On March 11, 2025, French television presenter Frédéric Lopez embarked on another memorable adventure on his show, Notre Vraie Nature, bringing together four renowned personalities for a unique experience rooted deep within the South African savanna.
This new episode featured guests including actor François-Xavier Demaison, actress and director Zabou Breitman, singer Shy’m, and humorist Tristan Lopin. This ensemble ventured on a four-day itinerant and quasi-autonomous exploration, moderated by adventure architect Samuel Ostiguy, aiming to connect with nature and challenge their comfort zones.
Lopez, who has become a staple figure of French television over the past two decades, shared intimate details from his own childhood during the session, highlighting the influences behind his enduring passion for connection and exploration. Growing up, Lopez experienced significant upheaval, moving 19 times as a child, which he candidly revealed shaped his character: “It makes you very shy at first because I was always the new kid. It creates a feeling of adaptation. But at the same time, it is also a childhood where I didn’t feel free; I always dreamed of being grown up to travel and meet people,” he said. This desire for adventure and interaction has been central to his career in broadcasting.
Lopez, now 57, has consistently produced shows focusing on human experiences and the beauty of connecting with others, whether on Rendez-vous en Terre inconnue or his current project. This engaging new episode of Notre Vraie Nature marked a renewed dedication to guiding his guests as they opened themselves to nature and to one another.
The show’s immersive format encourages guests to shed their societal masks and reveal their true selves. Before their first night under the stars, the group partook in activities aimed at building familiarity and emotional bonds. Lopez initiated the first activity with a game where each guest had thirty seconds to recount their life story. Shy’m took the opportunity to disclose her childhood, stating, “I grew up in Trappes with not many resources. I was very shy, even extremely shy. I loved dance, and it helped me break out of my shell.” Her love for music was inherited from her Antillean family, which raised her within vibrant rhythms.
On the third night, the atmosphere shifted as Lopez invited the guests to participate in a powerful exercise focused on forging connections. They engaged in silent eye contact for two minutes, which moved Shy’m emotionally, prompting her to later express, “Not speaking feels naked, exposed, fragile...” Through this eye contact, she perceived sadness and melancholy from her fellow participant, highlighting the depth of human emotion present under the night sky.
Lopin and Demaison joined her share candid emotions as they opened up about their fears and aspirations, weaving stories over the campfire. Lopez highlighted the charm of his guests, noting the humor of Demaison, the resilience of Breitman facing her fear of animals, and the warm personality of Lopin.
Beyond mere entertainment, Lopez emphasized the show fosters laughter as much as it challenges perceptions. He described the setup as “a pretext to have fun,” often drawing comparisons to classic French comedies and even American sitcoms. Yet, the absolute essence of the adventure transcended beyond amusement; it catalyzed powerful connections to the Earth's natural beauty.
Culturally relevant, these personal narratives shared on the show reinforce the importance of mutual trust and vulnerability. Lopez himself felt honored and moved by the trust bestowed upon him by these celebrities. He reflected, “They don’t know who they’re going with or where they’re headed, yet they agree to this experience with me. That gives me the motivation to rise to this trust.” His genuine warmth resonates well with viewers, who connect not just with the adventures but with the stories behind the faces on-screen.
Lopez’s heartfelt connections crafted through storytelling and shared experiences stimulate meaningful conversations beyond the hour-long episode, igniting curiosity about the adventures awaiting viewers when they join him again for the upcoming adventures on Notre Vraie Nature.
The experience invites guests to not only discover the beauty of nature but discover themselves; it serves both as entertaining television and as therapy for emotional healing. Critics are recognizing the dynamic approach Lopez employs, compelling audiences to review not only the journeys of his guests but their own lives as they reflect on personal growth and transformative encounters.
Indeed, Frédéric Lopez, thanks to his unique storytelling and ability to facilitate vulnerable conversations, remains poised to continue capturing the hearts of viewers, showcasing the incredible depths within our shared human experiences.