Terms and Conditions

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Terms and Conditions

  1. Company Particulars

All tours under RA Safaris are operated by RA Expeditions Limited, a registered and incorporated company in Tanzania, East Africa (United Republic of Tanzania).

Certificate of Incorporation: 156-771-120

Tax Identification Number: 156-771-120

Value Added Tax Payer registration number: 40-314355-N

Registered address: Maji ya Chai, Arumeru, Arusha.

  1. Timeframe

The timeframe when the terms and conditions apply is as follows:
– When a trip is booked directly with RA Safaris

via the website or through a member of the sales team

via safari marketplaces, online tour brokers

via various travel agents or partner agencies

And applies for the duration of the safari, until the final day of a tour. It does not cover additional days in Tanzania or Kenya before or after the arranged tour, unless otherwise specified with add-on days or additional transfers, as requested.

Terms and Conditions apply to both clients, agents and RA Safaris.

The following Terms and Conditions outline the rights and expectations for each tour and booking with RA Safaris.

  1. Warranties and representations

We warrant and represent that:

We abide by Tanzanian laws and requirements for necessary permits, licenses, memberships and certifications to conduct tours, treks, wildlife safaris and excursions in Tanzania.

All of our guides are trained, competent and certified in their field, be it for mountains or wildlife safaris.

Information as outlined in our itineraries and information pages is accurate.

  1. Third-Party Services

We operate our own tours and maintain our own vehicles.

Third-party services may include: Balloon Safaris, domestic flights, accommodations, cycling and partner tours such as coffee tours and/or cultural meals. We choose exceptional service providers, but note that these are third-party services and not under the direct administration or management of RA Safaris in any way.

 

International Flights

Clients are responsible for arranging their own international flights into Tanzania.

Domestic Flights

Domestic Flights include charter flights and scheduled flights to/from Serengeti, and to/from Zanzibar or Dar es Salaam. Changes to flights are the responsibility of the air carrier. RA Safaris is not responsible for lost or damaged luggage during a flight.

Accommodations

We use quality third-party accommodations for our tours, from camping sites to high-end hotels. These are separate entities from RA Safaris. While we attempt to provide the accurate accommodation information on each of our safari itineraries, late bookings in High Season (from July – September or December – January) may result in changes to exact accommodations.

No accommodation can be confirmed until a booking deposit is completed.

Transfers / Airport Pick-up/Drop-off

Transfers are only guaranteed during the days included in a specific safari itinerary. This includes airport pick-up, drop-off and transportation throughout the days of a scheduled and booked safari.

RA Safaris will pick-up and drop-off clients at the nearest international airport, as agreed based on the original scheduled booking.

Additional travel before, during or after a scheduled safari is at the clients’ own expense.

Third-party Bookings

Third- party bookings include travel agencies, tour leaders and other bookings received and paid through a third party. 

In all cases of third-party bookings, the individual booking the tour will be deemed responsible for tour participants.

Responsibilities include: 

  • Communicating these terms and conditions with all members (consent will be implied, based on confirmation of booking).
  • Timely payments toward full payment of a tour package
  • Communicating and updating necessary information to all participants
  • Sharing accurate information about each participant, including medical concerns, dietary restrictions and other necessary details for ensuring a comfortable tour

RA Safaris accepts no liability in the event of errors or withholding of relevant information in regard to tour participants that negatively impact the travel experience.

  1. Personal information

Some personal information is necessary to complete your tour arrangements, including your name, nationality, identification details, passport photo and number, and in some cases, medical information.

This information will be shared with Tanzania National Parks and Wildlife Management Authorities and in some cases, your accommodations, in order to facilitate park entry, hiking permits, meals and other tour-related endeavors.

Your details and personal information will not be shared with other entities, unrelated to your travel experience, without your express permission.

  1. Communication

Ensure all communication goes through the appropriate means, including only the phone numbers and email addresses listed on the website. Never communicate with a person, even if they represent themselves as a member of RA safaris team, via a personal email or private phone number.

