TERMS AND CONDITIONS

These conditions apply to all tours sold by or through Sidai Africa Tours and Safaris (hereinafter called ‘Sidai Africa’). The tours described in this brochure are sold by Sidai Africa Tours and Safaris. The “Client”, “you” and “your” is all persons named on the booking (including anyone who is added or substituted at a later date) or any of them, as the context requires.

THE CONTRACT

A contract between us only comes into existence after we receive a deposit of 30% of the cost of the tour, and dispatch, by post or electronically, a confirmation invoice. We reserve the right to decline any booking at our discretion.

Please check your confirmation invoice carefully as soon as you receive it.  Contact us immediately if any information appears to be incorrect or incomplete as it may not be possible to make changes later. We regret we cannot accept any liability if we are not notified of any inaccuracies (for which we are responsible) in any document within 10 days of our sending it out (5 days for tickets). We will do our best to rectify any mistake notified to us outside these time limits but you must meet any costs involved in doing so.

FORCE MAJEURE

“Force majeure” is any event or circumstance which we or the supplier of the service(s) affected could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. Such events may include, whether actual or threatened, war, riot, civil strife, terrorist activity, industrial dispute, natural disaster, adverse weather or road conditions, fire, bureaucratic obstacles, changes in schedules or mode of transport by ferry companies, airlines, bus or train operators and all similar events outside our control.

INSURANCE

Adequate and valid travel insurance is compulsory for all Sidai Africa travelers’ and it is a condition of accepting your booking that you agree you will have obtained adequate and valid travel insurance for your booking by the date of departure.

DEPOSIT & PAYMENT

A deposit of 30% is required at the time of booking. This deposit forms part of the payment for the trip and shall be offset to the total amount charged to the client/agent. If the full amount is not paid at least four 60 days prior to departure, Sidai Africa reserves the right to treat the booking as cancelled and the deposit shall be forfeited.

Clients/Agents booking within 60 days of departure are required to pay the full amount to secure the reservation. All bank charges are to be settled by the client or agent respectively. This includes transaction fees charged by our bank. The amount shown on the invoice, is the amount that needs to reflect in our account and should bank charges have been deducted, we would have to invoice you subsequently.

Prices not included in the tour price unless otherwise noted: airfares, visas and passport fees, airport taxes, additional hotel accommodation, laundry, postage, drinks, medical expenses, travel insurance, telephone calls, gratuities to staff and crew.

Availability cannot be guaranteed until booked. We will exercise best efforts to book hotels per the itinerary, however, in busy seasons and with client bookings made within 90 days of tour date we may be forced to offer substitutes.

CANCELLATIONS

All cancellations of confirmed reservations are subject to a $350 per person administrative fee. Additionally, clients are subject to any cancellation fees assessed by the purveyors of services including hotels or airlines used in the itinerary. Cancellations 90 days or more prior to departure will receive full refund minus the $350 per person administrative fee. 60-89 days will be subject to loss of deposit (30% trip price). 30-59 days will be subject to loss of 50% of program price. 29 days or less will be subject to 100% of program price.

If you wish to cancel your tour, we must be informed in writing. Cancellation charges are calculated on the day written notification is received by us.

Cancellation fees for air tickets issued by or on behalf of Sidai Africa will apply as determined by AirlineRegulations and will vary depending on the type of ticket issued. This can be as much as 100% after purchase.

Hotels, transfers and other add-ons will incur cancellation charges depending on circumstances but may be up to 100%.

Depending on your reason for cancellation, these charges may be recoverable under your insurance policy.

No refunds will be made if you leave a trip for any reason after the trip has begun. This includes refunds for any unused sector(s) or sections if you have booked a combination of individual trips.

CHANGES

If you wish to change your booking in any way, you must inform us in writing. If we receive written notification 60 days or more before the departure date of the original tour, an administration charge of $95 per person will be made, plus any other non-recoverable charges or expenses.

Amendments to your booking, in relation to any arrangements made in conjunction with your tour (e.g. pre- and post tour accommodation, transfers, flights etc), received by Sidai Africa within 60 days prior to tour departure date will be subject to a $50 administration fee per change. This fee is in addition to any charges levied by ground operators, hotels or airlines.

If you are prevented from traveling on the tour, you may transfer your booking to another person provided they meet all the requirements relating to that holiday. A transfer from one person to another is also dependent on the availability of tickets, permits and other travel arrangement, as some of these are regulated by local law and are not transferable from one person to another. A transfer fee of $125 is payable, and additional costs such as airline tickets and permit fees may also be payable. Both the person who was originally to take the holiday and the person who actually takes it will be responsible for the payment of the amendment charges and any outstanding balance due in respect of the holiday price and you will also be responsible for any additional costs that are incurred as a reason of substitution or transfer.

On some trips it is not possible for us to accept late bookings as they are subject to availability.

All deposits paid on tours where permits are obtained are non refundable.

CANCELLATIONS OR CHANGES BY US

The information about trips given in this brochure is subject to change. Where practical, any changes will be reflected in the Trip Notes that are sent to you with your Final Documentation. It is your responsibility to review the up-to-date Trip Notes sent to you with Final Documentation. If you make a booking less than 60 days before departure you must ensure you are fully aware of the contents of the Trip Notes. The information and conditions in the Trip Notes will be deemed to be part of the contract.

