Terms & Conditions

a - Contract After we have received the deposit payment (full payment in peak season, and flight tickets) for the hotel, transfer and excursion costs, and we have issued a confirmation invoice, a contract will exist, effective from the date printed on the invoice.

b - Failure to Pay If the amount owed by the date it is due, is failed to pay, we can assume you have cancelled the booking and the cancellation charges set out in paragraph 4 will apply.

c - Booking of Services Once the contract is made, flights and hotels will be confirmed. In the event that the services are no longer available, the agreed services will be replaced for equivalent services, which may vary in route and may be higher or lower in terms of costs. We are committed to keeping any differences in alternatives as small as possible, and will always consult with the client first.

All information given to you about the services and facilities at your chosen accommodation is supplied to us directly from the accommodation provider itself. We can not take any responsibility with regards to this information. All star ratings, where used, are the accommodation providers own, local star ratings. Where a twin room is offered for three people, an occasional sleeper couch may be provided for the third guest.

d - Travel Documents You, the traveler, are responsible for having a valid passport and any valid visa documents upon entry at the country/all countries you will be traveling to or through, on departure and during the trip. In addition, it is necessary for the traveler, to check in time that the information previously obtained is valid at time of traveling.

World Travel Guide

NOTE: Swaziland and Lesotho have their own VISA regulations, separate from South Africa. Check VISA requirements if you are traveling to/through Swaziland and/or Lesotho!

Travelling with children under 18 years old!

If you are traveling to South Africa, Botswana or Namibia with children under 18, then additional documents must be shown -also for a stopover!-

• An English certified, international and full birth certificate (also known as an original and international birth certificate) of the traveling child(ren)

Questions?

Please contact the concerning Embassy in your country!

e - Vaccinations For most of the African counties, health and safety recommendations are applicable. As a traveler, you are responsible for collecting medical information at a vaccination clinic, tropical institute or general practitioner. All travelers must ensure that they obtain the necessary vaccinations and prophylaxis prior to travel, in due time!

NOTE: When traveling within Eastern African countries, a yellow fever document (yellow book) might be applicable upon entry!

Health & Yellow Fever

f - Car Rental If you rent a car via us, please note that:

• A valid credit card is required;
• The credit card MUST be in the driver’s name;
• The credit card holder / driver must be in possession of a valid 08 driver's license, legible in English and / or an international driving license;
• Drivers must be at least 23 years old and be in possession of a driver’s license for at least 3 years;
• At the start of the rent, an international tenant deposit of approximately ZAR 3,500 will be deducted from the credit card. This security deposit will be returned when the car is being returned in good condition.

g - Insurance As a traveler, you are required to be in possession of a valid travel,- and medical insurance. A travel insurance can be obtained at your insurance company or at any other private insurance company.

If applicable you are obliged to have an insurance for dangerous sports like paragliding, climbing or diving with sharks, etc.

In addition, we recommend that you take the following insurances:

• Cancellation Insurance
• Additional Health Insurance in case of repatriation and reimbursement of healthcare costs

For further information: What to Pack & Expect

h - Health Condition It is your responsibility to disclose prior to booking any diets, physical or mental condition of a member of your party which may be relevant, and no liability shall attach to African Hideaways for the arrangement of an unsuitable holiday for a person with special needs where disclosure of that person’s special needs has not been made to us prior to traveling.

i - Airline Tickets

Airfare Conditions - Many airfares are subject to strict conditions regarding amendments, cancellations and refunds. In addition airlines impose tax fees and charges. It is your responsibility to ensure the type of airfare you purchase is suitable for your needs.

Airline Taxes & Fuel Surcharges - All airfares are subject to taxes and charges levied by both government and the airlines themselves; in addition global fuel costs are constantly increasing. Airlines pass on the increase in taxes and fuel surcharges without notice and whilst we will endeavour to advise you of these charges in advance that may not always prove possible. African Hideaways reserves the right to pass on fuel and tax increases, levied by airlines, without notice.

