Kumuka: Our History

The word Kumuka originates in Africa, and is Swahili for “awakenings” or “the beginning of a journey”.

Established since 1983, Kumuka Worldwide has been one of the leading specialists in adventure travel for the last 26 years, successfully taking its passengers on exciting tours renowned for their quality, reliability and value for money. Now spanning seven continents; Africa, Asia, Australasia, Antarctica, North America, Latin America and Europe, Kumuka’s variety of tour styles and destinations continues to draw in a diverse and exciting range of customers, only strengthening our reputation as being one of the leaders in the adventure travel market.

Beginning with one expedition vehicle and a driver, our goal was to lead passengers on the trip of a lifetime across the wild and untamed continent of Africa. The famous blue Kumuka 4WD trucks conducted overland camping safaris, which allowed our customers to get off the beaten track and experience the true Africa.

As our popularity grew, we were able to expand our tours and operations into Latin America; offering both guided small group tours, which utilised public transport and budget hotels in both South and Central America and overland tours in South America respectively. The demand for Kumuka’s unique blend of adventure filled, but affordable tours has increased steadily over the years, and 10 years ago we yet again expanded our horizons, this time to the Middle East, where we discovered its suitability to our overlanding and small group tours.

In Europe we introduced coach hotel tours for the independent, like-minded traveller. Run by a team with un-paralleled knowledge, we offer you everything you’d expect from a coach tour but also combine it with a greater amount of time spent in the major cities as well as plenty of free time.

Not content with already running over 100 tours to five continents we then expanded into operating small group tours in South East Asia, China and India, which have been ever more increasingly popular. Our most recent ventures have been the hugely successful family adventure tours, specialist tours to Antarctica and small group tours to West Africa.

As Kumuka has grown, so have the expectations and desires of our clients, and we continue to be true to our roots, catering for all manner of travellers who are united by their desire to experience everything a country has to offer; the major sights as well as the little known ones, with quality meals, service and accommodation. All at excellent value. We now run tailor made tours, lodge based tours, self-drive and trekking tours.

We have evolved into a company with offices stationed all over the globe, ranging from London to Australia, America to Dubai.

Our clients tend to be between 18 and 45 with the average age being 28. It is attitude, however, that is more important than age and we do take clients over 45 if the style of travel suits them. In general our clients are professionals with 65% travelling solo.

Visit the Kumuka Worldwide global website