Mike Horn

Michael Horn (born 16 July 1966) is a South African-born Swiss professional explorer and adventurer.

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, he currently resides in Château d'Œx, Switzerland.

He studied Human Movement Science at Stellenbosch University in Western Cape, South Africa.

Horn is currently undertaking his latest expedition Pole2Pole, a two-year circumnavigation of the globe via the two poles.

In April 1997, Mike launched his first big expedition: the six-month solo traverse of the South American continent.

He left on foot from the Pacific Ocean and climbed to the source of the Amazon River high in the Peruvian Andes.

From here he descended the 7,000 km of the Amazon River on a hydrospeed, until he reached the Atlantic Ocean.

It took him six months, solo and without assistance.

Mike hunted, fished and survived off his environment.

His finish point was the Atlantic Ocean where he finally tasted saltwater.

In 1999, Mike set off on an 18-month voyage to circle the equator on foot and by sailing.

Mike Horn became famous in 2001 after completing a one-year, 6-month solo journey around the equator without any motorised transport.

In 2004 he completed a two-year, 3-month solo circumnavigation of the Arctic Circle, and in 2006, along with the Norwegian explorer Børge Ousland, became the first men to travel without a dog or motorised transport to the North Pole during winter, in permanent darkness.

Mike was born in Johannesburg, South Africa.

He spent most of his childhood outdoors climbing trees, cycling for miles and fishing with his three brothers and sisters.

Both his parents were university teachers, and his father was also a successful amateur rugby player.

Mike said that he learned to challenge himself from a young age, but it was the army that taught him about survival.

"I hate war but I think it prepared me for what I do today," he said, remembering his days in the military service when he was sent to Angola and first witnessed death.

"I was only an 18-year-old kid when I discovered one will do anything to stay alive".

He studied Human Movement Science at the University of Stellenbosch in Western Cape, South Africa.

Mike says he first felt the call of the wild at 24 years old.

He quit his comfortable sports science job, gave everything away and moved to Switzerland.

From there, he embarked on a series of adventures, including descending by delta plane from a 22,000-foot mountain and riverboarding the world's deepest canyon.

Mike was married to Cathy Horn.

During 2010 and 2011, he conducted motivational sessions for the Indian Cricket Team at the request of its coach, Gary Kirsten.

The team went on to win the 2011 Cricket World Cup for the second time after 28 years.

Members of the Indian Cricket Team acknowledged Horn's motivational work.

Horn then accompanied Kirsten and the South African cricket team, whom Kirsten then coached, on an expedition to the Alps in 2012, as a team-bonding exercise and part of their preparation for their Test series against the then No. 1 ranked team England.

They dominated England in the first test (of a 3-test series), a feat which England and world cricket had not seen in a decade.

Eventually, South Africa went on and won the series 2–0 with one test drawn.

With this victory, South Africa took the No. 1 test ranking from England, and currently holds the mace.

He was also hired by Kolkata Knight Riders team for IPL-7 and KKR won the first match with 41 Runs against Mumbai Indians and went on a 9 match unbeaten run eventually winning the IPL-7 Title.

The latest in line to benefit from Horn's expertise was the German football team.

The entire squad went on a sailing trip with Horn in June during their preparations for the World Cup and came out a rejuvenated side.

German captain Philipp Lahm was impressed, saying it was "incredible what the human body can achieve."

"We must be well prepared, and have to respect the opponent," said Lahm when asked what they had learned after Horn's presentation.

She died in February 2015 due to breast cancer.

He has two daughters, Jessica and Annika who work for him.

In April 2023, Mawela was bestowed with the prestigious Order of Ikhamanga from President Cyril Ramaphosa in the 2023 South African National Orders.

Horn uses his experiences to motivate sportsmen and other people involved in challenging work such as deep-sea drilling.