Airline E-tickets - International and domestic airlines are replacing paper tickets with electronic tickets called e-tickets. All passengers travelling on an e-ticket will be required to produce official and valid photo identification and travel documents, at check in.

Airline Schedules - The airline on which you are booked may change its departure time. It is your responsibility to check-in online and contact the airline in time, to check there has been no change to the time of departure.

Prices are quoted in full, including taxes and service charges at time of the booking. If you book over 5 days prior to commencement of the journey, a 50% deposit is required (100% in peak season, and for airline tickets) for the hotel, transfer and excursion costs. The remaining balance is due 45 days prior to departure. If you book within 45 days of commencement of the journey, the full price at time of booking is due. You may be required to pay in full at time of booking, for peak dates (15 Dec – 15 Jan) and during trade fairs and exhibitions and special events, see section 4d.

Prices can go up or down, however we guarantee that, once you have booked, the price on your confirmation will not change unless we need to book with an alternative supplier or you make an amendment to the booking details.

Payments for extras (such as incidental charges, mini-bar charges, laundry, telephone bills or any extra nights) should be made directly to the hotel at check-out. On arrival at the hotel you may be asked for an imprint of your credit or debit card. Some accommodations may require a security deposit in advance of your stay or at the time of your arrival, this may be required in cash or by credit card. Cleaning charges may apply for self-catering properties.

a - Accommodation Reservations If you have to cancel your booking within a cancellation time period, you will be charged a cancellation fee. Cancellations must be made in writing or by email by the person who made the original booking and who paid the deposit.

In case of any cancellation, the cancellation fees are all non-refundable deposits (plus, if applies, the remaining amount)

The cancellation costs vary depending on the number of days before commencement of the journey the cancellation is received in writing:

• More than 60 days: 25% of the total travel sum
• Between 60 and 31 days: 50% of the total travel sum
• Less than 31 days before arrival: 100% of the total travel sum
• EUR 100 admin fee for the total booking, regardless the cancellation date

In case you purchased your airline tickets with us, the following applies: Once the airline tickets have been issued, 100% cancellation fee applies.

If the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues a negative travel advice that will allow the traveler to cancel the trip, the travel agency will do everything possible to reduce the cancellation fee.

b - Transfer & Car Reservations If you have to cancel your booking your transfer supplier’s cancellation charges will apply and that is likely to be (at least) 10% of the cost of your transfer / car booking, rising to as much as 100% within 2 weeks prior to the service-date.

c - Cancellation Date The date we work out the cancellation-fee from, is the date we receive written notice of your cancellation, signed by the person who is in charge of the booking. You may be able to claim back the cancellation fees if the cancellation is covered by your insurance policy.

d - Special Conditions Apply for bookings made during peak season (Dec - Jan) and periods of trade fairs, exhibitions and other special events. These conditions imposed by accommodation suppliers differ as full payment might be required at time booking and 100% cancellation charges may apply (for those dates falling within the peak season or special event). Changes to bookings will be treated as cancellations. At time of booking you can ask whether special conditions apply.

In the unlikely event that we are notified by the supplier that they cannot fulfill the booking, you can either cancel free of charge or if applicable, accept an alternative accommodation of equivalent standard. Where we are notified of changes, we will contact you as soon as possible.

If you have a transfer reservation that needs to be altered due to a change to your accommodation, we will endeavor to arrange this for you providing at least 24 hours notice can be given and there is availability. Should the change result in additional costs, then the difference in cost may be charged to the traveler.

Full consideration will be given to the circumstances of the change before any additional charge is made. Please note that African Hideaways, as travel agent, is not liable for any additional costs charged to you to amend your travel arrangements, including flights, or for any loss incurred due to the cancellation of your travel arrangements and flights, due to an alteration to or cancellation by the supplier.

If you wish to change (any part) of your booking, the accommodation provider has no obligation to make any change although, with reasonable notice (usually more than 4 weeks), this may be possible.

In this case we endeavor to arrange all changes for you. Should the change result in additional costs, then the difference in the cost will be charged to the traveler. If we have made transfer reservations, these may have to be altered to the new/alternative accommodation, provided that at least 24 hours notice can be given and there is availability.

