TERMS AND CONDITIONS SIMPLY AFRICA GMBH as from 1 January 2023
Please read and take note of all the information in this document. Paying your deposit and taking a journey with us signifies your acceptance of these terms and conditions:
o Prior to confirming the booking, each guest must take out comprehensive travel, medical, cancellation, curtailment and default insurance for the duration of their trip.
o Due to the remoteness of the areas which you will visit, it is vital that all guests are covered for emergencies and other unforeseen circumstances.
o We will not be held responsible for any guest travelling without insurance.
1. QUOTATION
o Quotations are valid for 7 days from the date of the quotation. Bookings cannot be held for longer, and are only confirmed on receipt of deposit.
o Quotations and payments are in US Dollars.
o The rate of exchange can only be determined on the date of payment of an invoice.
o The price quoted is subject to change in the event of any unforeseen increases in fuel costs, currency fluctuations (relevant to aircraft or transfer services) and/or Government levies/taxes.
The relevant cancellation policy applies should a guest fail to join or start their safari journey for any reason, including airline delays or missed connections – see Sections 2 & 3. Please ensure adequate travel insurance is in place for this eventuality.
1.a GENERAL INCLUSIONS FOR LODGES & CAMPS AND MOBILE SAFARIS (unless otherwise specified):
o All accommodation is on a shared basis (single supplements apply as relevant);
o All meals in camp - and local drinks (excludes premium imported brands and champagnes);
o Scheduled camp activities;
o Most safari camps include two game activities per day in their rate - one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Private activities and guides may be booked, at an additional cost, for sole use or special interest activities. Please note activities cannot be guaranteed, as they are subject to weather conditions, but every attempt is made to make alternative arrangements on the rare occasions that an activity is not possible.
o Laundry in camp (not mobiles) for stays of more than two nights;
o Transfers specified in the quote;
o Services of the camp guides and staff;
o Accommodation taxes, the applicable Tourism Levies and all relevant Value Added Tax (VAT) or Government Sales Tax (GST).
1.b GENERAL EXCLUSIONS FOR LODGES, CAMPS AND MOBILE SAFARIS (unless otherwise specified):
o Meals not specified in the quote, such as lunch and dinner in town hotels;
o Any meals, drinks, Park fees, entrance fees, porterage, excursions, transfers not specified in the quote;
o Any scheduled flights and related taxes, for example, flights from home to and from Johannesburg and on to Maun/Windhoek/Victoria Falls/Harare/Bulawayo/Vilanculos/Pemba/etc;
o Cancellation, baggage and medical insurance;
o Telephone charges and any other items of a personal nature;
o Staff gratuities;
o Any new Government Taxes, levies, fuel or industry increases which are beyond our control.
1.c GENERAL INCLUSIONS FOR HOTELS (unless otherwise specified):
o All accommodation is on a shared basis (single supplements apply as relevant);
o Breakfast is provided in the rate (unless otherwise specified);
o Accommodation taxes, the applicable Tourism Levies and all relevant Value Added Tax (VAT) or Government Sales Tax (GST).
1.d GENERAL EXCLUSIONS FOR HOTELS (unless otherwise specified):
o Laundry;
o Telephone and any other items of a personal nature;
o Lunch and Dinner;
o Transfers to and from airport, unless specified in the quote;
o Staff gratuities;
o Any new Government Taxes, levies, fuel or industry increases which are beyond our control.
1.e GENERAL INCLUSIONS FOR HOUSEBOATS (unless otherwise specified):
o All accommodation is on a shared basis;
o All meals are provided in the rate (unless otherwise specified);
o Soft drinks, water, wine and local beer are provided (not unlimited);
o Accommodation taxes, the applicable Tourism Levies and all relevant Value Added Tax (VAT) or Government Sales Tax (GST);
o Fuel per day - 3 hours cruising time, 8 hours generator time, caddy for tender boat;
o Basic fishing tackle (any lures lost will need to be charged).
1.f GENERAL EXCLUSIONS FOR HOUSEBOATS (unless otherwise specified):
o Laundry (there is no laundry service available);
o Transfers to and from the boat, unless specified in the quote;
o Staff gratuities;
o Any new Government Taxes, levies, fuel or industry increases which are beyond our control.
o Parks Fees, Daily Fishing Permit (currently US$5,00 per person per day), Lake Entry Fee (currently US$10,00 per person for 2 – 7 days.
2. DEPOSIT AND PAYMENT POLICY
o A booking is confirmed once we have received a 25% deposit.
o Payments are to be made in US$ via bank transfer. All bank charges are for the guest's account.
o Full payment is due ten weeks (70 days) prior to arrival date, after which date cancellation fees escalate in accordance with our cancellation policy below.
3. CANCELLATION POLICY As the Agent we are required to apply and adhere to our Partners' terms and conditions:
o If a cancellation is made more than (up to) 10 weeks before departure, the 25% deposit is non-refundable;
o If a cancellation is made between 4 and 10 weeks of departure, 25% of the total safari cost is added to the non-refundable deposit and retained by us;
o If a cancellation is made between 3 and 4 weeks of departure, 50% of the safari cost is non-refundable;
o If a cancellation is made between 2 and 3 weeks prior to departure, 60% of the safari cost is non-refundable;
o If a cancellation is made less than 2 weeks prior to departure, 100% of the safari cost is non-refundable.
