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 Keïta

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 as a tour guide in 2006. 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

Zoumana is native to N'Tossoni in Mali. The 26-year-old gained his excellent knowledge of German at the University of Bamako, as well as during a summer course in Bremen. He also speaks fluent English and French. Zoumana has been working as a product manager in our office since 2018. Zoumana finds the ideal solution for every travel request and organizes your trip from A - Z. In high season he also likes to work as a tour guide. He mainly manages trips to Senegal and The Gambia. Zoumana‘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

Mamadou Dolo

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.

Mamadou is a real Dogon from Sangha-Dini in Mali, where he also went to primary school. In 1996 his family moved to the capital Bamako, where he graduated four years later. The trained banker has been working as an accountant at Vero Tours for three years. In his spare time, the now forty-one-year-old is a passionate football fan and likes traveling.

Hamma „Vieux“ Sangaré

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.

Zoumana Mallé

Modeste, now forty years old, was born in Zangnanado in Benin, but grew up in Kpalimé, Togo. There he learned German and graduated from high school. Back in his native Benin, he studied German at the University of Abomey Calavi. He has been working in tourism since 2009 and he has been captured by the great passion for this profession. Modeste mainly manages trips in his home countries Benin and Togo, but he is also well versed in Ghana and Burkina Faso. He is also fluent in French and English, as well as several local languages such as Ewe, Mina, Fon and Mahi. With his helpfulness and dedicated way of working, Modeste will not only bring you closer to his homeland of Benin and Togo and the neighbouring countries but will also facilitate your encounter with the local population.

Segbedji Modeste Toïhen

MEET THE TEAM OF VERO TOURS