Terms and conditions
Big Expeditions & Safaris Ltd strives to make it easy for to pay for your holiday in Tanzania by accepting online payments with PayPal, (You can also pay with your debit or credit card as paypal guest if you don't have a Paypal account) we also accept wire transfers or deposits to our bank account and US$ cash payments at our office in Arusha, Tanzania. Paypal seller and buyer protection mechanisms are quite strong and their brand is well recognized world wide.
Our offered Safari Holiday prices and rates are net to us in US$, depending on the payment form charges, fees and/or commissions which are chargeable to you may apply , e.g. paypal +5,5%. On your final invoice we credit you with the US$ net amount of the prepayment or payment we received.
To make payment with Paypal or credit card to our Paypal account (account holder: Big Expeditions & Safaris Ltd), please kindly confirm the amount (pre-payment and/or remainder) to be charged with Big Expeditions, then you will be prompted to fill in the amount and your payment details.
After you make your payment you will immediately receive from PayPal, on behalf of Big Expeditions, an automated reply generated by PayPal confirming your payment. We will also make an effort to send you a thank you note confirming your payment directly from us.
In case you fail to get a confirmation email directly from us as a backup to the one PayPal sends you please let us know immediately and we will check our PayPal account to verify that we got the payment and send you a confirmation email.
In order to make a payment using other modes of payment that we accept such as wire transfer, please contact us for banking information and to confirm the amount (pre-payment and/or remainder) to be charged.
Terms & Conditions
Please kindly take time to carefully read our terms and conditions.Confirming a Safari tour with Big Expeditions, we assume that you have read, fully understand and accept the terms and conditions described below.
1. BOOKINGS
1.1 Big Expeditions & Safaris provides services that make up a safari holiday package in cooperation with independent suppliers. These services include ground transportation, sightseeing tours, accommodation reservations, restaurant meals, excursions and other services..
1.2 All the detailed information provided in your safari itinerary is given to the best of Big Expeditions & Safaris knowledge and based on the latest information available. Big Expeditions & Safaris, sometimes there may be modified from a third party and Big Expeditions & Safaris cannot be liable for this, nor for any obvious typing errors.
1.3 Before Big Expeditions confirms a safari, you must inform us of any preferences and special requests of the participants; e.g. medical needs, diet, requirements relating to disabilities and any other requirements. Big Expeditions will meet the requests if possible.
1.4 All the tour packages featured on our website are subject to availability and not guaranteed until confirmed. This also applies to private safaris, many lodges and hotels offer Big Expeditions & Safaris limited capacity and therefore it is essential to make reservations well in advance of your planned trip.
1.5 If it happens that you wish to amend the your reservation in any way, Big Expeditions & Safaris will make the preferred adjustment where practicable and possible and confirm accordingly. If the intended changes do involve extra expenditure , there will be no surcharge but if we incur extra expenses due to the changes effected, there will be extra cost that which will be added to the total invoice.
1.6 Big Expeditions & Safaris as your ground Operator reserves the right to change and re-adjust the tour schedule, transportation, accommodation and services indicated in the itinerary in the event of unforeseen circumstances before arrival or during your safari. Any changes to the itinerary will be communicated to you as soon as possible.
2. PRICES
2.1 The prices we quote for the various safaris are based on the itinerary you have chosen and include the following services, unless stated otherwise: overnight in hotels on per person basis, guesthouses, tents or lodges, all meals as indicated, sightseeing as detailed in the itinerary, park entrance fees and ranger fees where applicable, airport transfers where applicable, ground transportation, English speaking driver/guides and bottled mineral water in the vehicle.
2.2 The following expenses are not covered on our quote: Return international and domestic air fares, cost of obtaining visa and passports, beverages at hotels and lodges, tips and gratuities for the guides and accommodation staff, laundry, travel insurance and other items of a personal nature.
2.3 Any price that may appear on Big Expeditions website or quoted to you are subject to change without notice and are not guaranteed until confirmed in writing.
2.4 Big Expeditions & Safaris reserves the right to adjust prices at any time should there be any fluctuation in the exchange rate or increase in the cost of any element of the tour. Will however make every effort to minimize any increases.
3. EXECUTION OF THE TOUR
3.1 It is a privilege to see animals in their natural habitat and as such, we cannot guarantee you encountering any wildlife that you maybe interested to see, however our safari guides are highly trained and know better spots where you can easily view game. You must take caution when viewing the animals and carefully follow the instructions given by either the tour guide or wildlife rangers.
3.2 Accommodation that we book for our guests is based on a twin or double bedded standard room, tent or banda, with private bathroom where possible. Single room occupancy may be available with the payment of a supplement fee but availability cannot always be guaranteed particularly during peak season.
3.4 Big Expeditions & Safaris reserves the right to book alternative accommodation of similar standard or superior accommodation in the event that we lose space on the preferred accommodation for any reason. Big Expeditions & Safaris will recommend next best quality hotel or suggest superior standard accommodation (A surcharge may apply).
