Terms & Conditions
These Terms & Conditions have been updated on 20 September 2023.
1. General
These General Terms apply to all travel services (including bookings and quotations) between Planet Africa Safaris (trading as PLANET AFRICA SAFARIS B.V. and herein referred to as “Planet Africa Safaris”) and you.
These general terms equally apply to any of our employees, officers, managers, agents and alike and to any service provider or third party engaged by us in relation to our travel services provided to you (“Service Providers”). Therefore, any reference to us is deemed to include such persons.
Planet Africa Safaris quotes its travel services in an Itinerary (“Safari Itinerary”). Any Safari Itinerary is a guideline only and is likely to change prior to acceptance as described below. The final Safari Itinerary is formalised through a so-called travel arrangement (“Travel Arrangement”), which is an email with attachments that specifies amongst others your itinerary, accommodation details and price. These General Terms form an integral part of your Travel Arrangement. Any clear mistakes in the Travel Arrangement are not binding.
The Travel Arrangement constitutes a legal agreement between Planet Africa Safaris and you as our client only after we received a non-refundable deposit of 30% of the applicable quoted price (“Deposit”), showing your acceptance of the Travel Arrangement. The Deposit must be received by us before any bookings can be made.
The remaining balance is due 10 weeks prior to your departure date. In the event that the final Safari Itinerary is made within 10 weeks prior to departure date, the entire quoted price is due immediately.
2. Information
You will provide Planet Africa Safaris with all information regarding yourself and the travellers for which you have made a booking which could be of importance in the conclusion and proper carrying out of your Travel Arrangement. You warrant and guarantee that all information given to Planet Africa Safaris in relation to your Travel Arrangement is true and correct.
In particular, you must provide information concerning yourself and the travellers for which you have made a booking with regard to your physical and/or mental condition (including the use of alcohol, drugs or medicines) if this physical and/or mental condition could result in possible disruption, danger or risks to the travellers or to other travellers (passengers and/or crew) or the property of third parties.
You are aware that the carrier (for example the captain of an aeroplane) can refuse you the right to further transport if the information turns out to be incorrect or has not been provided. Information must also be provided on any limited mobility, and on the necessity for accompaniment for minor and disabled travellers, pregnant women, persons who are ill and other accompanying travellers. The traveller is aware that the carrier reserves the right to require a medical declaration with regard to specific medical conditions, and in the event that no such a medical declaration is presented, to refuse the traveller the right to (further) transport.
If you do not comply with your obligations to provide information, and this results in said traveller(s) being excluded from (further) participation in the Travel Arrangement, any costs in relation therewith will be for your account.
3. Prices
In case of delays or late arrival you may lose your right to travel and/or be subject to no show/cancellation fees, of up to 100% of your Travel Arrangement. You agree to pay for any additional costs related to changes that we make to your Travel Arrangement or expenses incurred which were made to accommodate or mitigate the consequences of your delay or late arrival.
Our quoted prices are based on current rates of exchange, tariffs and taxes. We reserve the right to increase our prices to cover increased costs, tariffs and taxes, and to reflect fluctuations in foreign exchange markets.
4. Payment and Cancellation Policy
All payments are required via a wire transfer or credit card payment to the account (and in the amount and currency) specified by Planet Africa Safaris. If a payment is not received by us on the due date we are forced to consider such late payment as a cancellation to which the below conditions specifically apply and we will cancel any bookings or reservations already made.
After we have received your deposit any cancellations or postponements should be received by us in writing by the person whose name is on the invoice. Cancellations fees apply as follows:
- Cancellations received 61 days or more prior to departure will be subject to a cancellation fee of 30% of the invoice total.
- Cancellations received less than 61 days prior to departure will be subject to a cancellation fee as follows: between 61 and 30 days prior to departure = 50% of the invoice total; less than 30 days prior to departure = 100% of the total invoice total.
5. Travel arrangement changes
If you wish to make changes to your Travel Arrangement, we would need to receive those changes at least 2 calendar months prior to your departure date. We will always try to accommodate any requested changes, but we cannot guarantee that changes can be made without incurring additional costs.
6. Itinerary changes by Planet Africa Safaris
Your Travel Arrangement is, at any time, subject to change by us in the event of a Force Majeure. A “Force Majeure” means any event or circumstance beyond our reasonable control, which may affect your Travel Arrangement or our service delivery, in whole or in part (including but not limited to weather and environmental conditions, travel conditions, health conditions, change of regulations, terrorism, war or threat of war, political disputes, civil strife, airline fuel charges, airline delays, increased levies, tariffs and taxes, fluctuations in relevant currencies, price increases or cancellation by a Service Provider, unforeseen technical difficulties or any other cause whatsoever). The extra expenses incurred as a result of such a change shall be for your account.
You are not entitled to cancel your Travel Arrangement because of the itinerary changes, provided the changes are not in excess of 10% and the amended itinerary is not substantially different from your Travel Arrangement. Notwithstanding our standard cancellation policy, if you cancel on this basis your Deposit shall be refunded to you to the extent that we are equally refunded by our Service Providers.
7. Eligibility of claims and refunds
Any complaints must be made known to us as soon as possible (during your trip) in order to enable us to solve any matters adequately, if possible. For claims to be eligible for a refund (i) we must have been notified timely and properly of the complaint giving rise to the claim, (ii) the formal claim must be received by us – at Planet Africa Safaris B.V., Jacob van Lennepstraat 25, 7523 BD Enschede, The Netherlands – in writing within 30 days after completion of your Travel Arrangement and (iii) the claim must clearly describe on which grounds you should receive a refund and it must be accompanied by supporting evidence/documentation. Your Travel Arrangement is quoted as a package and credits are not given for any individual services (including meals missed or not used). We will not be liable for any claims that are not received within 30 days of the termination of your trip.
8. Visa, health and insurance
It is your own responsibility to be in the possession of all necessary travel documents that may be required in respect of your Travel Arrangement, as well as all health and other certificates that may be required. All information we provide to you in this respect is for general information purposes only and we do not guarantee the correctness of this information. You will need specific immunizations when visiting Africa, for which we recommend you seek medical advice.
Travelling in Africa contains inherent risks of illness, injury, death, or the loss and damage of property, therefore you hereby warrant and undertake that you and your travelling group are adequately covered by comprehensive travel and medical insurance for the duration of your Travel Arrangement covering the specific activities included in your Travel Arrangement (including but not limited to travel in light aircraft, helicopters, boats, canoes and balloons, if applicable). Upon our first request you will provide us with evidence hereof.
Although we strive to make your trip as enjoyable and safe as possible, it is your own responsibility to make sure you are fit enough to make the intended trip. It is extremely important that you make any medical problems known to us well before departure. Please contact us before you book should you have any specific health questions or concerns. Be aware that you are travelling in remote geographical areas which may have limited standards of hygiene, sanitation facilities, medical treatment and that medical services, including the presence of a physician or any other trained medical professional and availability of prescription type drugs may be limited or altogether absent.
We strongly recommend you obtain cancellation insurance. You hereby authorize us to, in case of a medical emergency, take any measure and incur any medical evacuation cost that is reasonably required to secure the health and safety of the persons involved, and you indemnify us for any medical evacuation costs.
All baggage and personal effects are at all times at your risk, even when carried by porters. We will not be responsible for any loss, damage or accident to any luggage and property.
9. Flexibility, general conduct
Whilst we will do the utmost to make your travel as comfortable as possible and to closely adhere to the planned Travel Arrangement, you are expected to be flexible and open-minded as to any delays or last-minute changes to your Travel Arrangement. We cannot be held responsible for delays or alterations in the itinerary, or for expenses incurred, owing to operational circumstances or events, including but not limited to a Force Majeure.
In Africa, specific rules and codes of conduct apply for visitors of (safari) parks, communities and campsites. Our guides and/or other persons designated to you are responsible for ensuring that our clients observe to these rules and codes of conduct. You should strictly follow their instructions at all times. If the applicable rules, codes of conduct or instructions by our guide and/or person designated to you are not observed, Planet Africa Safaris reserves the right to terminate your Travel Arrangement or a specific part thereof, or expel a person from your Travel Arrangement or a specific part thereof. In these circumstances we shall not be liable to make any refund, and you or anyone of your travelling group will have no claim of any nature whatsoever against Planet Africa Safaris. You – at your own cost and at your responsibility – will be obliged to make your own way home.
