ABOUT US
ABOUT US
Self Drive Adventures gives you an amazing opportunity to self drive in your rental vehicle and see the best of the countries we visit affordably and without the risk of missing the best of the region by lack of local knowledge.
You are independent in your fully equipped self drive vehicle provided by us. The planning and bookings are done for you and you self drive with a support vehicle and local guides to help you get the most out of your self drive adventure. We give you “the insider's” view of the countries we self drive through, taking care to include must see sights but to also get you off the beaten tourist track.
We continually collect up to date information from our self drive adventures, various publications and people "in the know" to ensure we stay ahead of the prevailing circumstance and conditions.
Mike Boyd
Mike is the founder of Self Drive Adventures.
He grew up in Stellenbosch on a beautiful wine estate called Blaauwklippen. His first trip to Namibia (then South West Africa) was in 1972 on holiday. From 1977 on he travelled to Namibia regularly both flying and driving on business.
After a family and friends trip in 2009 through South Africa, Namibia and Botswana Mike decided to share his love for Africa with others. Mike and Linda eloped on the trip and were married in Namibia.
Mike has travelled by 4x4 extensively in Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe,Morocco, Madagascar, Peru, Chile, Argentina & , Pyrenees.
As a result of wonderful feedback from our clients that travelled with us through Southern Africa Mike is expanding our destinations across the globe.
Linda Schlencker
Linda’s love of camping, wilderness areas and travel started early, travelling around Australia with her family in 1978 in a F250 ford truck with a campervan on the back (built by her father).
Since then her passion has been hiking, kayaking, driving and motor biking around the world.
As well as escorting groups, Linda handles bookings, sales, destination research, organises supplies and equipment for trips, manages websites and technology using her background and skills from her corporate days.
Dave van Graan
Dave is South African based and has been guiding since 1995. He has guided 10 trans-Africa self drive expeditions.
He has escorted numerous expeditions to all countries in southern and east Africa through more than a hundred National Parks in the region.
As well as being a registered guide Dave is an experienced and registered Paramedic. He also trains guides in a course that was written and compiled by Dave and his wife. He has trained more than 500 guides over the last 10 years and has also written many articles for travel magazines and 4x4 books. Dave also has a magic sense of humour and you never see him without a smile on his face.
Chris Dandridge
Chris is our Botswana based wildlife guide.
Chris’s family’s association with Botswana started in 1959 when his father Daryl visited Bechuanaland (as it was called in the years whilst it was a British protectorate). He returned in 1960, looking for work and the rest, as they say, is history. His son Chris was born and has always lived in Botswana, other than some time spent in South Africa at boarding school.
Chris’s life long passion with the bush is clear from the moment you meet him. He delights clients with his complete knowledge and ease in these wilderness areas.
He is also a fantastic and enthusiastic photographer, so he knows how to help our clients get the best wildlife shots during their time spent game viewing. He is the most patient man we have ever met, answering our endless questions about the wildlife and environment of Botswana.