Terms and Conditions
1. About Safari Souls Africa
Safari Souls Africa Pty Ltd, registration number 2015/199600/07, creates and sells tailor-made African itineraries for one combined trip price. The client’s booking and payment relationship is with Safari Souls Africa, while accommodation, transfers, park services, activities, rental vehicles, guides and other parts of the itinerary are delivered by carefully selected independent partners.
Safari Souls Africa may include accommodation, transfers, park fees, activities, meals, rental vehicles and guides where stated in the itinerary. Safari Souls Africa does not book domestic or international flights, although we will gladly assist clients in selecting flights that suit the proposed itinerary.
2. Quotations and Booking Confirmation
All quotations are subject to availability and remain valid only until the validity date shown on the quotation. Prices are quoted in EUR, USD or ZAR, depending on the client and booking, and the client must pay the amount stated in the accepted quotation.
A client may accept a proposal by clicking “Confirm Booking” or, if that function is unavailable, by accepting the proposal in writing by email. Safari Souls Africa will then issue a pro forma invoice and may place provisional reservations with its partners. Provisional reservations are held for periods determined by the relevant partners and may vary according to season, availability and demand.
A booking is only confirmed once the full 30% deposit for the complete itinerary has cleared into Safari Souls Africa’s bank account. Partial payments by individual members of a group do not confirm the booking until the full required deposit has been received. Once the deposit is received, Safari Souls Africa confirms the arrangements with its partners and these Policies become binding.
The person making the booking must be at least 18 years old and may accept these Policies and communicate with Safari Souls Africa on behalf of all travellers included in the booking. That person is responsible for ensuring that the other travellers receive the itinerary, payment information and applicable Policies.
Safari Souls Africa may refuse an enquiry or booking before confirmation at its discretion. The company may also pause, refuse or cancel a booking where required by its bank, payment provider or applicable law, including where there are reasonable concerns relating to identity, fraud, sanctions, unlawful activity or the source of funds.
3. Prices, Payments and Inclusions
A 30% deposit is required to confirm the trip. The remaining balance is due 60 days before the travel date. A booking made within 60 days of departure must be paid in full at the time of confirmation. Safari Souls Africa will contact the client before the final-payment deadline, but the company will not advance funds to keep partner bookings secured where the client has not paid. If payment is not received and a partner releases or cancels a booking, the cancellation provisions below will apply.
Once a quotation has been accepted, the trip price is fixed and Safari Souls Africa will absorb later exchange-rate movements and increases in taxes, park fees or compulsory charges that were known to form part of the accepted itinerary. An obvious and substantial pricing or calculation error will be handled openly and case by case. Where such an error is identified after confirmation, Safari Souls Africa will discuss a corrected price or revised itinerary with the client and seek a fair agreed solution.
All taxes and compulsory charges known when the quotation is issued are included unless clearly stated otherwise. A compulsory local fee that can only be paid directly by the traveller will be disclosed in the quotation as excluded and payable locally. Meals are included only where expressly listed. Tips, gratuities, drinks, laundry, spa treatments, minibar items, personal purchases and optional extras are excluded unless specifically stated.
The client is responsible for all bank, transfer and currency-conversion charges and must ensure that Safari Souls Africa receives the full invoiced amount in the agreed currency. The trip is sold for one combined price and Safari Souls Africa is not required to disclose individual partner costs or its commercial margin.
4. Changes Requested by the Client
Requests to change travel dates, accommodation, activities, traveller names or other confirmed arrangements will be considered subject to availability and the relevant partners’ approval and charges. Safari Souls Africa does not charge its own amendment fee. A date change will normally be treated as an amendment rather than a cancellation, provided the partners can accommodate it.
A booking may be transferred to a replacement traveller as a name change, subject to partner approval and any partner charges. The replacement traveller must meet all relevant age, health, visa, passport and participation requirements.
If one traveller in a couple, family or group cancels while the others continue, the cancellation policy will apply to that traveller’s portion of the booking. Shared accommodation and shared services may need to be recalculated. The full room price may remain payable, and a remaining traveller will be responsible for any single-occupancy supplement or other increase caused by the reduced group size.
5. Flights and Traveller Information
Safari Souls Africa does not book flights. We may recommend suitable flight options and connection times, but the traveller is responsible for purchasing the flights and ensuring that the final schedule is compatible with the itinerary. If the traveller books different flights or timings from those recommended, the traveller accepts responsibility for resulting changes, missed services and additional accommodation, transfer or other costs.
If a flight is delayed or cancelled, Safari Souls Africa will assist where reasonably possible, but the traveller or their travel insurer will be responsible for resulting replacement arrangements and additional costs.
Clients must provide complete and accurate traveller information. Passport copies will be requested when the booking is confirmed so that reservations can be made in the correct names. Safari Souls Africa may withhold final travel documents where required passport information has not been supplied.
6. Passports, Visas, Health and Insurance
Each traveller is responsible for checking and meeting all passport, visa, vaccination, immigration and health requirements. Safari Souls Africa may provide general guidance, but this does not replace advice from embassies, immigration authorities, medical professionals or official government sources.
Relevant medical conditions, disabilities, dietary requirements and mobility limitations must be disclosed before the booking is confirmed so that Safari Souls Africa can assess the suitability of the itinerary with its partners. If important information is disclosed late or not disclosed, Safari Souls Africa will make reasonable efforts to assist, but the traveller will be responsible for any resulting additional costs.
Comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended and should cover cancellation, medical treatment, emergency evacuation, delays, missed connections, baggage and the activities included in the itinerary. A traveller who proceeds without suitable insurance accepts the financial risk of doing so. Safari Souls Africa is not responsible for costs that could reasonably have been covered by appropriate travel insurance.
7. Children, Rental Vehicles and Traveller Conduct
Safari Souls Africa checks known child-age restrictions when designing family itineraries and will not knowingly book accommodation or an activity for which a child is ineligible. Parents and legal guardians remain responsible for supervising children at all times.
Travellers using a rental vehicle are responsible for meeting the rental partner’s licence, minimum-age, credit-card, deposit and insurance requirements. The traveller is also responsible for any vehicle excess, damage, theft, accident-related charges or other amounts payable under the rental agreement.
Travellers must behave lawfully, respectfully and responsibly and cooperate with reasonable instructions given by guides, drivers, accommodation staff, activity operators and other partners. Conduct on the ground is managed by the relevant partner. Safari Souls Africa may accept a partner’s reasonable decision to refuse or terminate a service where behaviour is dangerous, abusive, unlawful or seriously disruptive. The traveller will be responsible for resulting damages, costs and charges, and any refund will be assessed case by case.
8. Safari Activities, Safety and Operational Conditions
Safaris and certain activities take place in natural, remote and sometimes unpredictable environments. Travellers acknowledge the inherent risks associated with wildlife, uneven roads, weather, water, remote locations and limited access to medical facilities. The relevant partner is responsible for communicating activity-specific safety requirements, and travellers are expected to follow those instructions.
A partner may require a traveller to sign its own waiver or indemnity before participating. If the traveller refuses to sign and cannot participate, Safari Souls Africa will not be responsible for providing a refund.
Wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed. Travel times are estimates and may change because of road conditions, border procedures, traffic, weather, wildlife movements or operational circumstances. Transfer times, safari times and activity times may also change provided the service still takes place and the itinerary is not materially reduced. A shortened or altered activity will be assessed case by case.
Accommodation photographs, descriptions, classifications and facilities are based on information supplied by partners and are provided as guidance. Room appearance, views, layout and facilities may vary. A different room within the same confirmed category is acceptable where the agreed standard and occupancy arrangements are maintained.
9. Changes by Safari Souls Africa or its Partners
If a significant change becomes necessary before travel, Safari Souls Africa will offer a reasonable alternative of similar value. A replacement accommodation or partner will normally be proposed for the client’s approval before travel. If an urgent change is required during the trip and the client cannot reasonably be contacted, Safari Souls Africa may arrange the best suitable alternative and inform the client as soon as reasonably possible.
If no reasonable alternative of similar value is available, Safari Souls Africa will assess the circumstances individually and work with the client toward the fairest practical solution. This may include a revised arrangement, a partial refund, a travel credit or another reasonable remedy.
Where changes arise from circumstances outside Safari Souls Africa’s reasonable control, including severe weather, natural disasters, official restrictions, political unrest, road or border closures, park closures, strikes, transport disruption or similar events, Safari Souls Africa will make reasonable efforts to arrange alternatives. The client is responsible for reasonable additional costs resulting from such events. Any refund will depend on amounts recoverable from the relevant partners. If only part of the itinerary is affected, Safari Souls Africa will first try to redesign that portion while preserving the remainder of the trip.
If a partner fails to provide a confirmed service because of its own error, Safari Souls Africa will assess the matter case by case, assist the client and make reasonable efforts to arrange suitable alternatives. Safari Souls Africa is not responsible for the independent acts or omissions of its partners or for additional costs caused by a partner, except to the extent that liability cannot lawfully be excluded.
10. Unused Services, Problems and Complaints
Unused accommodation, meals, activities, transfers or other services are assessed case by case. A refund may be considered where a traveller is unable to use a service and the partner refunds Safari Souls Africa. Services voluntarily skipped by the traveller may not qualify for a refund.
Where a traveller misses part of the itinerary because of lateness or failure to follow instructions, Safari Souls Africa will assist where reasonably possible. Any refund or additional cost will depend on the circumstances and partner arrangements.
A problem arising during travel must be reported to Safari Souls Africa by telephone or email as soon as reasonably possible so that the company and its partners have an opportunity to assist. Guests may contact Safari Souls Africa after normal business hours and the company will respond as soon as reasonably possible, but this is not a continuously staffed 24-hour emergency service. Immediate threats to life or safety should be reported to local emergency services and the relevant on-site partner.
A formal written complaint must be emailed to Safari Souls Africa within 7 calendar days after the client returns from the trip. A delay in reporting an issue may limit the remedies available where the matter could reasonably have been addressed during travel.
11. Liability
Safari Souls Africa provides recommendations and advice, but the client makes the final decision to include particular destinations, accommodation and activities. Personal disappointment or a lack of enjoyment does not by itself create a right to compensation where the agreed service was properly delivered.
Safari Souls Africa is not responsible for lost, stolen, damaged or delayed luggage, valuables or personal belongings. Travellers should keep valuables secure and claim through suitable travel insurance.
To the extent permitted by law, Safari Souls Africa’s liability for a valid claim is limited to the value of the affected service. Nothing in these Policies excludes or limits any liability or consumer right that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited under applicable South African law.