Africa Tourist Info Booking Terms & Conditions
All enquiries, advice, quotations or estimates provided by or bookings made and/or all services rendered by or on behalf of Africa Tourist Info cc registration cc/99/486 (‘the Company’) are subject to these terms and conditions (‘the Conditions’).
1. Booking Your Holiday
Once you have agreed to an itinerary as supplied by us, the Booking Form must be completed and a deposit must be paid to secure your booking. The person who signs the Booking Form does so on the behalf of all persons named therein and all are subject to these conditions. The deposit required is 20% of the full safari cost as detailed in the proposed itinerary (‘the Safari Cost’), the balance of full payment is then due no less than 60 days (8 weeks) prior to intended departure date as detailed in the proposed itinerary (‘the Departure Date’). Bookings made within 60 days of the Departure Date must be accompanied by the payment in full to secure the booking. No booking will be considered definite or contract made until the booking form and deposit are both received, accepted by us and a confirmation/invoice issued. When making payment by bank transfer, the amount quoted on the booking form must be the amount that reaches the Africa Tourist Info bank account; i.e. any charges levied by your bank, or any corresponding banks, must be paid in by you addition to the safari payment. Africa Tourist Info will pay bank charges levied by our bank only. Late balance payment may result in the cancellation of the reservation.
2. Amendments & Cancellations by You
If you wish to make any changes to, or cancel the content of your safari after a contract has come into existence we will require such requests in writing, signed by the signatory of the Booking Form. If you wish to change any details of the content of your safari (e.g. change departure dates, accommodation types or even parts of the itinerary) we will do our best to help, however there will be an Amendment Fee levied. If you wish to cancel your holiday the following cancellation charges will be applied from the day written request of cancellation is received by us:
Amount of cancellation charge is shown as a % of total cost of safari
More than 60 days prior to Departure Date 20% Deposit – this 20% deposit is non-refundable
60 to 31 prior to Departure Date 50%
30 days or less prior to Departure Date 100%
3. Amendments & Cancellations by Us
Due to the nature of the countries travelled in we reserve the right to make minor changes (e.g. places of accommodation, route changes) to the itinerary as long as changes offered are of equal or similar standard/value. Very rarely, we may be forced to cancel or curtail your holiday after departure where a force majeure situation (such as those described in clause 4) arises. In this situation, we regret that we cannot make any refunds, pay any compensation or be responsible for any costs or expenses incurred by you as a result.
4. “Force Majeure”
We regret we cannot accept liability or pay any compensation where the performance or prompt performance of our contractual obligations is prevented or affected by reasons or circumstances amounting to “force majeure”. This includes any event which we the supplier of the service(s) in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid such as, for example, war or threat of war, civil strife, natural or nuclear disaster, industrial dispute, terrorist activity, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events.
5. Third Party service providers
The Company provides clients with travel and/or other services either itself or acting as agents for principals engaged in or associated with the travel and tourism industry, such as car hire companies, air charter companies, airlines or accommodation establishments (‘collectively referred to as ‘the Principal’). The Company represents the Principals as agents only and accordingly accepts no liability for any loss, damage, illness, harm, injury or death which any Client may suffer as a result of any alteration act or omission on the part of or the failure of the Principals to fulfill their obligations, whether in relation to travel arrangements, accommodation or otherwise unless, in the case of injury or death, it is due to the negligent act or omission of the Company. The contract in use by the Principals (which is often constituted by the ticket issued by the Principal), shall constitute the sole contract between the Principal and the Client and any right of recourse the Client may have, will be solely against such Principal. The Company will provide the identity and terms and conditions of (or access thereto) all the Principals relevant to the service being provided for the Client’s booking. It is the Client’s responsibility to familiarise itself with such terms and conditions (‘the Principal’s Conditions’).
6. Your Responsibilities – Please Initial
Under terms of this contract, all clients are required to purchase suitable travel insurance on payment of the deposit. This must include at least the costs of medical expenses, repatriation, cancellation and/ or curtailment of your holiday. It is also the responsibility of the client(s) to ensure that they are in possession of a current passport with at least 6 months validity and all other documents required for your safari (e.g. valid visa). The company will not be liable if you fail to do so and you will be responsible for meeting any additional costs incurred by reason of such failure.
