Team Selfdrive4x4.com
Over 30 years of experience in Africa. Our knowledge forms the base for your self-drive journey through Africa. Much has changed since those early years; tourism has increased significantly, and self-drive tours and 4×4 car rentals have become extremely popular. In the past, you’d only encounter other overlanders with their own vehicles (like Marco and Hans once met in Namibia in 1998). These days, you see more like-minded people in 4x4s.
Fortunately, the countries are vast, and you can enjoy the unique nature and wild safari animals. We do visit Southern Africa annually to maintain our self-drive experience and maintain our local contacts. This way, we can always provide you with up-to-date information from Africa, allowing you to travel carefree!
Hans Schoelink
Turning a passion into a career is still possible, and it started from the urge for adventure that drew me to Africa almost 30 years ago. I’ve been visiting Africa since 1996, particularly southern Africa. My first trip was a hesitant one, in a regular sedan, to South Africa and Kruger National Park. And since then, countless long journeys, in my own Land Rover and Land Cruiser.
After retiring as a tennis coach after 25 years, I began advising people who also wanted to go on an adventure in southern Africa at the end of 2008. In 2010, the collaboration with Marco began, and Selfdrive4x4.com was established. Together with our team, we now organize hundreds of self-drive trips each year.
Marco de Lange
As a child, I wanted to be a ranger in a safari park and contributed as a junior ranger for the WWF. Back then, “Daktari” was on TV, and I loved the Land Rover. So, I bought a few of those vehicles. From 1994 on I guided tours through Zimbabwe and Botswana. Besides the group tours, I also used my own Land Rover. Those were different times; everything was still possible, and GPS and mobile phones weren’t around yet. I drove all over Southern Africa and experienced so much. Fulfilling childhood dreams!
After a foray into the internet industry, I started Tongasabi around 2003. Shortly after, I began collaborating with Hans and the Selfdrive4x4.com project. Now I’m mainly focused on new trips and other developments within the company.
Esther Thewissen
I’ve been working at Selfdrive4x4.com since 2018. After graduating from art school, I continued my photography and regularly engage in creative pursuits in my spare time. I love spending time in nature with my pony and discovering new places. Traveling is also a true passion of mine. These days, my family also gets to enjoy fantastic trips with me. For example, I found it incredibly special to explore Southern Africa with my children. The freedom, rugged surroundings, wildlife, and roasting marshmallows every evening made an unforgettable impression.
Mike van den Oord
A great lover of travel and nature! I find the most pristine places on this planet especially special: those where you still see no trace of humanity! To discover the world (and myself), I left the comforts of the Netherlands behind in 2023 and spent a year living in Botswana. There, I worked on a unique project that helps the indigenous San people connect with modern society. Of course, I also took many self-drive trips through this beautiful country during that time.
My most magical moment in Botswana? The zebra migration at the Boteti River! It was like being in a nature documentary – all that was missing was David Attenborough’s voice… I now love sharing the knowledge and experience I gained that year with others. I’m delighted to create the most beautiful trip for you!
Irene ter Woord
I’m a Public Administration student at Radboud University and about three years ago, I also got into the travel industry. Initially, it was a summer job, but I enjoyed combining studying and travel so much that I’ve happily continued doing it since 2024 with Selfdrive4x4. Over the years, I’ve traveled a large part of Europe. Southern Africa is still undiscovered; I’ve learned a lot about the beautiful destinations here and I’m looking forward to exploring them for myself in the coming years. I mainly focus on all aspects of our Selfdrive4x4 app. Have a question? I’m happy to help!
Tessa van Hasselaar
I graduated as a Tourism Professional in November, after completing my Tourism Management program in Deventer. During my studies, I discovered my passion for travel. Whenever an opportunity arose to go abroad, I jumped at it. For example, I interned for six months in Brussels—unfortunately, due to COVID-19, that was the furthest I could travel at the time—and studied for six months in Chile. That time abroad taught me a tremendous amount. This experience has made me curious about the rest of the world and I’m eager to explore even more new cultures.
Besides traveling, I love animals and photography. In every country I visit, I try to see and capture as many animals as possible with my camera. That’s why countries in Southern Africa are so appealing to me. For me, an ideal vacation is one where I’m immersed in nature, surrounded by animals.
