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Pricing and Payment. We encourage early reservations to confirm your space and secure the best airfares. After receiving the initial deposit (50% of the total cost for your trip), the reservations are accepted. Your final payment (the remaining 50%) will need to be paid two months prior to departure. Failure to deliver complete payment 30 days prior to departure will be considered notification of cancellation by default and is subject to cancellation charges as stated below. Initial deposits and air payments may be made by personal check, VISA, or MC . Serengeti Expeditions. [hereafter referred to as SE.] reserves the right to deny participation to anyone whom it believes unsuitable for a trip (explanation below).

Late Booking. In the event we are able to do a custom booking less than 30 days before trip departure, a $150 expedited service fee (per residence) will be assessed to cover express delivery, telephone, fax and administrative charges necessary to expedite your reservation and transmit your departure materials.

Cancellations and Refunds. If you must cancel before departure, money will be returned less the cancellation fees charged by SE, plus any additional nonrefundable cancellation fees and payments already advanced to airlines, hotels and local operators:

SE Land Cancellation Fees
Days Prior to Departure Fee
61 or more $150*
31-60 $350
30 or less - 100% of land cost

*Note: Cancellation 60 days or less usually results in additional penalties charged by local hotels, operators and airlines, occasionally as much as 100% of their cost. No partial refunds are possible for any unused portion of your trip. Penalties on airline tickets are subject to the individual air carrier's rules and regulations. Departure is defined as the date of the first flight, or the trip departure date as indicated on our Trip Schedule, whichever comes first.

Cancellation fees are based on the date your written notification is received at Serengeti Expeditions.

If transportation or other services are cancelled by Serengeti Expeditions, the seller of travel, all sums paid to the seller of travel for services not performed in accordance with the contract between the seller of travel and the purchaser will be refunded within thirty days of receiving the funds from the vendor with whom the services were arranged, or if the funds were not sent to the vendor, the funds shall be returned within fourteen days after cancellation by the seller of travel to the purchaser unless the purchaser requests the seller of travel to apply the money to another travel product and/or date. In such an event, the seller will return all sums paid by the purchaser less airline ticket cancellation fees and nonrefundable deposits advanced to host country operators and hotels.

Travel. We will work together to coordinate your air and land arrangements. Airfares are not guaranteed until purchased and ticketed. Any increase in fare is the responsibility of the passenger. It is also the passenger's responsibility to assure that the name on your airline ticket matches your passport name by providing the correct name as it appears on your passport to SE, before tickets are issued. If you must change your air routing within 30 days of travel, or after ticketing, there is a $50 per change fee in addition to change or cancellation charges levied by the airlines.

Expenses Covered. Due to many factors beyond our control we reserve the right to change our prices without prior notice, even after you have signed up. However, we do our best to avoid increasing prices without advance notice. Normal price increases generally are not passed on to participants who have already advanced a deposit. Normally, we include the cost of all guides, leaders, entrance fees, permits, accommodations, transportation, and most meals as stated in the planned itinerary [B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner]. Vegetarian and special diets can usually be accommodated. The land cost includes profit and charges incurred by SE, for research, itinerary development, reservations, office administration and pre-departure information services. Quoted costs represent a complete package price; itemized individual costs are not available. Costs not included in the price are some meals as noted in the trip itinerary, transfers if not arriving or departing on the scheduled group flights, soft drinks and liquor, medical expenses, costs of hospitalization or evacuation, laundry, airport departure taxes, accommodations en route to the destination, visas, international airfares, gratuities and insurance. If a trip must be extended or an itinerary modified due to weather, road conditions, lack of transportation, political or civil disputes, medical emergency or other causes beyond our control, the associated costs including any non-recoverable costs are not included in the trip rates or refunds. In such circumstances it is your responsibility to pay directly for actual extra costs in the field (i.e. food, transport, accommodations, etc.). Carry extra traveler's checks and credit card for contingencies.

Custom Trip Planning. We offer Custom independent travel, which requires a $150 non-refundable, trip planning, fee for itinerary development and quotation, which is credited to the final trip cost. Some hotels and lodges require extra deposits at the time of booking to hold space.

Pre-Departure Services. On receipt of your deposit we will forward a comprehensive Pre-departure itinerary, often via email unless hard copy is requested. On our website you'll also find other useful information such as maps, immunization information, visa information, etc. checklist, reading list, cross-cultural information and optional trip extensions. We will continue communication via email/phone as your departure date draws near.

Accommodations. Unless a specific accommodation is requested, we reserve or recommend the best available, reasonably priced, charming hotels/lodges with private bath, hot water, good service and value. Prices are based on two persons sharing a twin-bedded room. Established camping safaris feature full size walk-in tents for two persons with cot-style bedding or sleeping pads. On trekking and camping trips tents, sleeping pads, washbasins, toilet tents, cooking equipment, lanterns, pack animals and portering gear are provided. Participants must furnish their own clothing, daypack, sleeping bags and duffel bag. SE reserves the right to substitute equivalent or superior hotels.

Documentation. U.S. Citizens traveling outside the United States are required to carry documentation of U.S. citizenship, such as a passport, valid for three months after your re-entry to the US. It is your responsibility to obtain proper documentation. If you are not a U.S. Citizen, contact the embassy, consulate or national airline of the country you are traveling to for entry requirements. SE reserves the right to take photographic images of individual participants to use for commercial promotion.

Medical Requirements. Good physical and mental healths are essential for the enjoyment of these active, outdoors trips. You may travel in rugged areas removed from modern medical facilities. Good physical conditioning is recommended as preparation for all trips, especially those involving trekking. By forwarding the deposit and signed Reservation Form, the passenger certifies that he/she does not have any physical or other condition of disability that would create a hazard for him/herself 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 SE and the trip leaders, in writing in advance of travel. SE assumes no liability for medical care or for special dietary requirements. Participants may be required to furnish a doctor's statement of good health. The judgment of SE or the local operator or guide, shall make the ultimate determination of an individual trip participant's fitness to embark upon, or to continue a trip. Once a trip has been confirmed medical circumstances will not be considered as exceptions to our cancellation policy. All participants must be covered by a current medical insurance policy applicable for overseas travel for the duration of their trip. Proof of coverage may be required.