You hereby acknowledge and agree that it your own responsibility to undertake all due precautions to ensure you and your travelling group’s safety and security, and you agree to follow any instructions given.
10. Publicity
We reserve the right without giving further notice, and you hereby permit us, to make use of any photographs or film produced by ourselves and our Service Providers during any of our trips for general publicity purposes without payment or permission.
11. Limitation of Responsibility
You acknowledge that there are dangers and risks inherent in travelling to Africa and in the (safari) activities you intend to undertake in connection with your Travel Arrangement. You assume all the risks connected with or arising out of all aspects of your Travel Arrangement, and you waive any rights which you or your assigns or successors-in-title, dependants or heirs may have against Planet Africa Safaris and agree that we are not responsible nor can be held liable, in respect of your death, personal injury or other damage or loss which you may sustain connected with or arising out of the Travel Arrangement, unless it can be proven that your death, personal injury or other damage or loss is the direct result of gross negligence by Planet Africa Safaris. You indemnify us from and against any and all claims, regardless of the ground thereof, which may be made by any of your travelling group or third party in relation to your Travel Arrangement (unless resulting directly from wilful misconduct of Planet Africa Safaris). In any event, and only to the extent permitted by law, you acknowledge that the maximum indemnity by Planet Africa Safaris is limited to the minimum of either the actual damages incurred (consequential damage is not accepted) or the total price of the Travel Arrangement, whichever is lower. Planet Africa Safaris will not be liable if any damage can be claimed under your insurance cover or could be claimed if you would have taken out the insurances as warranted by you in these General Terms.
Planet Africa Safaris purchases transportation, hotel accommodations, restaurant and other services from various independent Service Providers that are not subject to its control. PLANET AFRICA SAFARIS CANNOT, THEREFORE, BE LIABLE FOR DEATH, PERSONAL INJURY OR ANY OTHER DAMAGE OR LOSS that may occur (1) due to any act or omission of any such Services Provider, (2) by reason of any other event over which it has no control.
Planet Africa Safaris does not accept responsibility for any arrangements made by the client outside of the pre-booked and paid for Travel Arrangement including but not limited to flights, properties, transfers and excursions. All such arrangements are undertaken at the client’s own risk.
You and the persons of your travelling group may be requested to sign a waiver and indemnity upon your arrival. You will be expected to return a signed version to your guide. Additionally, you and the persons of your travelling group may be requested to sign a further waiver or indemnity upon arrival at some camps and lodges and/or before certain additional risk related activities or the Travel Arrangement. We cannot be held responsible for any consequences of your reluctance to sign any of such waiver or indemnity.
12. Basis of agreement, applicable law
The Travel Arrangement (including these General Terms) and any agreements in relation thereto are governed by the laws of Mauritius. Any dispute arising in connection herewith shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts of The Netherlands.
Your Travel Arrangement (including these General Terms) sets out the entire agreement and understanding in relation to our services provided to you and supersedes any and all previous agreements, arrangements or understandings (whether oral or written) between you and us with respect thereto.
You acknowledge that no amendment, cancellation or waiver of any term or right referred to herein shall be valid or binding unless reduced to writing and signed by Planet Africa Safaris and yourself. In the event that any provision hereof appears to be void or nonbinding, both of us continue to be bound by the other provisions and will replace the void or nonbinding provision by another provision that is binding, in such manner that the new provision differs as little as possible from the nonbinding provision, taking into account the object and the purpose hereof.
If you are travelling with (an)other person(s), you hereby warrant that you are duly authorised on behalf of such other person(s) to bind them to your Travel Arrangement. You and each such other person accept personal liability (jointly and severally) for the entire Travel Arrangement.
By booking and paying the Deposit for your Travel Arrangement, you have accepted the liability and insurance clauses outlined above and are also deemed to have understood and accepted ALL of the other conditions set out herein.
Planet Africa Safaris B.V.
Jacob van Lennepstraat 25
7523 BD Enschede
The Netherlands