African Hideaways acts as a booking agent. We organise and arrange all services booked by the traveler, as best as we can and in our power.

a - Please note that health and safety standards overseas can often differ greatly from those we enjoy at home. African Hideaways only deals with suppliers that meet the local and national safety standards of the country they are in. In addition we are working with our suppliers wherever possible to seek good practice in health and safety standards and to resolve any areas of concern.

b - As we are acting only as a booking agent, African Hideaways can not be held responsible for accidents, injury, loss, damage, delays or inconveniences that may occur due to defects or actions of the Government or other civilian authorities (war, riot, strikes, health etc.) or other reasons beyond the control of African Hideaways.

Any claim for damages for injury, illness or death, arising from your stay at the accommodation, from the flight, the car rental or from your transfer, must be brought against the supplier and will be under the jurisdiction of the law of the country in which the accommodation or transfer company is based.

African Hideaways is not liable for any loss or additional costs in case of delays or changes in time in planning or other causes. African Hideaways and its service providers reserve the right to cancel or modify any trip in accordance with applicable legislation.

c - African Hideaways shall not be liable for any failure to perform its obligations caused by unusual or unforeseeable circumstances outside of its reasonable control.

You should only travel with insurance that is suitable for your needs. Please ensure the insurances provide adequate cover.

For further information: What to Expect & Pack

We do our upmost best to make sure you will have no reason for a complaint. In the worst case that you are unhappy with any aspect of the services provided, you must report it immediately to us and to the supplier.

Most issues are addressed successfully by the supplier, with minimum inconvenience caused. African Hideaways’ consultants will be available to assist. If you remain dissatisfied you must write to us immediately. A failure to complain at the time of dissatisfied happening, may mean we will be unable to resolve the dispute after you return home.

When you book accommodation or transfers through African Hideaways, you accept responsibility for the proper conduct of yourself and your party during your stay. The supplier reserves the right at any time to terminate (before or after departure) your holiday or that of any member of your party due to your or their misconduct, within their reasonable opinion. Full 100% cancellation charges will then apply and no refund will be given.

Furthermore, the supplier shall be under no obligation whatsoever to pay compensation or meet any costs or expenses you may incur as a result of the booking being terminated in accordance with this paragraph.

If your actions or those of your party cause damage to the accommodation or transport you are using, African Hideaways is indemnified against any claim (including legal costs) made by the accommodation or transfer provider. The traveler is liable to make reimbursement to the accommodation or transfer provider for any damage caused.

African Hideaways does everything in its power to protect clients personal information. When a client provides personal information, it will be used in accordance with this policy. We ensure that your information is safe using physical and electronic measures. However, the security of data transfer via the internet or a data storage environment can not be guaranteed 100%. An absolute guarantee of the protection of your personal information can not therefore be given.

African Hideaways is not liable for events resulting from unauthorized access to personal information. African Hideaways estimates that the clients reports unusual events that indicate an infringement of information security. We collect information to provide the requested information, send email, analyze our customer's demographics. Your information will not be used to ensure complete and correct handling of our services and those of our partners.

We may use the information you provide for marketing purposes. If you do not agree and do not wish to receive further information, please inform us.

For further information: Privacy Policy

With African Hideaways you travel to distant countries and visit other cultures. In these countries, people have different uses and habits and often a different mentality. As a result, things are sometimes different from planned. In this context, it is said that 'expectations' that the traveler could reasonably have as a result of the agreement.

Whoever optes for an adventure trip also chooses a certain risk. Local conditions on the destinations and the adventurous nature of the trips may force us-you to adjust the trip. If we or our local agents are required to offer an alternative program, you can trust as a traveler that we always try to maintain and, where possible, improve the quality of the trip.

All our trips are composed with the utmost care. We select our suppliers in these countries with care, we regularly check our destinations and evaluate the trips and products on the basis of our passengers' information.

African Hideaways is a travel agent registered in South Africa

Enterprise Name: AFRICAN HIDEAWAYS

CIPC Company Registration Number: 2016 / 442785 / 07