We plan the arrangements for your tour many months in advance and may occasionally have to make changes, sometimes at short notice, most of which are minor. Flight timings and carriers shown in the brochure are subject to change. A change of carrier will not be considered a major change. If a significant change becomes necessary, we will advise you of the change as soon as possible. Whether a change is ‘significant’ depends on the nature of the tour and may include: alteration to the scheduled departure or return time of your flight by more than 12 hours (but not a flight delay); a change to a lower standard of accommodation; or a change of departure airport. When a significant change occurs, you will have the choice of either accepting the change, or accepting a replacement tour from us of equivalent or closely similar standard and price, or cancelling your tour, in which case we shall refund you in full. In all cases, except where a significant change arises from circumstances amounting to force majeure or consolidation, we will pay you compensation as appropriate. We reserve the right to use alternative forms of transport and/or vary the itinerary if force majeure, breakdown, accident, sickness, etc. make such a change necessary.

Compensation will not be payable if we are forced to cancel if changes occur because of Force Majeure, poor road conditions, weather, the availability of tickets, vehicle breakdowns, changes in transport schedules, or other circumstances beyondSidai Africa control. Sidai Africa does not accept any responsibility for loss of enjoyment, delays or compensation resulting from changes due to Force Majeure or any reasons beyond Sidai Africa control.

CLAIMS AND REFUNDS

Refunds are not made for any missed services, except for verifiable extenuating circumstances. For verifiable claims to be considered, they must be received in writing within 30 days of the termination of the program and be accompanied by supporting documentation and/or a statement from the Operating Company verifying the claim. Any adjustment considered will be based on the actual price of the services involved and not on a per diem basis. Adjustments will not be made for unused sightseeing trips or meals. Sidai Africa will not accept any liability for any claims that are not received within 30 days of the termination of your travel program. All claims for days missed while traveling should be made in writing within 30 days of the termination of the program.

PASSPORTS, VISAS AND OTHER TRAVEL PAPERS

It is the client’s sole responsibility to ensure that passports, visas, health certificates, insurances and any other documentation required are all in order for the countries to be visited. Sidai Africa cannot be held liable for any consequences, damages or claims if the client does not attend correctly to the client’s documentation and related matters prior to commencement of the tour.

ITINERARIES

The itineraries and other details are published in good faith as statements of intention only and reasonable changes in the itinerary, vehicle and equipment use, etc. may be made where we deem necessary or advisable.

If any additional expenses are incurred through delays, accidents or disruption of planned itineraries because of force majeure or considered advisable by us, such expenses are to be borne by you.

You accept that force majeure may prevent us from supplying or performing services and/or itineraries as described.

No refund will be made for unused services included in the tour cost.

Sidai Africa operates trips in regions where standards of accommodation, transport, safety, hygiene, medical facilities and other infrastructure may, at times, be lower than those you normally expect. Please bear this in mind when making your booking.

BAGGAGE

At any time, all baggage and personal effects are at the client’s responsibility and Sidai Africa does not accept any liability for any loss or damage of any personal effects. Please note that on our trekking tours and on some “bush” flights baggage regulations may apply.

RISK

The client accepts that all tours are of an adventurous nature and involve an element of personal risk. Neither Sidai Africa nor any of its agents can be held liable in any way for any injury, loss of life or damage to property, howsoever caused. The client hereby indemnifies Sidai Africa and will hold Sidai Africa, its agent, assigns and servants harmless from any such claim. The client accepts full responsibility for all risks involved.

AUTHORITY ON TOUR

The decisions of the Company’s guide/driver on tour shall at all times be final and binding. The client must at all times comply with the laws, customs and foreign exchange regulations of the United Republic of Tanzania.

MARKETING

Sidai Africa reserves the right to use any photographs and videos taken during tours for marketing or any other advertising material. The client hereby gives consent to use such photographs and authorizes Sidai Africa to retain copyright for these photographs and such material. Program members who prefer that their images not be used are asked to identify themselves to their travel program escort at the beginning of their program.

PRICE CHANGES

Prices are based on current rates of exchange, tariffs and taxes. Should the authorities decide on increasing fees and taxes, even though they might currently not be scheduled, we would subsequently have to pass on these increases.

OUR RESPONSIBILITY

All information on our website has been compiled with reasonable care and is published in good faith.

We promise to make sure that the tour arrangements we have agreed to make, perform or provide as applicable as part of our contract with you are made, performed or provided with reasonable skill and care.

While we always aim to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or our local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognize that there may be times when your group leader/local partner may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the leader to speak to their direct manager.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

You are responsible for informing us in writing at the time of booking of any known illnesses, disabilities or medical conditions, or, if not known at the time of booking, at the earliest opportunity thereafter prior to the departure of the tour. If you are found to have an undeclared or understated medical condition you may be ordered to leave the tour with no refund of the tour fare.

Our Tour Leaders have the authority to make difficult decisions. Should you present a medical condition our tour leader reserves the right to insist that person seek medical advice. If you decline to act upon this advice, you could be putting others on the tour in danger/at risk and may be asked to leave the tour. This extends to physical, mental and behavioral conditions.

TRAVEL ADVISORIES/WARNINGS

It is the responsibility of The Traveler to become informed about the most current travel advisories and warnings by referring to their government’s travel advisory website. In the event of an active Travel Warning against travel to the specific destination location(s) of the trip, should The Traveler still choose to travel, notwithstanding any travel advisory or warning, The Traveler assumes all risk of personal injury, death or property damage that may arise out of the events like those advised or warned against.

ARBITRATION

Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating in any way to these Terms and Conditions, to the trip itself, shall be settled solely and exclusively by binding arbitration in the United Republic of Tanzania.

Travelers Representations: The Traveler represents that neither he nor she nor anyone traveling with him or her has any physical or other condition or disability that could create a hazard to himself or herself or other members of the tour. Sidai Africa reserves the right to decline to accept anyone on a trip. Sidai Africa reserves the right to remove from the trip, at his or her sole expense, anyone whose condition is such that he or she could create a hazard to himself or others, or otherwise impact the enjoyment of other passengers on the trip.

PAYMENT OF THE PROGRAM PRICE CONSTITUTES YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN.