GENERAL
Uzuri Uganda Safaris (the company) organizes safaris in Uganda and Rwanda. Safaris will be organized by the company which is registered in the Republic of Uganda. Please read the Terms and Conditions and the Travel Notes carefully as together they set out our respective obligations and form the basis of your contract with us. In these terms and conditions, “you” means all persons named on the booking (including anyone who is added or substituted at a later date) and “we” and “us” means Uzuri Uganda Safaris Limited. These terms are amended from time to time due to changing circumstances; the terms at the time of booking are the terms that are valid. Conditions in Africa are not the same as those in the developed world and standards of service, medical facilities, safety and security may often be lower than those at home for you who is visiting on safari. Please note that it is the laws and regulations of the country in which services are provided which apply to your holiday arrangements and not those of your home country.
ACCURACY OF INFORMATION
The descriptions, information and opinions given by us in respect of national parks, animal sightings, accommodation, itineraries, gorilla permits and security are given in good faith, based on the latest information available to us. Every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information provided. We cannot accept any responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions caused by matters beyond our control.
CANCELLATIONS BY US
Occasionally we have to cancel confirmed bookings. We always make an effort not to cancel, but we must reserve the right to do so. We shall not cancel your confirmed holiday less than 30 (thirty) days before departure unless you fail to make all payments due in full and on time or we are forced to do so as a result of unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which we could not have avoided even with all due care. If we cancel your safari holiday (except where you have failed to make payment or as a result of force majeure), we shall offer you the choice of purchasing an alternative holiday from us of a similar standard to that originally booked if available. If the chosen alternative is less expensive than your original holiday we shall refund the difference but if it is more expensive, we shall ask you to pay the difference. Alternatively you are entitled to a full refund of all monies you have paid to us save that paid for Gorilla permits which can only be refunded if the refund has been made available to us. Except where we cancel for reasons other than those mentioned in this clause, we shall have no further liability to you. We regret we cannot pay any expenses, costs or losses incurred as a result of any cancellation. If we cancel for a reason that is not mentioned in this clause, we shall pay a maximum compensation of $100 (United States Dollars One Hundred) depending on the circumstances. We reserve the right, without prior notice, to terminate the holiday of any person in your party if, in our opinion or in the opinion of any other person in authority, the persons concerned behave in such a way to cause or be likely to cause danger, annoyance or distress to any third party or damage to property. In this situation, the person(s) concerned will be required to leave the accommodation or other service immediately. We shall have no further responsibility towards such person(s). No refunds will be made and we shall not pay any expenses or costs incurred as a result of the termination.
CANCELLATIONS BY YOU
Should you or any member of your party be forced to cancel, you must advise us in writing. A cancellation is not effective until we receive a copy of your written notice. To cover our estimated loss caused by the cancellation and as we may be unable to resell your holiday, cancellation fees, excluding insurance, will be levied per person as follows: Period before departure = Cancellation charge (as percentage of total price paid where applicable) More than 45 days = Deposit; 44 days – 15 days = 50%; Less than 14 days = 100%.
COMPLAINTS
Complaints must be reported immediately to our representative and to the supplier of the service(s) in question, who will do their best to resolve any problem. If you remain dissatisfied, a written report should be submitted to the Safari Manager in Kampala as soon as possible after the incident and not later than 28 (twenty eight) days after completion of your holiday, to enable us to investigate them fully. Regrettably, liability for any complaints not notified in accordance with this procedure cannot be accepted.
FORCE MAJEURE
We regret we cannot accept liability or pay compensation where the performance or proper performance of our obligations is prevented or affected by any event which we or the supplier of the service(s) in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. Such events include war or threat of war, riots, civil strife, border closures, unexpected Government acts, terrorist activity, industrial disputes, natural or nuclear disaster, extreme weather conditions, fire, technical and/or mechanical problems to transport, road closures, disease and all similar events beyond our control.
GORILLA PERMITS
Only when payment has been received can permits for Gorilla tracking in the relevant National Park be purchased. Getting a Gorilla permit is not a guarantee of seeing a Gorilla. Local conditions sometimes mean that access to the Gorillas is made impossible at short notice. We are unable to accept liability for any circumstance that might lead to Gorilla viewing being cancelled, whether it is closure of the National Park or borders; absence of the Gorillas; security changes. Refunds are at the discretion of the relevant authority and we cannot accept liability for them. We shall use our maximum endeavours to obtain a refund and if a refund is paid by the relevant authority, we shall pass it on to the client.
GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION
The company is incorporated in the Republic of Uganda and it operates under the laws of Uganda. Your contract with us and matters arising out of it will be governed by the laws of Uganda.
