Profile | André de Villiers | 4x4 Driving Courses | 4x4 Enthusiasts
Profile of André de Villiers
André de Villiers is well known in the South African 4x4 and off-road circles. He is the host of the popular TV show Safari 4x4 Roetes on kykNET.
Born and raised in the beautiful Boland town of Wellington, André exchanged the countryside for city living when he, after matriculation at the Hugenote High School and his military service, moved to Pretoria. Pursuing his keen interest in vehicles he completed his qualification in Mechanical Engineering.
In his subsequent career he was primarily involved in vehicle development at various companies and institutions. He was also the development engineer and project manager for the well-known police vehicle, namely: Nyala.
André has always had a special interest in vehicles, the ability of vehicles and the driver’s skill to utilize his vehicle optimally. As a teenager he singlehandedly built his own Beach Buggy built, and later as a young man he had the privilege to drive a support vehicle through Africa to Europe, as part of the support team of group of motor cyclist who undertook this adventurous journey.
In 1999, his dream of a owning his own business had been realised when took over the Safari Centre brand name. André was able successfully combine his passion for the outdoors, vehicle know how and 4x4 driving skills with his business acumen to establish the brand name in the South African environment.
André sold the brand Safari Centre in 2012, and now he is afforded the opportunity to concentrate on what he enjoys best: sharing his expertise, knowledge and passion for off-road driving and 4x4 vehicles with others.
André enjoys offering 4x4 driving courses to novice and advanced 4x4 drivers, leading safaris to Botswana and other Southern African destinations, and to traverse the country looking for suitable routes to share with other 4x4 enthusiasts through his TV series.
André has a passion for quality and vehicle safety, thus only works with factual information, therefore his slogan: “Where quality matters”
Profiel van André de villiers
André de Villiers is welbekend in Suid-Afrikaanse 4x4- en veldry-kringe. Hy is die aanbieder van die gewilde TV reeks Safari 4x4 Roetes op kykNET.
Gebore en getoë in die pragtige Bolandse dorp Wellington, het André die platteland vir die stad verruil toe hy na matrikulasie aan die Hugenote Hoërskool en sy dienspligjare, homself in Pretoria gevestig het. Sy belangstelling in voertuie het hy verder gevoer deur ‘n kwalifikasie in Meganiese Ingenieurswese te verwerf.
In sy daaropvolgende loopbaan van 14 jaar, was hy hoofsaaklik betrokke by voertuigontwikkelings- Ingenieur en projekbesturder van die bekende polisie voertuig, naamlik:Nuyala.
André het altyd ‘n besondere belangstelling in voertuie, die vermoë van voertuie en die bestuurder se vernuf om sy voertuig optimaal te kan benut, gehad. As tiener het reeds eiehandig ‘n “Beach Buggy” opgebou, en later as jong man die voorreg gehad om as deel van die ondersteuningspan van ‘n groep motorfietsryers ‘n ondersteuningsvoertuig dwars deur Afrika tot in Europa te neem.
In 1999 het hy sy droom om ‘n eie onderneming te besit verwesenlik toe hy die bekende Safari Centre handelsnaam oorgeneem het. Hy kon toe baie suksesvol sy passie vir die buitelewe, voertuig-kundigheid en 4x4 bestuursvernuf kombineer met sy sakevernuf om die handelsnaam uit te brei en te vestig in die Suid-Afrikaanse mileu.
André het Safari Centre handelsnaam verkoop, en het nou die geleentheid om hom toe te spits op wat dit hy die meeste geniet: om sy kundigheid, kennis en passie vir veldry en 4x4 voertuie met ander te deel.
André bied graag 4x4 bestuurskursusse vir nuweling-en gevorderde 4x4 bestuurders aan, lei safari’s na Botswana en ander Suider-Afrika bestemmings, en geniet dit om die land te deurkruis op soek na geskikte roetes om met ander 4x4 entoesiaste, deur middel van sy TV reeks, te deel.
André het ‘n passie vir kwaliteit en voertuig veiligheid, en werk slegs met feitlike inligting, daarom sy leuse: Waar kwaliteit saak maak”