About us

Leo Dietrich

Growing up in the Ruhr region of North Rhine-Westphalia, when the last coal mines were still open, Leo decided to study History, Arabic and Islamic Studies in Münster (B.A.) and later African Studies in Leiden (M.A.) after leaving school. With a keen interest in foreign languages and other cultures, he was unsurprisingly drawn to Egypt, Algeria and - of course - Mauritania for long periods while still a student. In 2019, he met Hademine there, who not only became a good friend, but also lent him the mattress for his first trip with the train. When he's not editing videos for ChingiTours, he's researching Abd al-Qadir and Mauritanian hip hop, interviewing contemporary witnesses (project: MEMORIA), or amateurishly imitating the Texan accent in Mauritanian sitcoms.

Favorite song: Sedoum Ahmed - Vargouna

Hademine Ahmedou

As different as life in Germany and Mauritania may be, there are similarities. For example, Hademine also grew up in a mining region. Unlike in the Ruhr region in western Germany, however, the mines in Zouérat are far from closed. Hademine realized early on that he wanted to pursue education rather than coal and moved from Tiris Zemmour to the capital. He studied English in Nouakchott and even founded the English Speakers Club. “Open wide the door, open wide the gate!” Hademine took this motto literally and let hundreds of couchsurfers from all over the world stay with him free of charge. He quickly came up with the idea of familiarizing visitors to Mauritania with the culture and sights. No sooner said than done. Years of experience in the tourism sector as a tour operator and licensed guide meant that he now knows every corner of the country - and has done more train journeys than many wagons.

Favorite song: Udo Jürgens – Griechischer Wein

Martin Böcker

After interesting years in the Ruhr area and the Bergisches Land region, Martin decided to become an officer in the German Armed Forces in 2005, where he studied political and social sciences and then had the opportunity to work in various areas in Africa. This also took him to Dakar in Senegal for a few years, where he fell in love with the country and its people. His passion for traveling, especially in remote areas and with local means of transport, connects him with Leo, whom he met in 2023 and who motivated him to establish contact with good guides in Senegal. When he's not tending to his unkempt garden or hanging out in cafés, he goes for walks and does amateurish imitations of great thinkers.

Favorite song: Asaf Avidan - One Day

Daouda Ndiaye

Daouda has oscillated between tradition and modernity from an early age. He spent his childhood partly in the Serer village of Fissel Mbadane (near Mbour) and partly in the city. After receiving his Bac (Senegalese Abitur), he studied English at the Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, from which he graduated with a B.A. in American Civilization and a diploma in translation. Far removed from the academic ivory tower, the fashion freak financed his studies by trading traditional clothing in the capital's markets. His passion for travel and encounters led him into tourism, an industry that is deeply rooted in his family. Whether Dakar, Saint-Louis, Kédougou or beyond the Senegalese borders to Gambia and Guinea-Bissau - as a licensed guide, the quadrilingual Daouda ensures authentic experiences. Those who travel with him not only get to know the country, but also experience it in all its facets - always with a smile.

Favorite song: Youssou N'Dour - Liguey

Sleeping outdoors

Many of our tours offer the opportunity to spend the night outside, often in the most beautiful places in the country. Whether an oasis, a rocky plateau, or the desert itself. You've never seen the sun set like this before.