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. |
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