If you have questions or concerns regarding any individual contacting you via another phone number or email address, other than those listed on our website, please contact director Zeph md@rasafaris.com with your concerns.

  1. Bookings 

We invite interested travelers to reach out with questions and request quotes from our office before making a final travel decision. Your itinerary will not be booked based on this communication. A deposit is the only method to ensure your booking has been started, a confirmation email or positive message from either the potential client or RA Safaris team does not guarantee a booking has been secured.

Once a deposit has been received on our end, our team will confirm receipt and begin reserving accommodations, a safari vehicle and further travel necessities. The deposit is necessary to make these arrangements.

A deposit in advance is especially required during high-season, in the months of July, August, September and December.

Full payment for your tour must be made 30 days before your tour is scheduled to begin, unless other arrangements have been agreed upon in writing prior to that date.

Cancelations or Re-bookings

While we appreciate that personal emergencies may affect your travel plans, we also must reserve your accommodations and safari vehicles in advance. Therefore, it is essential that you notify us as soon as possible in the event that you must rebook or cancel your safari.

In most cases, re-bookings can be made with minimum additional charges, especially if we are notified 60 days in advance.

In the unfortunate event that a client must cancel their booking, please note the reimbursement rates as follows: 

  1. Cancellation 90 days before start of tour, partial reimbursement.
  2. 60 days before start of tour (Deposit forfeited)
  3. 30 days before start of tour, 50% reimbursement
  4. 14 days before start of tour 25% reimbursement
  5. 5 days or less before start of tour, no reimbursement

Please note, that if you have travel insurance and have had to cancel your tour due to an emergency, we are happy to share documentation to assist in claiming your insurance benefits.

Cost

After receipt of a booking deposit, the price will be held for the scheduled tour, except in the unlikely event of government increases in park fees, taxes or other related payments as ordered by the government of Tanzania or Zanzibar.

In such an event, clients will be informed as soon as possible and a receipt will be provided and clients. 

Changes to the itinerary

  • Before Travel

RA Safaris encourages clients to design a custom safari, or make minor changes to an itinerary before booking and paying a deposit. It is much easier to make such adjustments during the planning process. Once your deposit has been made and accommodations booked, a client may incur minor charges to new requested changes to the itinerary.

  • After start of Tour

If a client decides to change a tour after it has started (such as visiting a different park, adding an additional excursion or hike), please note that these changes may be possible, for additional costs to cover fuel, ranger fees, park entry fees and new accommodation reservations.

  • Changes by the Company

It is unlikely the company will make changes to the tour, except in the event that weather, road conditions or accommodations are not accessible or acceptable. In such an event, it may be necessary to alter your itinerary, if such happens, we will communicate with you immediately and discuss the best plan forward.

  • Changes because of third parties

RA Safari is not liable for delays, disruptions or cancellations of third-parties, such as airlines and flights, government bodies or customs and border patrols. 

Changes to travel dates

If, after making the payments, you decide to change your travel dates, you must inform us of these changes no later than 60 days before the original starting date of your tour.

Please see the above lists of reimbursement rates for changes to travel dates and re-bookings.

We advise obtaining travel insurance to held cover the costs of trip interruptions or changes.

Cancellation by us

In the unlikely event of us cancelling your tour due to our mistake or over-booking, we shall issue a 100% refund to return all payments and deposits.

  1. Acceptance of Risk

All participants in RA Safari excursions, tours and safaris accept the reality of inherent risk to visit remote areas of Africa. The client does hereby waive RA Safaris of all liabilities deriving from damage, injury, loss, death and/ or medical issues directly linked to travel to remote areas in a developing nation. Further, participants waive RA Safaris of all liabilities related to participation in adventure-activities, including swimming, hiking, mountain climbing, balloon safaris, domestic flights and other activities while on safari. Clients are advised to purchase additional travel insurance that covers the items listed.

While it is advised to purchase relevant travel insurance for extreme sports and other activities, this comes at a client’s individual cost and is completely separate from RA Safaris.

  1. Extenuating Circumstances

Under no condition shall RA Safaris be liable for calamities such as: natural disasters, declarations of war, labor strikes, political unrest, weather changes or other events that could disrupt an arranged tour.