3.5 The mode of transport used on your safari tour will be dependent on the number of clients and the route taken, based on the specifications of the chosen itinerary. All our specially built Safari vehicles are in a roadworthy condition but no liability can be accepted for a puncture, breakdown, damage, or any delay as a result of the poor road conditions.
3.6 We allocate experienced and Knowledgeable English speaking driver/guides who are a key part of your safari and success of your Safari trip highly depend on them. They are the only person(s) allowed to drive Big Expeditions & Safaris’ vehicles. The driver’s decision on all matters, such as the route taken, is final.
3.7 Big Expeditions & Safaris reserves the right to make changes on any route or arrangement, to cancel the operation of any scheduled tour or vary the safari services in any way in the event of unavoidable circumstances, such as road closures, bad weather, problems with national parks or hotels and security considerations. In such cases, alternative arrangements will be made as circumstances permit.
3.8 Big Expeditions also reserves the right to subcontract out all or part of the services agreed to be supplied.
3.9 Big Expeditions & Safaris reserves the right to refuse any person from participating or continuing any tour if, in Big Expeditions’ opinion or in the opinion of any other person in authority, the person concerned behaves in such a way as to cause or be likely to cause danger, hazard or inconvenience to any third party, damage to property or to environments and ecosystems. No refunds will be made and Big Expeditions shall not be liable for expenses incurred as a result of the termination of tour.
4. PAYMENT
4.1 Big Expeditions & Safaris can only book and confirm tour upon a pre-payment of 30% of the tour price.
4.2 The Balance payment should be cleared no later than 45 days prior to your arrival into the country safari, unless agreed otherwise.
4.3 Safari bookings that falls within 45 days before arrival must be paid in full at the time of confirmation.
4.4 Big Expeditions & Safaris has the right to cancel any booking If payment is not received in accordance with the above.
5. CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS
5.1 In the event you want to cancel any booking held by Big Expeditions & Safaris, all cancellation requests must be made in writing and shall be effective on the date of actual receipt by us.
5.2 The following cancellation charges apply to the basic program rate:
61 days or more prior to arrival 10% charge
60 – 31 days prior to arrival 25% charge
30 – 8 days prior to arrival 50% charge
7 – 3 days prior to arrival 75% charge
48 hours or less prior to arrival 100% charge
Big Expeditions & Safaris reserves the right to deduct all expenses incurred from money paid.
5.3 We will not make any refunds for late arrival, services not used, or no-show of any of the members of the tour.
6. COMPLAINTS
6.1 As your ground operator in Tanzania, Big Expeditions & Safaris shall try to ensure that we meet your expectations in every area of the tour arrangements. However, we highly welcome suggestions in order to keep improving the quality of the service.
6.2 In the unlikely event that you’re not happy with any part of your tour, complaints must be reported immediately to the Big Expeditions & Safaris representative and to the supplier of the service in question, who will do their best to resolve the matter. If you feel that the problem is not solved to your satisfaction, we encourage you to report the complaint in writing and not later than 14 days after completion of the tour.
6.3 If you fail to comply with the above described procedure , liability for any complaints cannot be accepted.
7. LIABILITY
7.1 Big Expeditions & Safaris will make every effort to ensure that all land arrangements and services booked on your behalf as part of the safari are carried out as specified in the most efficient way possible. However, we do not have direct control of the provision of services by suppliers and, whilst every supplier is chosen with the utmost care, Big Expeditions & Safaris does not accept liability for errors or omissions of such suppliers.
7.2 While every care is taken, Big Expeditions shall not be liable for any loss, damage or injury of any nature whatsoever whether to person or property.
7.3 Big Expeditions cannot accept liability or pay compensation for unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of the company or its staff, these circumstances may make it difficult for the safari to go as planned. These include flight delays/cancellations or force majeure such as war or threat of war, terrorists acts, riots, border closure, civil disturbances, strikes, acts of government or other authorities, thefts, epidemics, industrial disputes, natural disaster, road closures,extreme weather conditions in areas to be visited, fire, technical and/or mechanical problems to transport and all similar events beyond the company’s control.
7.4 It your responsibility to ensure that you have booked international flights, have a valid passport, visas, health certificates and any other documentation required for your entry into Tanzania. It is possible to obtain Tanzania entry visa at the point of arrival, but please do check with us is this applicable to citizens of some countries.
7.5 It is also your responsibility to take proper medical and practical precautions in regard to health and safety. You should seek medical advice well before you travel.
7.6 We strongly advise you to obtain comprehensive travel insurance before coming to Tanzania. Local evacuation coverage is available in the unlikely event of a medical emergency while on safari with Big Expeditions & Safaris.
7.7 The respective laws of the United Republic of Tanzania govern Big Expeditions & Safaris’ liability to passengers carried in our own vehicles. All claims are subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of the country in which the cause of action arises.
WE THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO READ THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS!