Terms & Conditions

1. Our Role

In Awe of Africa creates and arranges private tours, safaris and tailor-made journeys throughout Southern Africa.

Depending on your itinerary, we may arrange accommodation, private transportation, professional guides, safari activities, excursions, flights, meals, entrance fees and other travel-related services.

Some services may be provided directly by In Awe of Africa, while others are provided by carefully selected independent suppliers such as safari lodges, hotels, airlines, charter companies, transfer operators, activity providers and local guides.

We exercise reasonable care when selecting the suppliers and experiences included in our journeys.

2. Making Your Booking

When making a booking, please provide the full names, nationalities and dates of birth of all travellers exactly as they appear in their passports.

Additional information may be required depending on the countries, accommodation, flights or activities included in your itinerary.

Once your itinerary has been agreed, we will normally hold the arrangements provisionally for up to 14 days, subject to availability and the requirements of the individual suppliers.

Your booking becomes confirmed once the required deposit has been received and confirmation has been issued by In Awe of Africa.

Some safari lodges, airlines and specialist properties may require earlier confirmation or payment. Where this applies, we will advise you before confirmation wherever reasonably possible.

3. Prices

Your quotation is based on the costs, exchange rates, taxes, park fees, conservation levies and other applicable charges known at the time it is prepared.

In Awe of Africa reserves the right to amend a quotation before the booking has been confirmed.

Once your booking has been confirmed, we will make every reasonable effort to honour the confirmed price.

Occasionally, governments, national parks, airlines or other authorities may introduce or increase taxes, conservation levies, tourism fees, airport taxes or similar compulsory charges.

Where such increases occur after confirmation and are outside our reasonable control, the additional amount may need to be passed on to the client at cost.

Any significant additional charge will be communicated as soon as reasonably possible.

4. Payment

Unless different conditions are clearly stated in your quotation or booking confirmation:

Deposit

A 30% deposit of the total journey price is required to confirm your booking.

Final payment

The remaining balance is payable 45 days before departure.

Bookings made within 45 days of departure

Full payment will normally be required when the booking is confirmed.

Certain safari lodges, airlines, charter companies or other suppliers may require a larger deposit or earlier payment. Where this applies, we will endeavour to communicate the relevant requirements before the booking is confirmed.

Bank charges, international transfer fees and applicable payment-processing charges are the responsibility of the client and are normally non-refundable.

5. Our Flexible Cancellation Policy

We understand that circumstances can change and that clients may occasionally need to cancel or postpone their journey.

Our philosophy is simple: In Awe of Africa does not seek to profit from a client's cancellation.

Wherever reasonably possible, we will work with our accommodation providers and other travel partners to recover refundable payments and minimise the client's financial loss.

Unless different supplier-specific conditions have been communicated for a particular part of your journey, our standard cancellation conditions are:

More than 90 days before departure — No In Awe of Africa cancellation fee

In Awe of Africa will not charge its own cancellation fee. The client will receive a refund of amounts paid, less any non-refundable payments already made or contractually committed to third-party suppliers and any unavoidable transaction costs.

61–90 days before departure — 5%

A standard cancellation charge of 5% of the total journey price applies, together with any additional non-refundable third-party supplier costs that exceed this amount.

46–60 days before departure — 15%

A standard cancellation charge of 15% of the total journey price applies, together with any additional non-refundable third-party supplier costs that exceed this amount.

31–45 days before departure — 30%

A standard cancellation charge of 30% of the total journey price applies, together with any additional non-refundable third-party supplier costs that exceed this amount.

15–30 days before departure — 50%

A standard cancellation charge of 50% of the total journey price applies, together with any additional non-refundable third-party supplier costs that exceed this amount.

8–14 days before departure — 75%

A standard cancellation charge of 75% of the total journey price applies, together with any additional non-refundable third-party supplier costs that exceed this amount.

7 days or less before departure — Up to 100%

Cancellations made seven days or less before departure may be subject to a cancellation charge of up to 100% of the total journey price.

All cancellations must be submitted to In Awe of Africa in writing.

Supplier-specific cancellation conditions

Safari lodges, hotels, airlines, charter companies and other independent suppliers may impose their own deposit and cancellation conditions. Where those conditions are more restrictive than In Awe of Africa's standard cancellation policy, the supplier's actual non-refundable charges may need to be deducted from any refund due to the client.

We will endeavour to make significant supplier-specific cancellation conditions known before the booking is confirmed.

Recovering your money

When a journey is cancelled, In Awe of Africa will make reasonable efforts to recover refundable payments from our suppliers. Where a supplier refunds an amount to In Awe of Africa that would otherwise have formed part of the client's cancellation charge, that recovery will be taken into account when calculating the client's refund, subject to reasonable and genuinely incurred costs.

6. Postponing Your Journey

Where circumstances allow, we would prefer to help you postpone your journey rather than lose it altogether.

If you need to change your travel dates, we will make reasonable efforts to transfer your arrangements to suitable alternative dates.

Where our suppliers permit existing payments to be transferred or credited, we will pass that benefit on to the client.