Children

RA Safaris welcomes families with children. Please note all minors for tours must be in the care of an adult parent, family member, or legal guardian.

Adults making bookings for children under the age of 18 years accept these terms and conditions on a minor’s behalf. 

Because of the inherent risks of wildlife in the national parks, it is necessary for children to be supervised by a responsible adult at all times. Furthermore, the adult person booking the tour accepts responsibility for any damages or other liabilities as a result of the child’s conduct or related mishaps that may incur. While our guides are attentive, please note we do not offer babysitting or child minding services as part of our tours.

RA Safaris is not liable for entry permits or visas for a minor to enter Tanzania, so please ensure you have all documentation to facilitate legal entry of a child into Tanzania. 

  1. Entry to Tanzania and Immigration/Visa

It is each individual traveler’s responsibility to ensure they have all documents and identification in place to complete legal entry into Tanzania. One’s passport should be valid 6 months from the date of entry, and have a minimum of two blank pages for stamps and visas. Further, many travelers may obtain an online e-visa before arrival. It is one’s own responsibility to research and know if they need a visa appointment and or embassy interview in order to obtain entry to Tanzania, based on the most up-to-date information posted by Tanzania Immigration.

You are also responsible for bearing all visa, vaccination and other entry-related costs.

RA Safaris is not responsible if a client is denied entry into Tanzania or faces travel delays due to visa or immigration issues en-route to Tanzania.

  1. Accommodations

Our itineraries may name a specific hotel for your tour. While we do our best to ensure this is the same hotel where you will stay, high-season crowds or late bookings may make this impossible. In such an event, we will book your stay at a hotel of the same calibre, in the same area. Please note that hotel accommodations are third-parties and no hotel accommodation can be confirmed until a deposit is made. 

  1. Dietary and Medical Needs

Any traveler with special medical or dietary needs, must make our team aware within 1 month (30 days) of travel to ensure we can update accommodations and service providers to accommodate such needs. Failure to communicate medical or dietary needs may result in lack of proper provisions during your tour.

  1. Adherence to Guides

All parties that agree to participate in an RA Safari tour, expedition or safari also agree to adhere to the safety instructions of the guides and national park rules. Our guides are experts in their fields and understand wildlife behavior. Adherence to their instructions is crucial for safety and enjoyment.

  1. Camping Equipment

If you book a safari tour that includes camping (whether basic camping or luxury camping) please note that:
1) We provide basic camping equipment including tents, tarps, sleeping pads and camping stove and kitchen items for basic camping as part of the camping fees, unless otherwise stated

2) We provide luxury camping equipment, including tents, chairs, kitchen equipment, kitchen stove, and camping showers and toilets as part of luxury camping, unless otherwise state.

Because this equipment is property of RA Safaris, we expect clients to be respectful and careful. Clients are liable and may be charged additional fees for lawful damage or destruction beyond normal wear-and-tear on all camping items. 

  1. Personal Items

RA Safaris accepts no responsibility for client’s personal items, including cameras, cell phones, luggage, passports or identification cards or any other personal effects. All items are each individual’s responsibility. RA Safaris will not be liable for items that are lost, stolen or damaged during the safari due to personal negligence or outside interference.

  1. Photography Agreement

All clients participating in tours with RA Safaris may be photographed or videographed and their image be used in our business social media pages, including YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and other channels, without compensation or reference to you. Further, we may use such photos in marketing and on the website.

Any client wishing NOT to have their image to appear in any photo video or other media should expressly communicate such in writing, ideally before the start of their safari, in order for us to avoid using their likeness in any photo or video.

  1. Complaints

RA Safaris aims to ensure an excellent travel experience for each and every tour. If, in the unlikely event, a client is unsatisfied with their tour or travel experience, clients agree to reach out to our team, expressly Zeph (md@rasafaris.com) to discuss the matter and reach a mutual conclusion.

  1. Adherence to the Laws of Tanzania in every matter

In every case, including disputes and other concerns, the abiding law in Tanzania will govern all decisions.