Trained originally as a social psychologist, I found my true calling in travel. What I value most in journeys is authenticity and depth of experience, thoughtful organization, style, quality of rest, meaningful encounters, the aesthetics of nature, and the discovery of what is new and unknown.
Once, at the Embassy of Côte d’Ivoire in Mali, my friends and I saw posters depicting villages, shamans, and local people of the country. Even though I had witnessed this reality firsthand, I was deeply moved by the idea that this kind of travel could be shared — that it could be meaningful not only to me and a small circle of like-minded people, but to many others, including my compatriots. Each poster bore the words “Le Tourisme Vrai” — which means “Authentic Tourism.”
It was this idea of authentic tourism that I chose as the guiding principle of the Maverix Travel Club (formerly AfroTravel until 2014). I believe that authentic tourism is the tourism of the future — a way of travel that can change our lives for the better, restoring our connection to core values and a deeper sense of purpose.
Hello! My name is Angelina, and I am a professional traveler!
After graduating from RUDN University, where I specialized in Social and Cultural Service and Tourism, I didn’t hesitate for a moment before diving headfirst into the pursuit of everything new and beautiful.
I’m just 32 years old, and I’ve already visited more than 60 countries. As a child, I traveled with my mother. As I grew older, I joined international youth camps and took part in global student programs. Then came studies in Cyprus, work in the United States, Brazil, and Argentina, tours across Europe, time spent along the shores of different seas and oceans — and eventually, I even opened my own hostel in Sri Lanka.
The idea of the Maverix Travel Club (then known as AfroTravel) captured my interest long ago. Back in 2011, I joined one of the Club’s first journeys to Morocco. We experienced the country from the inside, rather than simply checking off “must-see” sights. That’s when I realized this was the deepest and most meaningful way to truly discover a place.
Together with the Club, we explored Southern Africa, traveling through several countries — including Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana — and finishing in South Africa, where I stayed and lived for two months. I’m in love with the way nature and the modern world blend together in this extraordinary country.
But if you ask me which place will always remain at the very top of my list of favorite destinations on the planet, I won’t hesitate for a second — Turkey. I lived for several years in the “city of the soul,” Istanbul, and traveled across the country with locals. Now I dream of opening up Turkey’s hidden treasures for you — beyond the ordinary resorts. I want you to discover its secret beauty, its remarkable natural and cultural richness, and the places locals have kept just for themselves.
See you on our next journey!
Hello! My name is Petr, I am 41 years old, and I was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia
Travel has woven itself through nearly my entire life, starting with the day, at the age of seven, I ran away from home in search of adventure — dreaming of seeing the neighboring district instead of just listening to adults talk about the world.
My active journeys began at thirteen. I rode local trains to nearby towns, then discovered hitchhiking and eventually traveled this way for nearly 120,000 kilometers. That was the beginning — I managed to explore dozens of countries across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Later, I traveled by my own car and used many other forms of transport, never completely abandoning hitchhiking along the way.
To date, I have visited 182 countries. But it’s not about the numbers — it’s about the approach. A true traveler is defined by an unconditional love for the road and a willingness to give up a great deal for the sake of the journey, rather than mechanically “checking off” countries on a list.
What interests me most in travel is nature and the peoples of the world who have preserved their traditions. I also climb non-technical peaks up to 7,000 meters, practice running and street lifting, and collect banknotes and coins from different countries. I believe in the road, and in the idea that travel is the most genuine and extraordinary thing we have.
I have known Dmitry, the founder of the Maverix Travel Club (formerly AfroTravel), since birth. We lay in neighboring strollers because our mothers were friends. As children, we played together, imagining that we were traveling through the universe in a spaceship made of a table and chairs, carrying us to unknown worlds. Later, we took our first small trips together — which felt enormous back then.
Our Club stands at the origins of signature travel in Russia, and I am proud to be part of this movement, sharing with you the experiences and impressions our world has to offer.
Hello! My name is Katerina, and I live in the beautiful city of Saint Petersburg. By my first profession, I am a designer. I have spent half my life traveling and, for the past 14 years, discovering fascinating places around the world. So far, I’ve visited 87 countries, and I have no intention of stopping. How did it all begin? Of course — with books! Who didn’t dream as a child of finding themselves on a Mysterious Island or uncovering Maya treasures in a Valley of Lost Souls?
As an adult, I met like-minded people who were just as passionate about travel as I am. Many years of friendship and thousands of kilometers of roads connect me with them. One of them is the wonderful traveler Dmitry Shumilov, founder of the Maverix Travel Club (formerly AfroTravel). Dmitry invited me to join as a guide for my favorite destinations — the Middle East and Central Asia (Iran, Oman, Uzbekistan).
I was deeply moved by the sincere warmth and hospitality of the people in these countries — their genuine smiles and willingness to help in any situation. The region’s remarkable cultural heritage, ancient traditions, and the mystery of the East — it’s all here, in a place where fairy tales come to life.
Hello! My name is Stella. I was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro. Travel has always called to me, so I chose a career in international relations as my first profession.
My curious spirit led me across the globe, moving from country to country and city to city. I spent ten years living abroad — in the United States, Germany, and Argentina — and traveled throughout Latin America and Europe.
I discovered new landscapes and cultures and was constantly amazed by how many beautiful places exist in our world, and how many lives and stories are woven into it. From California to Cappadocia, from the Iguaçu Falls to Indigenous communities on the slopes of the Cordillera, I never stop marveling at the diversity around us.
I joined the Maverix Travel Club because I want to share my discoveries. I want to reveal the richness of a simple Brazilian fisherman, the wisdom of Amazonian tribes, the grandeur of the Andes, and the silence of the Atacama — opening the beauty of our unexplored world together with you.