Veronika was born and raised in Pforzheim, Germany. While still studying French and Russian at the University of Mainz, she got her first employment as an assistant tour leader and discovered her passion for travel. After 10 years as a translator and interpreter she finally joined the travel industry full-time in 1996. For five years she worked as a representative and tourist officer at holiday destinations in Turkey, Spain, Malta and Kenya, before taking up the job as a tour leader in 2001. She has travelled and worked in to over 60 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and America. Her addiction to West Africa finally led her to her country of choice: Mali. Veronika is the owner and director of Vero Tours, and even after many years in the business, she maintains the enthusiasm to conduct many tours herself. to conduct tours herself.

Veronika Staltmanis

Joachim was born and raised in Northern Germany, has studied Arabic and English and also holds a degree in International Marketing Management. Based near Copenhagen, Denmark, he has been working in the language industry, in marketing and also as a freelance tour leader. His appetite for some of the world’s most isolated places has resulted in numerous trekking tours and expeditions to rural Sudan, Yemen and Ethiopia - and of course, West Africa. At Vero Tours, Joachim is responsible for product development and marketing, and also works as a tour leader. “With so many beauty spots in this region still undiscovered, I cannot imagine a more fulfilling job than to spread my enthusiasm for the natural beauty, cultural diversity and architectural heritage of this underrated part of the world”.

Joachim Jacobsen

Jojo Cobbinah

Jojo is Vero Tour’s local travel partner and tour leader for Ghana and close-by countries. Jojo has studied in Cape Coast (Ghana), Abidjan and Dijon, and spent more than 30 years of his life in Germany. He gaines prestige with his travel guides for Senegal, Gambia and Madeira, but most notably with his award-winning work about his home country Ghana. Formerly only writing in English, all 12 editions of the Ghana travel guide have been published in German. As a columnist and book reviewer with a profound interest in the region, Jojo adds insight and knowledge to any escorted tour. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jojo_Cobbinah

Mahamadou Keita

Born and raised in Ivory Coast, Mahamadou‘s family later moved to Mali. Mahamdou has studied English and German at the University of Bamako. With an excellent study record, he started to work at the Malian Office of Tourism and Hotels (OMATHO). At Vero Tours, Mahamadou successfully completed his training on the job, and is our trusted guide for trips to Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Guinea, Sierra Leone and of course Ivory Coast, where a part of his family still lives today. Mahamadou is fluent in English, German and French and a couple of local languages of Mali and Ivory Coast. With his cheerful personality and excellent interpersonal skills, Mahamadou makes any journey to West Africa a wonderful and memorable experience.

Bill Kodja from Benin, born in 1996, is our youngest tour guide. During the last three years he could gain a lot of experience and has accompanied numerous tours for Vero Tours in Ghana, Togo, Benin and Burkina Faso. His father works as an interpretor and so Bill was not only born into a family of gifted linguists but he was also raised in Ivory Coast and Ghana and knows these countries very well. He could perfect his German language skill staying a longer time in Germany and also speaks fluently English. As Mahamadou is Vero Tours’ trusted guide for trips to Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Ivory Coast. With his sense of humour, his diligence, local knowledge and resilient work ethic, Bill is prepared to go the extra mile to ensure the success of any trip.

Bill Kodja

Victor was born in Benin. He was raised in the region of Sokodé, Togo, and returned to Benin at the age of 17 to study German including Intercultural German Studies at the university of Abomey-Calavi. He also speaks English and several Beninese and Togolese languages. In 2014 Victor spent some weeks in Düsseldorf, Germany, to improve his knowledge. His first practical experience in tourism Victor gained in his home country. Since then, he has been captured by the great passion for this profession. He has accompanied tours in Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Togo and Ghana for Vero Tours. Victor‘s intercultural competence, excellent knowledge of the region and his perfect language skills are the keys to a highly successful trip.

Welcome to Vero Tours! All our tour guides are competent English, German and French speaking experts chosen for their profound knowledge of the history, culture, geography, wildlife and plant life etc. of the region. That’s not all. Living in West Africa, they allow you to partake in the natives’ daily life and they can give you some real insider tips for your stay. They are assisted by our experienced drivers who are there to ensure that your safety is adhered and who are ready to help you at any time. Meet our team below!

Sory Kanté

Mohamad “Ada” Oumar

Sory is Malian, but with family ties to Guinea. His passion for cars started when he finished school. He has since become a professional driver with over 20 years of experience, taking clients from many countries to most West African destinations including Ghana, Benin, Togo, Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Liberia and his own country, Mali. Sory feels most at home on a four-wheel drive vehicle, a minibus, a truck or a large coach driving visitors safely to their destination.

Ada was born in Niger and raised in the north of Mali, in the town of Arouane deep in the Sahara desert. He came to Bamako when he was 20 years old. In the 1990s, Ada worked as a professional driver in Guinea for seven years, knowing West Africa like the back of his hand. His expertise is extremely valuable in countries like Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Hamma „Vieux“ Sangaré

Hamma, who is called Vieux by his family and friends, was born in the town of Mopti in the Center of Mali. He grew up working in tourism together with his father and brothers. Hamma is not only known for his professionalism and skillful driving of all kinds of cars he is also an excellent boat captain. He is one of our competent drivers in all West African countries. Hamma is also appreciated by our customers for his friendly and helpful personality.

Victor Codjo Kpokpoya

Aimé was born and raised in the North of Togo. He has studied German at the University of Lomé and also speaks English and French and several local languages of Togo. He was recommended to Vero Tours by his university professor and started his training on the job in October 2017. As a trainee he has accompanied tours in Benin, Ghana and his home country Togo. At the moment he is gaining his first experience in the new job which gives him a great deal of pleasure. With his strong willingness to help and his high level of commitment to his customers Aimé will not only contribute to your better understanding of Togo and the neighbouring countries, but also facilitate your meetings with the local people.

MEET THE TEAM OF VERO TOURS