Booking Terms and Conditions for Animal Safaris
Booking terms and conditions are set guiding principles by Animal Safaris, a Tour and Travel Company in Uganda and East Africa to help customers get the best services. These well-laid down Terms and Conditions are aimed at balancing the interests of the clients with those of the company. We advise clients to read the Terms and Conditions carefully to get the best out our services. Our terms and conditions may be amended from time to time basing on the changing circumstances.
CANCELLATIONS BY US
It’s very uncommon for Animal Safaris annul confirmed bookings as we take much effort to avoid even though we have the right to do so if conditions necessitate. Your confirmed holiday shall not be cancelled less than a month before departure unless you fail to make all the required payments on time or we are compelled to do so as a result of unforeseeable circumstances beyond control. If we cancel your holiday (except where you have failed to make payment or as a result of force majeure), the company will give you another option of purchasing an alternative holiday from us of a similar standard to that originally booked if available. And if the chosen alternative is less expensive than your earlier booked tour, we shall refund the difference but if it is more expensive, we shall ask you to pay the difference.
On the other hand, you are at liberty to get a full refund of all money you have paid to us save that paid for gorilla permits and Chimpanzee permits which can only be refunded if the refund has been made available to us. Except where we cancel for reasons other than those mentioned in this clause, we shall have no additional liability to you. We regret we cannot pay any expenses, costs or losses incurred as a result of any cancellation. We reserve the right, without prior notice, to terminate the holiday of any person in your party if, in our opinion or in the opinion of any other person in authority, the persons concerned behave in such a way to cause or be likely to cause danger, annoyance or distress to any third party or harm to property. In this situation, the person(s) concerned will be required to leave the accommodation or other service immediately. We shall have no further responsibility towards such person(s). No refunds will be made and we shall not pay any expenses or costs incurred as a result of the termination.
IN CASE YOU CANCEL YOUR TRIP
Depositing money to us is an indication of readiness to make use of the tour and travel arrangements and accommodation we reserve on your behalf. Should you or any member of your booking cancel your holiday, you are requested to write to us officially and inform us.
At Animal Safaris, we are human enough to understand why a guest has cancelled a trip.
– If you has booked with us having paid for a gorilla or chimps permits, we sell those permits and refund your money as it and we usually do this to our beloved clients.
– If cancel before we used your money to pay for accommodations or on any logistical items, we again refund your money. We don’t take money we have not used.
– We don’t take money we have not used, that’s why, we are ready to refund any unused amount.
TRANSFER OF BOOKING
In the event you are unable to come due to extraordinary circumstances, we may transfer your booking to another party provided the arrangements remain the same and if suppliers like airlines, hotels, lodges and others all accept the changes in the booked schedules. Just in case the transfer involves some costs, they will be communicated still. But you should know that Gorilla permits are not transferable.
COMPLAINTS
Complaints must be reported right away to our representatives and to the supplier of the service(s) to resolve any problem. If you remain dissatisfied, write to the Safari manager in Kampala as soon as possible to enable us to investigate them fully.
FORCE MAJEURE
Regrettably, we cannot allow any responsibility or pay reimbursements where the proper performance of our obligations is affected by any incident which we or the supplier of the service(s) in question could not prevent or keep away from. Such incidents may take the form of war or threat of war, riots, civil strife, border closures, unforeseen government acts, terrorist activity, industrial disputes, natural or nuclear disaster, excessive weather conditions, fire, technical or mechanical problems to transport, road closures, disease and all related events beyond our power.
We acquire transportation, hotel accommodations, lodge facilities, restaurant services medical evacuation services and other services from various independent suppliers that are not subject to our control. We cannot therefore, be liable for any death, personal injury, property damage or other loss that may occur due to any act or omission of any such supplier, or by reason of any other event over which we have no power.
CHANGING RATES
The Company reserves the right to revise US Dollar prices without notice to reflect marked increases in foreign exchange or tariff rates before accepting deposits from you. We also reserve the right to withdraw a tour or any part of it, to make such alterations in the itinerary as it deems necessary or desirable, to refuse to accept or retain as a member of any tour any person at any time, and to pass on to tour members any expenditure or losses caused by delays or events beyond our control.