7. Responsibility
All tours are booked and arrangements are made on the express condition that The Company, its employees and agents, shall not be responsible for, and shall be exempt from, all liability in respect of loss (financial or otherwise), damage, accident, injury, death, harm, illness, harm, trauma, delay or inconvenience to any Client (which shall be deemed to include the heirs, executors, administrators or assigns of the Client whether on the tour or journey or not), to or of their luggage, or other property, wherever, whenever and however the same may occur and whether or not arising from any act, omission, default, or negligence on the part of the Company whatsoever, unless such claim is for injury or death and due to a negligent act or omission of Company. The Client indemnifies and holds harmless the Company, its employees and agents accordingly. The Company, its employees and agents shall furthermore not be liable for any consequential or indirect loss or damages whatsoever, unless section 61 of the CPA applies.
8. Overseas Standards Expectations
We ask you to note that standards in certain overseas countries restaurants, bars and accommodation houses are often quite different to those accepted as the “norm” in Europe, America and Australia, especially in third world countries. Do not expect European/ American/ Australian standards overseas. Expect the relative ‘norm” found at your country of destination, often best explained in the many good travel guides at bookshops. There can be no monetary compensation in the case of such scenarios or disappointments.
Namibia is an incredible country to visit, but please remember that we are in Africa and that not all standards are the same as in Europe, US or other ‘first world’ countries. To the majority of our guests, that is part of the appeal of travelling to destinations such as ours. If you are not comfortable with new challenges, then you may wish to consider other destinations instead. If something goes wrong which is beyond our control, we will do our utmost to remedy this and are on call for you 24/7, but please be aware that we will not entertain requests for refunds if ourselves or our suppliers have not been negligent.
9. If You Have a Problem
If you are unhappy with any aspect of the Company’s arrangements while you are on the holiday, you must address the problem with the Company’s representative, contactable 24 hours a day on our emergency number, so that it may be corrected during the safari. If you have contacted the Company while on holiday, and the problem could not be resolved locally, you should send the full details in writing (e-mail is acceptable) to Africa Tourist Info to be received within 15 days of the completion of your safari. We believe it is totally unreasonable to take NO action whilst on holiday, then to write a complaint or adverse report upon return. As a result we will not be in a position to deal with any such complaints.
10. Behaviour
We reserve the right in our absolute discretion to terminate without notice the safari arrangements of any client whose behaviour is such that it is likely in our opinion to cause distress, damage, danger or annoyance to other clients, employees, property, any third party, to the animals or to themselves. If you are prevented from travelling because in the opinion of any person in authority you appear to be unfit to travel or likely to cause discomfort or disturbance to other passengers our responsibility for your safari thereupon ceases. Full cancellation charges will apply and we will be under no obligation whatsoever for any refund, compensation or costs you may incur.
11. Special Requests
If you have any special requests (such as dietary requirements) these must be noted on the Booking Form at the time you confirm your booking. We shall do our best to meet your requirements.
12. Law & Jurisdiction
Namibian law and the jurisdiction of Namibian courts will govern the relationship between the Client and the Company. The Company shall be entitled to institute any legal proceedings arising out of or in connection with this contract in any Magistrates Court having jurisdiction, notwithstanding that the amount in issue may exceed the limits of such jurisdiction.
13. Confidentiality
Subject to statutory constraints or compliance with an order of court, the Company undertakes to deal with all Client information of a personal nature on a strictly confidential basis.
14. Copyright
The Conditions and any intellectual property and specifically copyright therein and any proposals, presentations, estimates, quotes and itineraries provided by the Company shall remain the sole and exclusive property of the Company.
15. Entire Contract
The Conditions, the Booking Form & any itinerary constitute the entire terms of the relationship between the parties. There exist no other terms, conditions, warranties, representations, guarantees, promises, undertaking or inducements of any nature whatsoever regulating the relationship and the Client acknowledges that he/she has not relied on any matter or thing stated on behalf of the Company or otherwise that is not included herein.
