Overland safari TOURS, KENYA
THE TRUE AfricAN ADVENTURE SPECIALISTS
“It’s all about exploring the roads less travelled and immersing yourself in the culture.”
With 20 years of experience, starting from founding the African Touch in New Zealand, to this day operating back in Kenya under the new brand 'Punda Milias,' we've honed our expertise in organising overland safari tours across Africa. While the major attractions are covered on our African overland routes, you’ll also get off the beaten track where tourists are rarely seen.
Unlike big tour operators, our reliable tours have a personal way of connecting with each passenger and making sure your trip is completely hassle free. Our 14-30 day safari trips are specifically tailored to suit the group, with lots of fun surprises along the way. Each destination puts you face-to-face with diverse cultures, jaw-dropping landscapes and fascinating histories.
Karoma will share his extensive knowledge with you – from the ‘big 5’, to the tribes people, local economies, his childhood, history and the environment. You will come away with a deeper understanding of this amazing continent, plus a collection of life-long memories.
Our fully serviced camping safaris take care of all meals, setting up camp and cleaning - making this an ideal trip for all ages. The food is wholesome and we cater to all dietary needs.
So join us for a truly unforgettable adventure by exploring the remains of Africa’s vanishing wildernesses and get to know the ever-shrinking indigenous tribes on the continent. This will be the adventure of a lifetime!
east africaN EXPLORER
GAMEPARKS | HISTORY | LANDSCAPES | CULTURE
Come and see where it all began! East Africa is where modern humans first began their journey over 300,000 years ago. Originally consisting of a stunning blend of peoples from the Bantu, Nilotic and Cushite tribes, the region has seen all manner of societies throughout its long history - from the Arabs, to the Portuguese and the British. East Africa is a rich cultural melting pot of heritage derived from the mixing of these diverse cultures. It is also home to some of the world’s most spectacular scenery and abundant game-viewing locations. So come and take a journey with us from the shores of Lake Victoria in Uganda, to the crystal-clear blue waters on the Island of Zanzibar, on this absolutely unforgettable safari!
Namibian NOMADS
GAMEPARKS | DESERTS | LANDSCAPES | CULTURE
The driest country in sub-Saharan Africa, Namibia is home to some of the most incredible, Martian-like landscapes on our planet. The deserts here are also one of the last remaining refuges for the San people – Namibia’s oldest indigenous inhabitants. The journey starts at the breath-taking Victoria falls in Zimbabwe, and winds its way through the Okavango Delta in Botswana which is home to some of the world's most endangered species of large mammal. The tour reaches its climax in Namibia with visits to the infamous Etosha National Park, Fish River Canyon Park and to the highest sand dunes in the world at Sossusvlei. Full of surprises and personal touches along the way – this is a once-in-a-lifetime safari!
MAGICAL KENYA
GAMEPARKS | LANDSCAPES | CULTURE | GREAT MIGRATION
Kenya – no other name is more synonymous with the word "safari." Few other places on the planet conjure such a spirit of adventure and romance. The diversity of things to do in Kenya dazzles all who visit, and viewing the country's abundant wildlife tops the list. See throngs of wildebeest thundering across the savanna during the Great Migration in the Maasai Mara; come eye-to-eye with elephants in Amboseli; or marvel at Lake Nakuru, flecked with thousands of flamingos. In these sun-soaked lands, ancient tribes, such as the Maasai, Kikuyu, and Samburu, retain their traditional customs, living in relative harmony with the natural world. Few places can rival Kenya for the safari experience – all of your African dreams covered over 14 magical days!
THE GREAT APE-SCAPE
GORILLAS | GAMEPARKS | LANDSCAPES | CULTURE
This tour certainly has to be one of the top on our list! Uganda is unique in its ability to combine a huge diversity of wildlife and safari experiences along a single itinerary. We’ll warm up with chimp tracking in Kibale, one of the most remarkable wildlife experiences available on the continent. After that we’ll head to Queen Elizabeth Nation Park - the ideal habitat for big game and ten primate species. The pinnacle of the trip is a walk on the wild side to the Bwindi Impenetrable Reserve - dotted by forests and lakes and dominated by the dramatic Virunga Mountain range - where just under 350 mountain gorillas live and play among the mossy undergrowth of the forest floor. With more adventures to come through Kenya, this is undoubtedly the wildlife adventure of a lifetime!