The client will only be responsible for additional genuine costs associated with the new travel dates, including seasonal accommodation differences, increased airfares, park fees, conservation levies or other supplier increases.

No additional In Awe of Africa cancellation charge will be imposed simply because a supplier has agreed to transfer the booking.

7. Serious Illness, Bereavement & Exceptional Circumstances

We recognise that some cancellations occur in difficult circumstances.

If you need to cancel because of serious illness, injury, bereavement or another significant unforeseen personal circumstance, please contact us as soon as reasonably possible.

In Awe of Africa will make reasonable efforts to negotiate with the relevant suppliers for reduced cancellation charges, postponement, travel credits or refunds.

Any concession offered by an independent supplier remains subject to that supplier's discretion and cannot be guaranteed.

Comprehensive travel insurance remains strongly recommended.

8. Changes Requested by the Client

We understand that travel plans can evolve.

If you would like to change your confirmed itinerary, please contact us as early as possible. We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate your request.

Where a requested change results in additional accommodation, transportation, flight or other supplier costs, these costs will be communicated before the change is confirmed wherever reasonably possible.

9. Changes by In Awe of Africa

Travel in Southern Africa sometimes requires flexibility.

Weather conditions, road conditions, wildlife movements, conservation requirements, flight schedules, accommodation availability and safety considerations can occasionally require changes to an itinerary.

Minor changes may be made where reasonably necessary without fundamentally altering the nature or overall standard of the journey.

If a significant change becomes necessary before departure, we will inform the client as soon as reasonably possible and endeavour to provide a suitable alternative.

Where accommodation must be substituted, we will endeavour to provide accommodation of a comparable or higher standard.

If we cannot provide a substantial part of the confirmed arrangements and no reasonable alternative is available, we will endeavour to provide an appropriate refund for the affected services, subject to applicable law and amounts recoverable from the relevant suppliers.

10. Force Majeure

Occasionally, extraordinary circumstances beyond the reasonable control of In Awe of Africa or its suppliers can affect travel. These may include, but are not limited to:

• War or threat of war
• Civil unrest
• Terrorism
• Natural disasters
• Wildfires
• Flooding
• Extreme weather
• Epidemics or pandemics
• Border closures
• Government restrictions or actions
• Industrial disputes
• Major transportation disruption
• Other extraordinary circumstances outside our reasonable control

If such circumstances affect your journey, our priority will be to assist you.

Where practical, we will work with our suppliers to rearrange, postpone or provide suitable alternatives for affected services.

Where a supplier provides In Awe of Africa with a refund or transferable credit for an affected service, we will pass the applicable benefit on to the client, subject to reasonable and genuinely incurred costs.

We cannot guarantee refunds for amounts that independent suppliers lawfully retain.

11. Travel Insurance

Comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended for all clients. Your policy should provide suitable cover for:

• Trip cancellation and curtailment
• Medical treatment
• Emergency evacuation and repatriation
• Personal accident
• Lost, stolen or damaged belongings
• Travel delays and disruption
• Safari and adventure activities included in your itinerary

Emergency medical treatment and evacuation from remote safari destinations can be extremely expensive.

Clients should therefore ensure that their insurance provides adequate medical and emergency evacuation coverage for all destinations included in their journey.

12. Passports, Visas & Entry Requirements

Travellers are responsible for ensuring that they hold valid passports, visas, permits and any other documentation required for every country included in their journey. This includes countries through which travellers may transit.

Passport validity and visa requirements vary according to nationality and destination and may change without notice.

In Awe of Africa is happy to provide general guidance where possible, but responsibility for satisfying immigration and entry requirements ultimately remains with each traveller.

13. Health, Vaccinations & Medical Requirements

Clients should obtain appropriate professional medical advice regarding vaccinations, malaria prevention and other health precautions relevant to their journey.

Health requirements and recommendations may vary according to destination and individual circumstances.

Please advise In Awe of Africa before travelling of any medical condition, mobility limitation, serious allergy, dietary requirement or other circumstance that could materially affect your ability to participate in the itinerary.

We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate special requirements, particularly where we have been informed sufficiently in advance.

However, certain remote destinations may have limited facilities and we cannot guarantee that every requirement can be accommodated.

14. Children & Family Travel

Families are warmly welcomed on In Awe of Africa journeys.

Parents and guardians are responsible for ensuring that children have the passports, birth certificates, consent documentation, visas and other documentation required by the countries being visited.

Certain safari lodges and activities impose minimum age restrictions, particularly for walking safaris and some specialist wildlife activities.

Where relevant, we will endeavour to identify significant restrictions during the planning process.

Parents and guardians remain responsible for the supervision of children travelling under their care.

15. Safaris, Wildlife & Wilderness Experiences

One of the special qualities of an African safari is that every wildlife experience is different.

Wild animals move freely and their behaviour is unpredictable. For this reason, sightings of particular species, including the Big Five, cannot be guaranteed.

Safari activities may involve open safari vehicles, boats, walking activities and time spent in remote wilderness environments.

For everyone's safety, clients must follow the reasonable instructions of professional guides, rangers, pilots, lodge personnel and other authorised representatives.

