Responsible for the Alps Hub in the Chamonix Valley in France. Yves owns and runs Chalet ExplorAider and satellite accomodation

Born in 1961 in the Alps near the Mont Blanc Massif, Yves quickly developed a passion for mountains and skiing, becoming a high mountain guide in 1987. This career that he follows passionately has permitted him to live numerous adventures throughout the world and to develop other talents such as management training and the organisation of large-scale outdoor events for businesses.

Professional Experience

In 1990 after many years devoted to alpinism and skiing at the highest level, Yves was put in charge of organising a commercial expedition of Mount Everest. On the 4th October 1990, 2 months into the expedition, he successfully led the first autumn ascent to the summit alongside an american and canadian companions, thereby opening the route for his team to follow in the proceeding days. This opened up the opportunity for Yves to lead several expeditions and to forge a solid experience in organising and training groups around the world. On the 12 October 1994 with two clients and two sherpas Yves successfully completed his second 8000 metre summit Cho Oyu 8153 m.

Other Ascents:

• The Pyramid of Cartensz 5040 m in Irian Jaya (Nouvelle Guinée), highest point of Oceania.
• Aconcagua 6960 m (Argentina) 3 times by different routes.
• Ascent of Mac Kinley 6187 m in Alaska.
• Ascent of Ojos del Salado 6893 m, the highest volcano on the planet located in the Atacama desert in Chile.
• Ascent of Mount Kenya and of Kilimanjaro.
• Ascent of several volcanos in Ecuador (Cotopaxi, Chimborazo, etc..)
• Ascent and descent on skis of Elbrus (Caucase Mountains) 5642 m
• Numerous 6000 m summits in the Himalayas and South America.

Responsible for Eastern Cape Hub (South Africa), including managing the Leopard Mountain Ranch for ExplorAider

Harry spent most of his childhood exploring the intricacies of his natural world, through the eyes of his native teachers and friends in the outdoors. A desire to acquire the hidden secrets of the bush and the knowledge that native teachings brought, was deeply imbedded through his love for rural living and all living things. Becoming an officer in the National Defence Force saw Harry utilise every available course presented, as he hungered for outdoor experiences and the connection they brought. After following a planned career as a professional soldier for six years, it was while sitting under a tree in the bush that Harry realised his true calling. Nature had spoken so many times in his stilled heart that it was time to lay down the sword and take up the pen - so to speak. He started a long journey into the unknown world of Outdoor Education and piloted environmental education projects, acquired skills in adventure activity facilitation as a river/canyon/mountain guide excelling to SATOUR tourist guide working for high profile adventure companies nationally.

After years of emersion in frantic outdoor facilitation, Harry decided to get another perspective on his journey by exploring the Indian Ocean while skippering a Luxury Sailing Yacht around islands like the Seychelles, Comoros, Madagascar and the Maldives. Time to assess his approach to environmental awareness and facilitation ensured that he focussed his energy on valuable experiences in the wild by forging relationships with many national and international environmental institutions as a wilderness guide and outdoor experience provider. It was also during this time that Harry lost his heart to his lovely wife Saskia and they had Emily - Saviour of the universe. Shortly after that they established a secluded tented tipi camp focussing on wilderness awareness and environmental projects called TerraPi, on the borders of the world heritage site - Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve.

His range of skills include, sea/river/mountain guiding (SARA - South African Rivers Association, CTSM - Cape Town School of Mountaineering, WLS - Wilderness Leadership School, SATOUR - South African Tourism - Garden Route and Little Karoo). He is a specialist in bush and field craft, tracking, tourism/conservation initiatives, Environmental Education, New product Development (NPD) and many more. Not to mention that he's a great storyteller, a marvellous host and on the path of becoming a natural medicine man. His road has been a long one, filled with rich experiences freely shared and laughed about.

If ever there was someone to take personal care of you in the wild and isolated places of our natural world, you will find it even easier to explore the wilderness that lies within us all.

See you soon.
Harry Bateman

Responsible for South of France Hub

Raja was born in 1967 in the Middle East. He studied Agricultural Engineering at the St Joseph University in Beirut, but his love of the outdoors pulled him in a different direction. Raja went to France where he spent several years working in a paragliding school. Raja returned to the Middle East where in 1991 he established in Lebanon the first parapente school of the region.

In 1996 Raja introduced hot air baloon flights around Lebanon and the Middle East, allowing people to see the wonders of Petra and Wadi Ram in Jordan and the delights of Syria from the Air.

In 1998 Raja founded an eco-tourist company (L'Espirit d'Aventure) with his wife Nabile, a multi-lingual tourist guide, the company specialised in sport tourism around Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.

ExplorAider product researchers have spent many marvellous trips with Raja, including ski-touring in Lebanon and they were hooked by Raja's never stop smiling attitude and the authenticity and originality of his trips. After the fresh bout of instability in the middle east region in 2006, Raja agreed to bring his skills to ExplorAider.

Raja is responsible for our Land and Sea Adventure Safaris in Europe, a unique and original product combining sport tourism overland and sea by utilising a land-based mobile adventure unit and a 47 foot sailing catamaran moored in the South of France.

Nabine, Raja's wife, is working to ensure that this product is also rich in cultural interest and to provide the opportunities for cultural breather within the adventure safaris.

Responsible for Drakkensburg Hub (South Africa)

Cobus Theron started off his career as a wilderness guide in the Eastern Cape, canyoning , kayaking ,climbing and mountain biking. Through exploring rivers and remote mountanious areas he aquired an obsession with conserving these wild places. During the past decade Cobus has worked for a variety of conservation bodies in South Africa. He currently lives in the Southern Drakensberg in Kwa-Zulu Natal.

As Cobus puts it, "Some people see adventure as a struggle against and a conquering of the elements. For me it is about the unique experience that you have in nature through the adventure."

Cobus is a qualified:

• Mountaineer
• Commercial Skipper
• Nature guide
• Environmental trainer
• River guide

His friendship with fellow Exploraider team member Harry Bateman has led to many adventures all over South Africa.

So when make your booking be sure to include the Drakensberg - its all about being out there!

As the Operations Manager for ExplorAider, Holly will be your first point of contact for any information on ExplorAider. Along with the ExplorAider team, she will oversee that every aspect of your holiday experience is of the highest quality.

Before joining ExplorAider Holly was the Events Manager for Events and Activities (www.eventsandactivities.co.uk) orgainising endurance sports events in the highlands of Scotland and the Alps for worthwhile charities.

Holly has spent time working in the African Tourist industry as a Safari Lodge manager in remote corners of Zambia and Malawi and has traveled extensively throughout Southern Africa. If you have any questions in relation to traveling in Africa she would be more than happy to answer them as best she can.

Holly is extremely passionate about conservation and environmental issues and holds an honors degree in Geography and Sociology completed at Trinity College Dublin