In the case of a refund being due this will be forwarded to the client once we have received it from the operator.
4. CHANGES TO BOOKINGS
Changes may be made, and guests substituted, subject to availability. Any differences in costs apply, as do these terms and conditions.
5. AIR CHARTER FLIGHTS
Costs quoted are based on a seat or circuit rates basis unless a charter flight is arranged. Please note that there are specific limits applicable for air charters on a seat or circuit rate basis:
WEIGHT AND LUGGAGE RESTRICTIONS PERTINENT TO ALL LIGHT AIRCRAFT TRANSFERS
a. Luggage, including camera equipment and hand luggage, is restricted per person travelling on seat or circuit rates, as follows: 20kg (44lbs) in Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
b. Only soft bags will be accepted. Bags or cases with wheels, frames or rigid structures cannot be transported as they physically cannot fit into the aircraft.
The maximum dimensions of the soft bags which can be accommodated are as follows: 25cm (10 inches) wide x 30cm (12 inches) high and 62cm (24 inches) long. Please keep in mind that the baggage compartments on the light aircraft are only 25cm high (10 inches), so the pilots must have the ability to manipulate the bag into the compartment.
c. A collapsible wheeled luggage frame/trolley that is separate to the bag is allowed, as long as basic dimensions are similar to that of the bag.
d. Please inform us in advance if you or anyone in the party weighs 100kg (220lbs) or more, as an extra seat must be purchased for safety and comfort.
These limits are applicable to guests travelling on a seat or circuit rate basis so may differ if guests have booked a sole use or private charter option, in which case the maximums depend on the type of aircraft and the number of passengers booked.
6. PASSPORTS, VISAS & TESTS
6.a PASSPORTS
All visitors to Southern Africa require a valid passport (usually for at least 6 months after departure), together with onward travel documents, and sufficient funds for the duration of their stay. Sufficient blank pages (not endorsement pages) are required in their passports for visas - our recommendation is 3 pages (or even 4 if you are travelling through more than one country on your journey). If your passport is about to expire, or there is insufficient visa page space in the passport, entry into a country could be denied. This is unfortunately not within our control.
6.b VISAS
All passport holders should verify visa entry requirements with their relevant Embassy or Consulate. If you are extending your journey to other countries, please establish entry requirements for those countries as well. Bear in mind that you may need a multiple entry visa.
Should a visa payment be required, for example at port of entry, this will usually need to be made in US$ cash. Change is seldom available and thus having the exact amounts payable is essential. Traveller’s cheques, credit cards, or any other types of bank card, are not accepted for this purpose.
6.c COVID TESTS
Payment for covid tests are the responsibilty of the traveller and paid directly to the clinic gathering the sample and/or laboratory screening the sample
7. DEPARTURE TAXES
International Airport Departure Taxes (applicable at manned airports only) are usually to be paid in US$ cash on departure, unless included in your air ticket cost.
We cannot be held liable for any visa or travel documents not held by our guests.
8. HEALTH
Your travel itinerary may include camps/hotels that are situated in malaria areas. Please consult a general practitioner, pharmacist or travel clinic, and establish what precautions will be required.
Guests will be charged directly by the relevant service providers for any emergency services they may require, and may find themselves in a position of being unable to access such services should they not be carrying the relevant insurance cover. It is compulsory to have full medical, emergency evacuation and repatriation cover for the full period of time that you are travelling.
8. RESPONSIBILITY
Simply Africa GmbH, or any of our suppliers, such as lodges activity operators and transfer companies, nor any person, agent acting for, through or on behalf of said companies, will be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever, arising from any cause whatsoever, and without restricting the generality of the afore going, shall particularly not be responsible for loss or damage arising from any errors or omissions contained in its website, brochure or other literature, loss or damage caused by delays, sickness, theft, injury or death. Our suppliers have the right at any time, and at their discretion, to cancel any safari, or the remainder thereof, or make any alteration in route, accommodation, price or other details and, in the event of any safari being rendered impossible, illegal or inadvisable by weather, strike, war, government or interference, or any other cause whatsoever, the extra expenses incurred as a result thereof shall be the responsibility of the guest. The company may, at its discretion and without liability or cost to itself, at any time cancel or terminate the guest’s booking and, in particular without limiting the generality of the afore going, it shall be entitled to do so in the event of the illness, illegal or incompatible behaviour of the guest, who shall, in such circumstances, not be entitled to any refund.
The person making any booking will, by the making of such booking, warrants that he or she has authority to enter into a contract on behalf of the other person/s included in such a booking and, in the event of the failure of any or all the other persons so included to make payment, the person making the booking shall assume personal liability for the total price of all bookings made by him/her.
9. LAW
Swiss law applies in the event of any dispute.
Directors
SIMPLY AFRICA
1 January 2023