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

portrait of Apollo 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. In the back-office, Apollo is assisted by his Dutch wife, Cindy Noordermeer, who is the main contact for potential clients and handles all email communications and travel proposals when Apollo is on a tour.

Meet your guide: Isaac Aziawo

portrait of 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.

His 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.

A video of Isaac can be found on Youtube.

Meet your driver/guide: Wisdom Akpabli

portrait of 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 Sammy Bans

Meet your guide: Sammy Bans

Sammy was born in a little village near Ho, the capital of the Volta region in Ghana. Because his father was a teacher, he was raised in many different places in Ghana. Consequently, he got to know the country and the local languages very well.

He has been working as a guide for various tour agencies since 1991, and finished several courses at HOTCATT (Hotel, Catering and Tourism Academy). He is known for his in-depth knowledge and understanding of Ghanaian culture, local traditions and history. Next to that, Sammy also has a broad network of contacts in Ghanaian society.

Sammy is a member of the Ghana Tour Guide Association and shares their vision on tourism in the country. "Travelling is much more than work; it is more or less a way of life."

Sammy is a great guide for all your adventure and culture tours in Ghana.

portrait of Natan

Meet your guide: Natan

When Jolinaiko Eco Tours is organizing group tours, they are always happy to engage Natan.

Natan is an official guide and member of the Ghana Tour Guide Association, and he specializes in organizing and guiding group tours.

Natan is known for being very well-spoken and his speeches about Ghana are excellent.

portrait of Ben Mensah

Meet your driver: Ben Mensah

Ben once received the nickname "Landrover Buddha" and no other name could be better chosen. When he is behind the wheel of the Landrover, Ben's driving 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 benefit to Jolinaiko Eco tours.

portrait of Francis Gisidu

Meet your driver/guide: Francis Gisidu

Francis is a great help to Jolinaiko Eco Tours. And, although he is a computer hardware technician by profession, he has been working as a professional driver for many years.

He was one of the first drivers to work with Jolinaiko Eco Tours when it started. And after all those years of experience, Francis has become more or less a tour guide as well.

Francis and Apollo know each other from secondary school. Francis is a very outgoing and enjoyable person to travel around with, as well as a very good driver.

portrait of Abdoulai

Meet your driver: Abdoulai

No destination within the West African Region is too far for Abdoulai. He gained a lot of excellent experience driving for the main West African travel specialist in Togo for many years.

Besides Abdoulai's excellent driving skills, he is adventurous, trustworthy and friendly.

Knowing all the West African destinations like the back of his hand makes him our main driver and advisor for multiple country tours.

portrait of Stanley Aggor

Meet your driver/guide: Stanley Aggor

Stanley worked as a driver for a German NGO (non-governmental organisation) for more than 15 years. He was based in Ghana but travelled to Benin, Togo and Cote d'Ivoire on a regular basis.

Working closely together with German and other European nationalities offered Stanley the chance to strengthen his inter-cultural skills.

His enthusiasm to share his experiences and knowledge with others makes him very pleasant and relatable company during your tour.

portrait of James 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 official Dutch Embassy staff for more than 10 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. Every time James is on leave from the Embassy, he 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.

portrait ofEvans Ofori

Meet your driver: Evans Ofori

Evans is one of our most responsible and skilled drivers.

He joined Jolinaiko Eco Tours early in 2008 and, within a couple of months, he covered a total distance of more than 10,000 km. Since then, Evans has gotten to know all the remote corners of Ghana.

He worked as a professional (lorry) driver for many years and is also a qualified mechanic, giving his passengers an automatic sense of security when they ride with him.

Evans is a reliable and pleasant person to work and travel with.

“ 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.