Jolinaiko Eco Tours - Experience West Africa!
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Meet your guides and drivers

portrait of Apollo PanouApollo Panou

Meet your guide: Apollo Panou

Apollo is the director and driving force behind Jolinaiko Eco Tours. He was born in 1973 in a small town in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Due to his father’s profession as a French teacher, Apollo lived in countries throughout West Africa and experienced different cultures. The different cultures he experienced and the languages he learnt along the way have been very helpful to him both personally and professionally.

"One of the biggest advantages is that I learnt English, French, Ewe, Twi, Ga (Ghana), Fon (Benin) and Yuruba (Nigeria), for which I am very grateful. This gave me the opportunity to share my country with everybody who wants to learn about this region."

Apollo has his professional qualifications in the area of tourism and is a member of the Ghana Tour Guide Association. He is also an experienced caterer. Apollo is assisted by his Dutch wife, Cindy Noordermeer, who is the main contact for clients and handles all back-office activities.

portrait of Isaac AziawoIsaac Aziawo

Meet your guide: Isaac Aziawo

Isaac is one of our main guides. He is proud of his African culture and this made him decide to engage himself in tourism. After studying Geography at the University of Lome in Togo, he finished several tourism courses at the HOTCATT (Hotel, Catering and Tourism) Academy in Accra.

Isaac's sociable and pleasant character, ability to speak English, French and several local languages fluently, and knowledge of the African traditions and beliefs make Isaac an excellent guide for all our Ghana, Togo, and Benin tours. He is also the initiator of the Davedi Village Lodge in Togo.

A video of Isaac can be found on Youtube.

portrait of Wisdom AkpabliWisdom Akpabli

Meet your driver/guide: Wisdom Akpabli

"No matter what kind of question you ask, you will get an answer." This is one of the responses we receive from people travelling with Wisdom.

Wisdom is a professional guide with in-depth understanding of the Ghanaian culture. He completed his degree in geography at the University of Legon in Ghana, along with various tourism courses at HOTCATT.

Next to his professionalism and his agreeable, friendly character, Wisdom is also a good driver. This makes him one of our main driver-guides.

portrait of TT MensahTT Mensah

Meet your driver/guide: Ebenezer Mensah (populary known as TT)

Another person who is enriching our team is TT. He knows Ghana like the back of his hand after many years of professional driving.

TT is positive-minded and service-oriented and always willing to share his African culture with our guests.

Another characteristic of TT is his generousity. He is dedicated improving the living conditions of people.

portrait of Boris MedatinsaBoris Medatinsa

Meet your guide: Boris Medatinsa

Our partnership with Boris started as a friendship when he was studying management in Accra. Our interest in tourism turned out to be contagious and Boris' professional career turned to the same direction.

Boris is a great tour guide. He has in-depth knowledge about the rich culture of Benin, especially the voodoo religion. Together we share ideas and explore new destinations in Togo and Benin.

portrait of NathanNathan

Meet your guide: Nathan

Jolinaiko Eco Tours started engaging Nathan for guiding group tours. He's very experienced, well-spoken and his speeches about Ghana are excellent. But he also likes adventure and handles our 'off-the-beaten-track' tours with great success.

Nathan is the secretary of the Ghana Tour Guide Association, very much connected to the tourism industry in Ghana and a good advisor to the company.

portrait of Nii LaayeNii Laaye

Meet your guide: Nii Laaye

Do you like to go jogging in the morning, undertaking one strenuous hike after another or camping adventures, just ask for our professional tour guide Nii Laaye. He's energetic and enthusiastic.

Nii Laaye introduced Ghana Beach Soccer and is involved in empowering the youth in downtown Accra. He normally assists us during our young student group tours.

portrait of Ben MensahBen Mensah

Meet your driver: Ben Mensah

Ben once received the nickname "Landrover Buddha" and no other name could be better chosen. Ben's driving, behind the wheel of the Landrover,is a phenomenon throughout Ghana.

He is a reliable, confident, courageous and hard working person. Ben has worked as a driver for various tour operators organizing tours from the West African coast to the Saharan countries.

He is one of our main drivers and a great asset to Jolinaiko Eco tours.

portrait of AgoroSalifou Abdourahim (Agoro)

Meet your driver: Salifou Abdourahim (populary known as Agoro)

Agoro is the driver who joined the team most recently. He used to be a professional driver in Togo but the tourism industry suits him perfectly.

Agoro is a very good driver and doesn't mind to go the extra mile to satisfy our guests and his happiness is contagious. He speaks English and French and does our Ghana, Togo, Benin and Burkina Faso tours.

Meet your driver: Kossi Dodzi Aziawo (populary known as Fofo)

Trustworthy, punctual and friendly are keywords travelers use for describing Fofo.

Another reason why people are confident with him is his professional mechanical background which enables him to solve minor car problems. This is a valuable skill knowing the challenging road conditions in this region.

portrait of JamesJames Amazu

Meet your driver: James Amazu

James is an excellent driver and provides great company during your tours.

He has been working as a personal driver for the Dutch Embassy staff for more than 15 years. In fact, that is how he got so well acquainted with the western, and especially Dutch, culture and family life.

James and Apollo have been very good friends for many years. When James is on leave from the embassy, he sometimes works as a driver for Jolinaiko Eco Tours.

Since James gets along with children very well, he is a fantastic driver for our specialized tours with parents and children.

“ I travelled with Apollo for two weeks throughout Ghana, Togo, and Benin. I had the freedom to go where I wanted, when I wanted, as fast as I wanted, and change plans daily, all with the security of a knowledgeable guide.

Through Apollo's professionalism, excellent conversation, courtesy, open mindedness, tolerance and enthusiasm I was able to learn and live Africa more so than many of my other trips combined. Africa is no longer a distant place on a map, or a show on T.V. but many faces, smiles, songs, smells, colors and friends to me. Travel needs to be experienced in this way.

The world needs more Apollo's to bring us all a little closer together, understand each other better, break barriers and live and breathe a country that is not our own. Thank you for the fantastic memories, daily experiences, conversation, trust, comfort, laughs and friendship.

Can't think of anything I would have changed. ”

Ginny,
Canada. sankofa
“ I just wanted to send off a quick note to let you know how happy I was with my trip to Benin and especially with Boris. I have done a bit of travelling in my time and I have to say that without a doubt, spending time with Boris as my guide was like travelling with one of my best friends. You should be very proud of his professionalism, the way that he represents your company, and most importantly his country and his culture.

Spending a week in Ouidah walking around, talking with Boris and snapping pictures here and there was more than I could have asked for or expected and can only wish that every travelling experience from now on can be like my one to Benin. Thank you again for helping set up my trip and for giving me the opportunity to make a great friend in Africa, Boris. ”

Marc Davidson,
Toronto, Canada.