympic Games.
At the age of 18, he did his military service in the South African army, where he spent two years. It was during this period that he learned of the death of his father, who died at the age of 42. On his return, he resumed his studies and obtained a degree in Human Movement Sciences at the University of Stellenbosch.
Mike Horn was born on 16 July 1966 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The eldest of four siblings, he grew up alongside his two sisters and brother. His mother, Blanche, is an economics teacher, while his father, Michael, is a former professional rugby player and university lecturer. A true inspiration to Mike, he passed on his passion for sport and adventure at an early age.
From an early age, Mike felt more at home in nature than in a classroom. He favors learning through experience rather than theory, and develops a strong taste for action. With his competitive spirit, he excelled in a wide range of sports, from triathlon and cricket to tennis, golf and rugby, all of which he played at a high level.
In 1974, when he was just 8 years old, South Africa was condemned and expelled from the United Nations because of apartheid. The international sanctions prohibited South African athletes from competing on the world stage, shattering his dream of taking part in the Olympic Games.
At the age of 18, he did his military service in the South African army, where he spent two years. It was during this period that he learned of the death of his father, who died at the age of 42. On his return, he resumed his studies and obtained a degree in Human Movement Sciences at the University of Stellenbosch.
In 1990, after a stint in his uncle’s import-export business – marked by a successful cabbage deal – Mike decided to make a fresh start. One day, at the airport, he buys a ticket for one of the few countries accessible to South Africans without a visa: Israel, the UK or Switzerland.
Chance led him to Switzerland, a country whose language and culture he knew nothing about. Arriving in Zurich, he hitchhiked west, passing through Martigny before landing by chance in Château-d’Œx. He found refuge in his driver’s youth hostel, where he worked in exchange for room and board.
At the same time, he immersed himself in the world of outdoor sports and soon became a ski instructor, then a rafting and canyoning guide. This proximity to nature and the adrenalin of extreme sports fueled his taste for adventure. In 1991, he took a new step by undertaking his first expedition, marking the true beginning of his adventurous life.
It was in Château-d’Œx that Mike Horn met Cathy, a New Zealand nurse who had been living in the region for a year. Their story began the same year, in 1990, in a village café, and the couple soon started a family. Annika was born in 1993, followed by Jessica in 1994.
A staunch supporter of Mike, Cathy became his right-hand woman, managing logistics and communications for his expeditions. In 2008, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. After a seven-year battle with the disease, she passed away on February 19, 2015, leaving a huge void in the lives of Mike, Annika and Jessica.
Despite this ordeal, life goes on for Mike and his daughters. In 2019, during a visit to Hong Kong, Mike finds love again when he meets Kathleen, with whom he now shares his life.
For her part, Annika has taken up the torch left by her mother and now coordinates her various projects, including expeditions. Jessica, meanwhile, has joined INOCEL, a company co-founded by Mike in 2021 to develop and produce hydrogen fuel cell systems.
In 1990, after a stint in his uncle’s import-export business – marked by a successful cabbage deal – Mike decided to make a fresh start. One day, at the airport, he buys a ticket for one of the few countries accessible to South Africans without a visa: Israel, the UK or Switzerland.
Chance led him to Switzerland, a country whose language and culture he knew nothing about. Arriving in Zurich, he hitchhiked west, passing through Martigny before landing by chance in Château-d’Œx. He found refuge in his driver’s youth hostel, where he worked in exchange for room and board.
At the same time, he immersed himself in the world of outdoor sports and soon became a ski instructor, then a rafting and canyoning guide. This proximity to nature and the adrenalin of extreme sports fueled his taste for adventure. In 1991, he took a new step by undertaking his first expedition, marking the true beginning of his adventurous life.
It was in Château-d’Œx that Mike Horn met Cathy, a New Zealand nurse who had been living in the region for a year. Their story began the same year, in 1990, in a village café, and the couple soon started a family. Annika was born in 1993, followed by Jessica in 1994.
A staunch supporter of Mike, Cathy became his right-hand woman, managing logistics and communications for his expeditions. In 2008, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. After a seven-year battle with the disease, she passed away on February 19, 2015, leaving a huge void in the lives of Mike, Annika and Jessica.
Despite this ordeal, life goes on for Mike and his daughters. In 2019, during a visit to Hong Kong, Mike finds love again when he meets Kathleen, with whom he now shares his life.
For her part, Annika has taken up the torch left by her mother and now coordinates her various projects, including expeditions. Jessica, meanwhile, has joined INOCEL, a company co-founded by Mike in 2021 to develop and produce hydrogen fuel cell systems.
PANGAEA X
Pangaea X is the educational and environmental program initiated by Mike to support young people aged 18 to 30 in the realization of innovative and sustainable projects in the service of the planet.
Organized over several editions, the program selects around ten teams motivated to transform their ideas into concrete, economically viable, high-impact solutions. For five months, participants benefit from structured support combining online and face-to-face sessions, expert advice and the support of a dedicated coach. The program culminates in a final pitch to a panel of judges, including Mike, and a public ceremony at which the best projects are honored.
HORN FOUNDATION
Horn Foundation‘s mission is to raise public awareness of current environmental and social issues. It carries out concrete projects to protect the planet and improve living conditions for its inhabitants, offering everyone the opportunity to become an agent of change.
The Foundation also enables philanthropists to support initiatives with a strong environmental and social impact, from field projects to educational programs.
INOCEL
In 2022, Mike co-founded INOCEL, an innovative company specializing in clean energy solutions. By developing compact, high-performance and safe hydrogen fuel cells, INOCEL offers a concrete alternative to internal combustion engines. The company is actively involved in the energy transition by marketing hydrogen-powered generators, thus contributing to an emission-free future and the decarbonization of the planet.
