Age: 35

Hometown: Kočevje, Slovenia

Occupation: Biologist

Žiga Ogorelec grew up in Kočevje, the wildest part of Slovenia and the most bear-populated region in Europe. Born with a natural pull toward the outdoors, he pursued academics—earning a PhD in Germany and continuing research in Ljubljana—but his time in cities was always balanced by escapes into the forest, where he kept his deepest passion alive.

Since his teenage years, Žiga and his younger brother Miha have pushed themselves through extreme survival challenges: winter treks without food, knife-only excursions, and long solo expeditions. Together they launched a bushcraft and survival school in 2014, passing on the skills they’ve honed over years in the wild. Žiga’s longest solo test lasted 15 days, during which he hiked 270 kilometers without food. Altogether, he has spent more than 80 days living off the land, relying on foraging, fishing, and trapping for every meal.

Family fueled his love for the outdoors—childhood adventures with his parents and a lifelong partnership with his brother set the stage for the survivalist he is today. Now living a nomadic, academic lifestyle with his wife and young son Bor (whose name means “pine tree” in Slovenian), Žiga hopes to mark Bor’s second birthday while deep in the Arctic.

From the moment he discovered Alone, Žiga knew that he was made for this adventure. He views it as the ultimate test of his skills, as well as a chance to share the lifestyle and traditions passed down by his Central European ancestors. On this season of Alone, he’s ready to face international competition head-on, trusting that his grit, determination, and hard-earned skills will carry him deep into the Arctic challenge.