safaris for photographer

1. How to Book: The Contract - Arrangements - Deposit or full payment

When you make a booking you must complete a booking form, accepting on behalf of all your party the terms of these booking conditions, and pay a non-refundable deposit of 25% Per person of the total tour fare. If you do not state that only the deposit must be taken the full amount will be taken. I prefer full payment of course. If the booking is done ages before i will be willing to keep from processing the payment till 6 weeks before BUT it MUST be stated clearly on the form! All persons named on the Booking Form shall be referred to collectively as "the Client" or "Clients". If the booking is made through a travel agent, all communication from Safaris For Photographers (hereinafter referred to as "SFP") will be addressed to that agent who acts as agent for the Client in regard to all communication from SFP to the Client. No contract shall exist between SFP and the Client until the prescribed deposit has been paid and the Client's booking on their signed Booking Form has been confirmed by SFP. The deposit will be refunded should the ATA not be able to accommodate the Client on the requested tour.

For accommodation 50% deposit required with full payment 30 days before arrival.

Minimum deposits for tours R4000.

2. Payment

The full amount of the tour fare due by the client to SFP, must be paid by no later than six (6) weeks prior to the date of departure for all tours, otherwise ATA may treat the booking as being cancelled by the Client. Late applications may however join the tour on an "accommodation available" basis. For budget operators credit cards normally have a bank charge of 5% - this is not the case with car rentals. This is the actual cost of bank charges. the reason we don't accept credit cards but put the cards through the operators accounts is that my bank ; ABSA; wants to charge me 7,98% to process cc transactions. On top of this they want to charge me a monthly fee as well.
Please understand if payment is not received and the price goes up you'll have to pay the new price. Inflation is at such a run that some operators have increased their price twice over the last 9 months with a total of 50%. Booking that was made 4 months before and had a deposit paid was honoured but unfortunately bookings made 3 months before and had no deposit paid was charged the new price.

3. Cancellations by the Client

We have been very slack i.r.o. cancellations. Operators do turn people away though and once you have lost a customer he is lost to the operator forever. Not really fair and unfortunately not affordable anymore.
Cancellation of a booking must be made in writing, by the person signing the Booking Form and is not effective until such cancellation is received and acknowledged by SFP. If the cancellation is received 31 days or more prior to departure, the 25% deposit will be forfeited. In the event of cancellation 30 days or less prior to departure, the following charges will apply:

30 - 15 days - 50% of total fare
14 - 0 days - 100% of total fare

If the Client fails to join a tour, or join it after departure, or leaves it prior to its completion, no tour refund will be made, unless prior agreements between SFP and the Client that only a portion of the tour is to be undertaken .The Client must state this in writing to SFP, at the time of booking, and this written request must accompany the Booking Form.

We STRONGLY advise taking out travel insurance that cover cancellation. Over the last 8 years we have only had 4 cancellations. One was a Botswana upmarket cancelled 4 days before with valid reasons and the client claimed and received over R30 000.

4. Cancellations by SFP

SFP reserves the right in any circumstances to cancel the tour, and all tours shall operate subject to a minimum of participants. In instances where SFP cannot provide the tour booked, SFP will return to the Client all moneys paid, which shall constitute the full extent of the Company's liability to the Client, or SFP may offer the Client an alternative holiday of comparable standard.
We hate cancelling anything. We like dealing with reliable operators that runs guarranteed. I can absolutely understand that you are planning a trip months ahead and have to book a flight ages in advance. So we have numerous times stopped dealing with operators that has shunted clients around. You might find that other booking agents offers more trips but our trips RUN!

5. Alterations to Itineraries

Although every effort is made to adhere to itineraries printed in this brochure, SFP reserves the right to occasionally change routes and accommodation as brought about changing conditions. When a major change becomes necessary, notification of such alterations will be sent to the Clients agent or to the Clients last known address as soon as SFP becomes aware, The Company reserves the right to alter itineraries after departure if it is in the Client's interest to do so. SFP will not be responsible for any compensation to the Client, if SFP is forced to cancel or in any way change the tour due to force majeure, namely war, riot, civil strife, industrial dispute, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, adverse weather conditions or other external circumstances beyond SFP's control.