YOUNG EXPLORERS
FAMILY TOUR
Unlike most safaris provided by big tour-group operators, ‘Young Explorers’ offers an incredible itinerary that has been carefully curated for your whole family to enjoy. Drawing on Karoma’s intimate knowledge of his homeland, this exclusive tour is packed with Kenya’s finest attractions - culture, wildlife, nature and history. Starting in the Samburu National Reserve and traversing through the Great Lakes region from Baringo to Naivasha, you will experience local culture and wildlife like no other. You will meet the peoples of the legendary Samburu and Masai tribes, and be elated by the rhino’s and big cats of Ol Pejeta Conservancy and the Masai Mara. It is certain your kids will never forget this intoxicating holiday!
landcruiser 4x4 full day and 1/2 day rentals
If you don’t feel like going on a big tour of the continent and would prefer to keep your activities local, then we have two perfect custom-lengthened Landcruiser safari vehicles at your disposal. These are ideal for short forays into the bush around the camp, particularly for Soysambu Conservancy and Lake Nakuru National Park. These vehicles can also be used to make your own custom trip so you can go wherever takes your fancy, be it the Masai Mara, Tsavo or Laikipia! Rates for a full day are USD $250 and $200 for a half day - driver included - and can accommodate up to 6 people per vehicle.
What we’ve seen…
Our customer’s testimonials…
FAQ’s
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The best time to visit Africa shifts from south to east to north, depending on rainfall and wildlife. You can find somewhere for a beach holiday year-round, but most people go for the exceptional wildlife. For Southern Africa, the winter dry season falls between May and October when game viewing is at its best, but to catch East Africa’s Great Migration, you’ll need to travel between June and early September. Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda is year-round, but Jan-Feb and June-Sept are much cooler months.
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Aligned with your decision about when to go and what you want to see on your Africa overland tour, is how long to go for - this can be between 14-15 days and 20+ days.
Ultimately the amount of time you have will determine how much distance you can cover. If you’re just taking a break from work, this is more likely to be a shorter period of time and you’ll be limited to short trips to countries that only skim the surface.
But, if you’ve got an open calendar to play around with, then you’ll be able to explore more countries for longer periods of time - here you will be able to determine if you can see all the things you want to in that period.
At Punda Milias, we recommend 4 weeks or more overlanding in Africa. This will allow you to fully absorb the experience and cover a lot of territory in a relatively short amount of time. -
Yes. African safaris are safe.
The vast majority of people who go on safari in Africa have a perfectly safe trip. How safe your African safari is, largely comes down to the risks you take and whether you choose to follow sound advice. Of course, unexpected things happen - anywhere at any time, and safaris are no exception. While on safari, follow the instructions from your safari guide at all times. They know animal behaviour and how to act around them. They’ve been studying the wilderness for years and are very keen to share that knowledge with you! -
Safaris are crucial for taking care of our environment and for the protection of our animals. Trips like ours bring in money which promotes sustainability and encourages conservation among local communities.
Protected areas in developing countries depend on tourism fees. For example, South Africa’s national parks get 70% of their income from tourism revenue (i.e. entrance fees, accommodation, restaurants). This contributes directly to wildlife conservation because these reserves must deliver what tourists are paying for – wildlife.
Countless other wildlife-rich areas worldwide, such as East Africa, depend on the the surrounding wildlife for economic reasons, and when safari tourism drops, poaching skyrockets. A 2015 decline in safari-driven tourism due to terrorism led to increased poaching, leading local activists to further encourage safaris.
More and more safari camps and lodges are focused on community involvement and on engaging local community stakeholders through job creation, education and training. It is local community involvement in tourism and wildlife conservation that is more effective as a deterrent approach for poaching than traditional conservation law. Essentially, working directly with communities to make sure members are receiving benefits from conservation efforts is the most impactful conservation model.