A world traveler before the age of 16, Mario Rigby was born in Turks & Caicos Islands and spent his childhood in Germany, before moving to Toronto, Canada.
Mario’s tremendous drive to push his limits in athletics landed him a spot on the national track and field team for Turks & Caicos Islands, which later inspired him to open a business in the fitness industry. However, over the years, Mario sought a more meaningful challenge that would allow him to better connect with the world around him. This was the catalyst for the Crossing Africa expedition.
In 2018, Mario completed his explorative journey across Africa, a two-year trek walking and kayaking from Cape Town, to Cairo. This expedition allowed him to connect and inspire the various communities while sharing his personal experiences to get out, be brave, and see the world.
Mario is an advocate for bridging gaps between humanity and exploration through sustainable forms of travel. In a world that is rapidly changing, Mario believes his life lessons are worth sharing, and encourages conversations that address global issues that affect us all.
Mario was Named Top 100 Most Influential People of African Descent by the United Nations, and has addressed Global audiences, including talks for TedX and Google Talks. In 2023, Mario Rigby was appointed as an Explorer in Residence by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. He is one of only seven Explorers to receive this accreditation, and is also the first Black Explorer to do so.
A world traveler before the age of 16, Mario Rigby was born in Turks & Caicos Islands and spent his childhood in Germany, before moving to Toronto, Canada.
Mario’s tremendous drive to push his limits in athletics landed him a spot on the national track and field team for Turks & Caicos Islands, which later inspired him to open a business in the fitness industry. However, over the years, Mario sought a more meaningful challenge that would allow him to better connect with the world around him. This was the catalyst for the Crossing Africa expedition.
In 2018, Mario completed his explorative journey across Africa, a two-year trek walking and kayaking from Cape Town, to Cairo. This expedition allowed him to connect and inspire the various communities while sharing his personal experiences to get out, be brave, and see the world.
Mario is an advocate for bridging gaps between humanity and exploration through sustainable forms of travel. In a world that is rapidly changing, Mario believes his life lessons are worth sharing, and encourages conversations that address global issues that affect us all.
Mario was Named Top 100 Most Influential People of African Descent by the United Nations, and has addressed Global audiences, including talks for TedX and Google Talks. In 2023, Mario Rigby was appointed as an Explorer in Residence by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. He is one of only seven Explorers to receive this accreditation, and is also the first Black Explorer to do so.