6. Authority on tour/Exclusion from tour

The decision of the driver or guide employed by SFP will be final on all matters likely to endanger the safety of the group. SFP shall not be responsible for or liable to any Client who commits an illegal or unlawful act in any country visited; the Client may be excluded from the tour without any refund of the tour fare. If SFP considers a Client as unsuitable for a tour, it may be in its absolute discretion to cancel such Client's booking or decline to carry the Client further if that Client causes inconvenience or annoyance to other passengers. We use one operator that has actually told a client that he will drop her off if she carried on like she was and did. As i know the operator "well" (as in his reputation) i totally backed him.

7. Alteration to booking conditions

No employee or representative of SFP has any right to alter, vary or waive any of these conditions, nor to undertake any liability on behalf of the Company, unless such be in writing and signed by a director of SFP.

8. Health

The Client acknowledges being aware of the proposed itinerary and hereby confirms that he or she is medically fit ,in good health and is able to embark on the tour. Any Client with a pre-existing medical condition or illness must declare the true nature of such condition at the time of booking and must make arrangements for the provision of any drugs or other cause of treatment which may be required during the tour. Such a Client would be required to provide a medical statement from a GP to confirm that they are fit to travel. All information will be treated in the strictest of confidence by SFP and its representatives.

9. Vaccinations

The Client must take all necessary inoculations as are required or generally recommended in relation to the countries to be visited. For some countries a valid Certificate of Vaccination against certain diseases may be required. The Company does not accept any responsibility whatsoever for any Client being refused entry to any country due to incorrect or incomplete health documentation or vaccinations.

10. Baggage

All Baggage and personal effects are at all times at the Client's risk and SFP cannot accept any liability for any loss or damage to baggage or personal effects.

11. Travel Documentation & Visas

It is the responsibility of the Client to be in possession of a valid passport, Visa permits, vaccination and other medical certificates, and all other travel documents, including travellers cheques where applicable. SFP does not accept any responsibility for changes in regulations for visas or any particular requirements for visas. SFP cannot be held responsible for the failure of the Client to obtain the necessary visas. Should a client be refused entry to any country due to incorrect or incomplete documentation, SFP is not liable for any costs of such delays or repatriation costs for the Client.

12. Insurance

Travel and cancellation insurance is mandatory for all Clients. Before a Client commences a tour, he or she must arrange his or her own insurance with a reputable insurer, with protection for the full duration of the tour, to cover personal injury, medical expenses, repatriation expenses, loss of luggage and the expenses associated with cancellation or curtailment of a tour. If a Client becomes ill, all hospital expenses, doctors fees and repatriation costs are the client's responsibility and SFP will not be made liable for any refund of the tour cost.

13. Liability

Client's bookings are accepted on the understanding that they appreciate the possible risks inherent in adventure travel and that they undertake the tours, safaris, river trips and expeditions featured in this brochure at their own risk. While every precaution is taken to ensure the safety of the Clients participating on the tour, SFP does not hold itself responsible for death or any injury or loss which might occur to such persons, sustained from any cause whatsoever. The Client and his/her dependants, heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, hereby indemnify and hold blameless, SFP and its members, employees, representatives, organizers, helpers and agents from any claims of whatsoever nature and for any liability for delay, loss, damage, injury, illness or death, arising from any cause whatsoever out of events relating to or occurring during the tour.

14. Information

Information given in all brochures, leaflets and advertising is given in good faith by SFP, and these are based on the latest information at the date of publication. SFP reserves the right to change any of the facilities or vehicles described in the brochure without becoming liable for compensation or refund. While every effort is made to keep to the prices advertised in this brochure, SFP reserves the right to increase the tour fares due to any unforeseen increases or exchange rate fluctuations to which it may be subjected.

15. Advertising

Clients should be aware that the authorized tour leaders and representatives of SFP may take photographs and films of our Clients while on any of the tours, and SFP reserves the right to use such material for any advertising or brochure production without obtaining further consent and without payment to the Client.

16. Jurisdiction and law

This contract shall be interpreted according to the laws of the Republic of South Africa.

17. Severability

If any part, term or provision of this Contract is held to be illegal or unenforceable, it shall not affect the validity of enforceability of the remainder of the Contract. Furthermore, if any covenants are held illegal or unenforceable by virtue of its scale, extent or duration, it shall remain valid and enforceable in such reduced scale, extent or duration as any court may decide as being the maximum scale, extent or duration permissible.

18. Cost of Making Changes to the Holiday

If a Client wishes to transfer from one tour to another, before 30 days of departure, and if SFP agrees, an administration cost of 100 Euros equivalent per Client might be charged if we feel like it. Normal cancellation fees apply within 30 days of departure.