Where are you from?

Maé is from France. Oré born in Switzerland and is half spanish (mum) and half french (dad)

When did you start your interest in exploration?

We started our exploration when we bought our Defender on November, 1st 2020. Then, we left France to explore Africa in January 2022.

What is a brief understanding of your background story up until you started seeking adventure?

Maé used to be an architect in Paris and when we met, she left Paris to join Oré in Geneva. Oré used to work on private jets at Geneva Airport as an aircraft engineer.

What special skills do you have to help with your explorations?

Oré has very good mechanical skills and Maé is the photographer and itinerary planner. 

Where have you explored so far?

Since January 2022 we're roaming in Africa. We drove from France to South Africa through the African West Coast (20 countries). Then, we'll head up to Kenya but we keep this detail secret for now as we did not talk about it to our community.

What are the top three destinations you hope to explore next, and why?

What a VERY difficult question ... but if we have to choose let's say :

1. Angola for its insane landscapes - paradise for overlanders
2. Mauritania for the Sahara desert
3. Gabon for its amazing secret wildlife

Where would you recommend others visit?

It depends on your interests but if you want 

- to discover Vaudou Culture, we recommend to visit Benin

- to experience amazing safaris, we recommend Botswana

How do you primarily travel on your adventures today?

We travel with a Land Rover Defender 110 from 1998 which we transformed into a real Camper / home on wheels. We have a roof conversion, hand-made furniture, a shower cube and an awning for shade.

What are five pieces of equipment that you always travel with?

Camera, binocular, filter water jerrycan, portable vacuum cleaner and headlamp.

What inspires you to explore more?

This amazing feeling of freedom ! The more we explore, the more we feel free !

How do you engage with others?

We daily share our expedition on our Instagram and facebook accounts (travelburners). We do also have a website (www.travelburners.com) but it is currently under construction.

Why is it important to embrace global cultures?

According to us this is the best way to understand Humanity. It is by learning from other cultures that we enrich ourselves.

What are your goals when you explore?

To follow a path without knowing where we are going and discover an amazing remote place ! This is the best feeling ever !

What are some challenges you have experienced?

Some memories are popping in our mind : 

> When we were driving in the Iona Desert in Angola and suddenly, our friends broke their clutch in the middle of nowhere !

> When we were driving in the Sahara Desert in Mauritania and when another couple of friends broke their gear box !

> When we left DRC to enter Angola - the exit of DRC was very tough ... our nationality and skin color was the main problem that day ...

What has been your most meaningful moment so far?

When we experienced the Afrikaburn (April 2024) in the Tankwa desert, South Africa

How has exploration changed you?

She made us grow. Above all, the most important thing for us is to be free and live 100% every day that is given to us. 

What is the number one lesson that you have learnt through your exploration?

We realize now the importance of the present moment as we never know what can happen the next day.

How do you explore locally?

As soon as we are with our Defender, we fill "home" :)

What does the explmore mantra mean to you?

Never stop exploring, learning, living, enjoying !

What advice would you give to others who are seeking life changing adventure?

Stop dreaming your life, start living your dream(s)