LIABILITY
We shall make every reasonable effort to ensure that (a) all component parts of the holiday are supplied as described in the brochure and to a reasonable standard; and (b) our employees, agents, suppliers and sub-contractors exercise due care in carrying out our obligations under the contract. We accept responsibility for what our employees, agents, suppliers and sub-contractors do or do not do (provided they were at the time carrying out work authorized by us). If any part of your holiday is not provided as advertised and to a reasonable standard, we shall pay you appropriate compensation if your enjoyment of the holiday has been affected and you have followed the complaints procedure set out in these terms and conditions. This acceptance of responsibility is subject to the clause relating to “Force Majeure” above and these Terms and Conditions generally. Our maximum liability in respect of complaints (except where death, personal injury or illness results, or where claims relate to loss or damage to possessions or luggage, which are dealt with below) is limited to an amount equal to the cost paid by or on behalf of the person affected for the relevant services. The maximum amount will only be payable where the person affected has derived no benefit from the holiday and none of the services contracted have been provided. Liability for loss or damage to luggage or personal possessions (including money) will be compensated to a maximum of US$30 (United States Dollars Thirty) on the basis that the client is assumed to have taken out adequate insurance cover in respect of such losses at the time of booking.
We will take all due care to prevent your death, injury or illness being caused by the animal or insect life of the destinations. It is your responsibility to take proper medical and practical precautions in this regard. Medical advice should be sought well before travelling. Subject to these Terms and Conditions, we accept responsibility should you or any of your party suffer death, personal injury or illness as a result of any failure to perform or improper performance of the contract by any of our employees, agents, suppliers or sub-contractors (provided they were at the time carrying out work authorized by us) except in the following situations. We will not be liable where any failure to perform or improper performance was due to: (i) the acts or omissions of a third party not connected with the provision of the holiday under the contract and which were unforeseeable or unavoidable; (ii) an event which we or the supplier of the relevant services could not have foreseen or avoided even with all due care.
QUOTATIONS/BOOKINGS/PRICES
Please ensure that the quotation given with details of number of clients, dates, accommodation, transportation, permits, park fees and all other services to be provided is clear and accurate before confirming the booking in writing. All references to quotations in writing shall include reference to correspondence by electronic mail. The price of your chosen holiday will be confirmed at the time of booking. We reserve the right to correct errors in both advertised and confirmed prices and will do so as soon as we become aware of any such error.
Once the price of your holiday has been confirmed, subject to the correction of errors, a surcharge will only be payable if transportation costs, taxes, accommodation costs or Gorilla permits increase in total to over 2% (two percent) of the holiday price. If you are required to pay more than 10% (ten percent) of the original holiday price, you will be entitled to cancel your holiday with the full refund of all the money paid to us except fees paid for Gorilla permits. Should you decide to cancel under these provisions, you must exercise your right to do so within 14 (fourteen) days of notification to you of the surcharge. We reserve the right to increase or decrease the prices of unsold holidays at any time.
PAYMENT
At the time of booking you must confirm acceptance of these terms and conditions and pay a deposit of 30% (Thirty percent) of the price of your holiday including fees for Gorilla permits. (See also section on gorilla permits.) If written acceptance is not received from you, we shall assume acceptance of the Terms and Conditions. The balance must be paid in full not later than 45 (forty five) days before departure. Bookings made within 30 (thirty) days of departure must be paid in full at the time of booking.
Payments can only be made to the company account and in the company names. Don’t make the mistake of paying out monies to an account that is not in the company name. If in doubt, please contact Uzuri Uganda Safaris via email/phone before making the payment for us to confirm to you the correct bank details otherwise they are well-spelt out on the invoices we send to you.
SAFARI TERMS
Prices INCLUDE airport transfers; accommodation; meals as stated; the services of an English-speaking driver/guide and a safari vehicle; porterage of two items of baggage per person; boat trips; park fees; gorilla and chimpanzee permits where appropriate. Prices EXCLUDE airfares to Uganda / Rwanda, entry visas, airport taxes and gratuities as well as personal expenditure such as drinks and laundry at all lodges. In Kampala, Entebbe or Kigali the prices include bed and breakfast only. On safari the prices cover full board unless otherwise stated at time of booking confirmation. The company reserves the right to vary the safari services agreed with the client in the event of unforeseen circumstances, such as road closures, bad weather, problems with national parks or hotels, security considerations. In such cases alternative arrangements will be made as circumstances permit.
TRANSPORTATION
Every effort is made to ensure that vehicles are provided in a roadworthy condition but no liability can be accepted for breakdown, or any damage or delay. Our guides are instructed to follow our code of conduct for Guides (available on request), which you must not ask them to break in any way. In the event that a Guide does not follow the code, please inform the Safari Manager in Kampala. Company vehicles must only be driven by the company’s Guide whose decision on all matters, such as the route taken, is final. You will be liable for any damage caused to a vehicle by any interference by you with the vehicle, including legal costs.
DANGERS POSED BY WILD ANIMALS
You are advised that, even in the most serene settings, the animals are wild and can pose a threat to life and safety. You are cautioned to observe all local or park regulations and heed all instructions given by our tour guides.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Tour tariffs are based on all known costs and rates of exchange at the transfer, any significant changes beyond control will be immediately communicated to you.
We also retain the right to alter any arrangements due to local conditions. We also retain the right to refuse any person from participating or continuing any tour if that person causes or is deemed to cause hazard or inconvenience to other clients and to our environment and ecosystems.
Please note that in Uganda US dollar banknotes series before year 2000 are accepted only with a low exchange rate. Commercial banks and upcountry towns do not accept the above transactions. In most cases such transactions are only done by forex bureaus within Kampala therefore you are advised to travel to Uganda with more recent banknotes series.