GORILLA PERMITS
Only when payment has been received can permits for gorilla tracking in the relevant National Park be purchased. Getting a gorilla permit is not a guarantee of seeing a gorilla. At times, access to the gorillas is made impossible at short notice due to various circumstances and we cannot accept liability for any condition that might lead to gorilla tracking cancellation. It may be the closure of the National Park, borders, absence of the gorillas; security changes and or any cause. Refunding is at the good judgment of the appropriate authority and we cannot agree to any liability for them. Otherwise, we shall use our utmost attempts to secure a refund and pass it on to the client.
INSURANCE
At the time of booking, you need to indicate that you have an appropriate insurance for the type of holiday being taken with us. That insurance should fully cover death, personal injury, medical expenses, repatriation in the event of accident or illness or death, cancellation or curtailment of the holiday by either side and loss of, damage to, or theft of the clients’ personal property. Activities with risks like mountaineering hikes, Balloon tours, animal tracking on foot and white-water rafting, Walking tours, Chimpanzee and gorilla tracking plus Canoe and boat riding should be covered. Please be aware that your personal safety cannot be guaranteed and that you participate in such activities at your own risk and that the company takes no liability for your safety.
MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS
Excellent physical and mental health is vital for the enjoyment of these of all tour activities. You may travel in rugged areas detached from up to date medical facilities. Good physical conditioning is recommended as preparation for all tours, especially those concerning trekking. By forwarding the deposit, the visitor certifies that he/she does not have any physical or other condition of disability that would create a danger for him/her or other passengers. It is essential that any participant with a medical condition requiring regular treatment or which may be affected by vigorous activity, high altitude, heat, cold, other natural phenomenon, or particular foods, notifies us and the tour leaders, in writing in advance before the travel. We accept no liability for medical care or for special dietary requirements if not informed long in advance. The medical requirements by some places like Ngamba Island are a sole responsibility of the client to meet them
JURISDICTION
Animal Safaris is incorporated in the Republic of Uganda and it operates under the laws of Uganda. Therefore, your contract with it and matters arising out of it will be governed by the laws of Uganda put aside for contracts made through our associated company.
LIABILITY
Animal Safaris shall strive to ensure that all components of the holiday are supplied as described in the information sheet and to a reasonable standard and that the company employees, agents, suppliers and sub-contractors exercise due care in carrying out our obligations under the contract. We accept responsibility for what our employees, agents, suppliers and sub-contractors do or do not do (provided they were at the time carrying out work authorized by us). In case any part of your holiday is not provided as advertised, we shall pay you appropriate compensation if your enjoyment of the holiday has been affected and you have followed the complaints system set out in these terms and conditions. But this acceptance of responsibility is subject to the clause relating to “Force Majeure” above and these Terms and Conditions in general.
Our maximum liability in respect of complaints (except where death, personal injury or illness results, or where claims relate to loss or damage to possessions or luggage, which are dealt with below) is limited to an amount equal to the cost paid by or on behalf of the person affected for the relevant services. The maximum amount will only be payable where the affected person has derived no benefit from the holiday and none of the services contracted have been provided. Liability for loss or damage to luggage or personal possessions (including money) will be compensated to a maximum of US$30 on the basis that the client is assumed to have taken out adequate insurance cover in respect of such losses at the time of booking.
The company will take due care to avert your death, injury or illness being caused by the animals or insects at the destinations. It is your responsibility to take proper medical and practical safety measures in this regard to your health. Medical advice should be sought well before travelling. Based on these Terms and Conditions, we accept responsibility should you or any of your party suffer death, personal injury or illness as a result of any failure to perform or improper performance of the contract by any of our employees, agents, suppliers or sub-contractors (provided they were at the time carrying out work authorized by us) except in the following situations:
We will not be liable where any failure to perform or improper performance was due to: (i) the acts or omissions of a third party not connected with the provision of the holiday under the contract and which were unforeseeable or unavoidable; (ii) an event which we or the supplier of the relevant services could not have foreseen or avoided even with all due care. Any claim must be notified to us in accordance with the complaints procedure set out above. Any person to whom any payment is made (and their parent or guardian if that person is a minor) must assign to us and our insurers any rights they may have to pursue any third party in connection with the claim and provide all necessary assistance to us and our insurers that be reasonably required.