AYAQ
Mike recently joined forces with AYAQ to support the development of this French outdoor brand. Founded by enthusiasts and designed for explorers, AYAQ stands out for its high technical standards, its commitment to eco-design and its European roots.
The partnership was born of a meeting between Mike and Vincent Defrasne, Olympic biathlon champion and brand director. Beyond their friendship, it was the convergence of their values – excellence, sustainability, innovation – that motivated this collaboration. Together, they share a common vision: to design equipment that is both high-performance and responsible, adapted to the most extreme conditions.
PANGAEA X
Pangaea X is the educational and environmental program initiated by Mike to support young people aged 18 to 30 in the realization of innovative and sustainable projects in the service of the planet.
Organized over several editions, the program selects around ten teams motivated to transform their ideas into concrete, economically viable, high-impact solutions. For five months, participants benefit from structured support combining online and face-to-face sessions, expert advice and the support of a dedicated coach. The program culminates in a final pitch to a panel of judges, including Mike, and a public ceremony at which the best projects are honored.
HORN FOUNDATION
Horn Foundation‘s mission is to raise public awareness of current environmental and social issues. It carries out concrete projects to protect the planet and improve living conditions for its inhabitants, offering everyone the opportunity to become an agent of change.
The Foundation also enables philanthropists to support initiatives with a strong environmental and social impact, from field projects to educational programs.
INOCEL
In 2022, Mike co-founded INOCEL, an innovative company specializing in clean energy solutions. By developing compact, high-performance and safe hydrogen fuel cells, INOCEL offers a concrete alternative to internal combustion engines. The company is actively involved in the energy transition by marketing hydrogen-powered generators, thus contributing to an emission-free future and the decarbonization of the planet.
AYAQ
Mike recently joined forces with AYAQ to support the development of this French outdoor brand. Founded by enthusiasts and designed for explorers, AYAQ stands out for its high technical standards, its commitment to eco-design and its European roots.
The partnership was born of a meeting between Mike and Vincent Defrasne, Olympic biathlon champion and brand director. Beyond their friendship, it was the convergence of their values – excellence, sustainability, innovation – that motivated this collaboration. Together, they share a common vision: to design equipment that is both high-performance and responsible, adapted to the most extreme conditions.
THE ISLAND : SEULS AU MONDE (M6)
From 2015 to 2018, Mike played the role of survival expert on the show “The Island : seuls au monde”, broadcast on M6. The concept: plunge groups of volunteers into an extreme survival experience on a tropical island, without outside help, for a month. The show ran for three seasons, averaging 2.8 million viewers.
À L’ÉTAT SAUVAGE (M6)
Between 2016 and 2018, Mike also hosted “À l’état sauvage”, again on M6. Here, he took French celebrities – including M. Pokora, Laure Manaudou and Shy’m – on four-day expeditions into the heart of remote, wild territories. The program was hailed for its human and immersive dimension, reaching up to 3.6 million viewers.
CAP HORN (M6)
In 2018, M6 launched “Cap Horn”, a show in which Mike invited celebrities to join him on a portion of his “Pole2Pole” expedition. The aim: to let them experience the daily life of an explorer.
MIKE HORN : SURVIVRE À L’IMPOSSIBLE (RMC DÉCOUVERTE)
Finally, in 2021, Mike Horn returned to RMC Découverte with the documentary series “Mike Horn: Survivre à l’impossible”. Through this program, he wanted to showcase little-known places, raise awareness of nature conservation and inspired viewers to pursue their own dreams of adventure.
Cinema
ARKTOS : LE VOYAGE INTÉRIEUR DE MIKE HORN
“Arktos : Le voyage intérieur de Mike Horn” is a Swiss documentary film directed by Raphaël Blanc, released in 2005. It recounts Mike’s extraordinary expedition around the Arctic Circle, a 20,000-kilometer solo adventure without an engine. For 24 months, Mike traverses the icy landscapes of Northern Europe, Greenland, Canada, Alaska and Siberia. He progresses on foot, skis, canoe, sailboat or kite, pulling a sled weighing over 100 kg. The film offers an introspective look at this extreme experience, highlighting the mental resilience, solitude and physical challenges he faces on a daily basis in the Arctic immensity.
News
To keep abreast of Mike’s latest news, numerous resources are available online and relayed regularly, such as press articles, interviews and videos.
To make sure you don’t miss a thing, you can also follow Mike on social networks – Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube – where he regularly shares his expeditions, projects and news.
In addition, his monthly newsletter gives previews of major news concerning him and his family, as well as exclusive offers on his online store.
Cinema
ARKTOS : LE VOYAGE INTÉRIEUR DE MIKE HORN
“Arktos : Le voyage intérieur de Mike Horn” is a Swiss documentary film directed by Raphaël Blanc, released in 2005. It recounts Mike’s extraordinary expedition around the Arctic Circle, a 20,000-kilometer solo adventure without an engine. For 24 months, Mike traverses the icy landscapes of Northern Europe, Greenland, Canada, Alaska and Siberia. He progresses on foot, skis, canoe, sailboat or kite, pulling a sled weighing over 100 kg. The film offers an introspective look at this extreme experience, highlighting the mental resilience, solitude and physical challenges he faces on a daily basis in the Arctic immensity.
News
To keep abreast of Mike’s latest news, numerous resources are available online and relayed regularly, such as press articles, interviews and videos.
To make sure you don’t miss a thing, you can also follow Mike on social networks – Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube – where he regularly shares his expeditions, projects and news.
In addition, his monthly newsletter gives previews of major news concerning him and his family, as well as exclusive offers on his online store.