In Awe of Africa and the relevant service provider reserve the right to restrict participation in an activity where this is reasonably considered necessary for safety.

16. Adventure Activities

Certain journeys may include optional or included activities such as:

• Walking safaris
• Hiking
• Boating
• Rafting
• Kayaking
• Scenic flights
• Helicopter flights
• Horse riding
• Other outdoor or adventure experiences

Participation may be subject to separate safety requirements, age restrictions, fitness requirements or participation conditions imposed by the activity provider.

Clients should ensure that their travel insurance covers any activities in which they intend to participate.

17. Flights, Transfers & Transportation

Flights, charter flights, road transfers, rail journeys and other transportation services may be operated by independent suppliers.

Schedules may occasionally change because of weather conditions, operational requirements, safety considerations or circumstances outside our reasonable control.

In Awe of Africa will make reasonable efforts to assist clients where transportation changes affect the planned itinerary.

18. Baggage

Clients are responsible for complying with the baggage restrictions imposed by airlines, charter companies and other transportation providers.

Light aircraft commonly used to reach remote safari destinations may have considerably stricter baggage limits than international airlines and may require soft-sided luggage.

Where relevant, we will endeavour to provide available baggage information before departure.

19. Accommodation

We carefully select accommodation appropriate to the style and standard of each journey.

Occasionally, circumstances outside our reasonable control may require a hotel, lodge or camp to be substituted.

Where this occurs, we will endeavour to provide a suitable alternative of a comparable or higher standard wherever reasonably possible.

20. Unused Services

No refund will normally be available for accommodation, meals, activities, transfers or other services voluntarily not used after a journey has commenced.

However, where an unused service results from circumstances outside the client's reasonable control and In Awe of Africa obtains a refund from the relevant supplier, we will endeavour to pass the applicable refundable amount on to the client.

21. Liability

In Awe of Africa exercises reasonable care in planning journeys and selecting the independent suppliers providing the various services included in an itinerary.

Some services are provided by independent businesses over which In Awe of Africa does not exercise direct day-to-day control.

Subject to applicable law, In Awe of Africa cannot accept responsibility for acts, omissions or circumstances involving independent suppliers that are outside our reasonable control.

Nothing in these Booking Terms & Conditions is intended to exclude or restrict liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or restricted.

Nothing in these terms removes or limits any statutory consumer rights that cannot legally be waived.

22. Personal Belongings

Clients remain responsible for their passports, money, luggage, cameras, electronic equipment and other personal belongings throughout their journey.

We strongly recommend that valuable belongings are appropriately insured.

In Awe of Africa cannot accept responsibility for loss, theft or damage to personal belongings except where responsibility arises under applicable law.

23. Privacy & Personal Information

In Awe of Africa respects the privacy of its clients.

We collect and process personal information reasonably necessary to plan, book and operate your journey. This may include:

• Names and contact details
• Passport information
• Nationality and date of birth
• Dietary requirements
• Accommodation preferences
• Information required by airlines or transportation providers
• Other information reasonably necessary to provide your travel arrangements

Where necessary, relevant information may be shared with hotels, safari lodges, airlines, transportation providers, guides and other suppliers involved in delivering the journey.

Personal information will be handled in accordance with applicable data-protection legislation, including South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), where applicable.

Where applicable European data-protection requirements apply to a client's information, we will endeavour to process that information in accordance with those requirements.

See also our full Privacy Policy.

24. Photography & Marketing

We respect our clients' privacy.

In Awe of Africa will not intentionally use an identifiable photograph or video of a client for advertising, social media or other promotional purposes without appropriate permission.

Clients are welcome to share photographs, testimonials and feedback with us, but doing so does not automatically constitute permission for commercial use of identifiable images unless consent has been provided.

25. Complaints

We want every In Awe of Africa journey to meet the standards our clients reasonably expect.

If something goes wrong during your journey, please contact In Awe of Africa or the relevant service provider as soon as reasonably possible.

Giving us an opportunity to address an issue while you are travelling is generally the quickest and most effective way to resolve it.

If the matter cannot be satisfactorily resolved during the journey, please contact us in writing with the relevant details, preferably within 28 days following completion of the affected services.

We will investigate legitimate complaints fairly and endeavour to respond promptly.

26. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

These Booking Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa.

Nothing contained in these terms is intended to exclude, restrict or replace rights that cannot lawfully be excluded under applicable consumer protection legislation.

If a disagreement arises, In Awe of Africa will first endeavour to resolve the matter directly and amicably with the client before formal legal proceedings are considered.

Where a dispute cannot be resolved amicably, it will be dealt with in accordance with applicable South African law and the appropriate dispute-resolution procedures or courts.

27. Acceptance of These Terms

Payment of the required deposit or full payment constitutes acceptance of these Booking Terms & Conditions by the person making the booking.

The person making the booking confirms that they are authorised to make the booking on behalf of the travellers included in it and is responsible for ensuring that members of the travelling party are made aware of the relevant terms.

We encourage clients to read these Booking Terms & Conditions before confirming their journey.

If you have any questions about your booking or these terms, please contact us. We will be happy to explain any aspect of your arrangements.