QUOTATIONS/BOOKINGS/PRICES
Please note that the quotation provided with details of number of clients, dates, accommodation, transportation, permits, park fees and all other services to be provided is clear and accurate before confirming the booking in writing. All references to quotations in writing shall include reference to correspondence by facsimile and electronic mail. The price of your chosen holiday will be confirmed at the time of booking. In other words, we reserve the right to correct errors in both advertised and confirmed prices and will do so immediately after becoming aware of any such mistake.
Once the price of your holiday has been confirmed, subject to the correction of errors, a surcharge will only be payable if transportation costs, taxes, accommodation costs or gorilla permits increase in total to over 2% of the holiday price (excluding insurance premiums). If you are required to pay more than 10% of the original holiday price, you will be entitled to cancel your holiday with the full refund of all the money paid to us except for any premium paid for insurance and fees paid for gorilla permits. Should you decide to cancel under these provisions, you must exercise your right to do so within 14 days of notification to you of the surcharge. We reserve the right to increase or decrease the prices of unsold holidays at any time.
PAYMENT
At the time of booking you must confirm acceptance of these terms and conditions and pay a deposit of 30% of the price of your holiday including fees for gorilla permits. (See on gorilla permit section). In case a written acceptance is not received from you, we shall assume acceptance of our Terms and Conditions. The balance must be paid in full not later than 10 days before departure for the trip. Bookings made within 30 days of departure must be paid in full at the time of booking. All monies you pay to one of our authorized agents for your holiday with us will be held by the agent on our behalf until it is paid to us or refunded to you.
While you are booking your holiday with Animal Safaris Limited, kindly quote the tour planned date time for arrival and departure, number of people travelling and sleeping arrangements. For your own feeding comfort, please specify your interests like Vegetarian or any feeding allergic cases to make our arrangements with the hotels or lodges your contentment. Children below 12 are not allowed to track chimpanzee and children under 15 are not allowed to trek the gorillas.
SAFARI TERMS
Prices comprise of airport transfers; accommodation; meals as stated; the services of a driver/guide and a safari vehicle; porterage of two items of baggage per person; boat trips; park fees; gorilla and chimpanzee permits where appropriate. Prices leave out airfares, entry visas, airport taxes and gratuities as well as personal expenditure such as drinks and laundry. Two luxury lodges provide drinks, laundry and massage and they are Gorilla Forest Camp and Volcanoes Lodge and whoever pays for a package with these lodges will always have these services at these lodges. In Kampala, Entebbe or Kigali the prices include bed and breakfast only. On the safari the prices cover full board. The company reserves the right to vary the safari services agreed with the client in the event of unanticipated conditions, such as road closures, bad weather, problems with national parks or hotels, security considerations, natural disasters and many more. In such cases alternative arrangements will be made as circumstances permit.
TRANSPORTATION
Every effort is made to ensure that vehicles are provided in a roadworthy condition but no liability can be accepted for breakdown, or any damage or delay. Our guides are instructed to follow our code of conduct for Guides (available on request), which you must not ask them to break in any way. In the event that a Guide does not follow the code, please inform the Safari Manager. Company vehicles must only be driven by the company’s Guide whose decision on all matters, such as the route taken, is final. You will be liable for any damage caused to a vehicle by any interference by you with the vehicle, including legal and other expenses.
DELIBERATE EXECUTION
Your deposit to Animal Safaris certifies that you have watchfully read and totally understood the contents of the Terms and Conditions, especially those regarding cancellation and refund policies, limitation of liability, and responsibility shouldered by trip participants. On the advance of a deposit to Animal Safaris Ltd, the depositor, his or her family and heirs agree to be bound by the above Terms and Conditions.
Animal Safaris Ltd
P.O Box 37400 Kampala Uganda
Bwebajja along Kampala – Entebbe Highway
Telephone: +256 772 381 544
Email: info@gorillasinafrica.com or gorillasinafrica@gmail.com
Websites:- www.gorillasinafrica.com