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

Ibrahim Cissé

Born and raised in Central Mali, Ibrahim has studied English and German at the University of Bamako. With an excellent study record, he received a rare government scholarship, and later worked at the Malian Office of Tourism and Hotels (OMATHO). At Vero Tours, Ibrahim successfully completed his training on the job, and is our trusted guide for trips to Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Guinea and Sierra Leone. Ibrahim is fluent in English, German and French and a couple of local languages. With his cheerful personality and excellent interpersonal skills, Ibrahim makes any journey to West Africa a wonderful and memorable experience.

Born and raised in Central Mali, Soumaila is a Dogon, belonging to a people with long experience of tourism and tour guiding. Somaila has studied English and German and speaks several major and local languages fluently. He has worked as a tour leader for many years, and like Ibrahim, is Vero Tours’ trusted guide for trips to Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo and Benin. With his sense of humour, his diligence, local knowledge and resilient work ethic, Soumaila is prepared to go the extra mile to ensure the success of any trip.

Soumaila Guindo

Victor was born in Cotonou, Benin and has studied German and English at the University of Calavi. From 1991 to 1999 Victor worked as a teacher for the German language, before starting a new career in the tourism sector. Since 1999 Victor has been leading tours as a tour guide in Ghana, Benin, Togo, Ivory Coast and Mali. He is now working for Vero Tours in these countries. Victor is a travel industry professional and wins the hearts of his clients with his calm and friendly nature and his excellent local knowledge.

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.

Mohaman Hawali Ibouraima

Hawali was born in Togo in the region of Sokodé and raised in the town of Kpalimé. He has been working in the tourism sector for many years and is one of our competent drivers in Ghana, Togo and Benin. Hawali is not only known for his professionalism and skillful driving, he is also appreciated for his friendly and helpful personality.

Victor Chagas

Like his namesake 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, 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.

Victor Codjo Kpokpoya

MEET THE TEAM OF VERO TOURS