DISCLAIMER: This is an example of our general Booking Terms and conditions. However, each specific ride operator has its own unique terms and conditions, so the ones for your specific horse riding holiday might vary slightly from the ones below. You will receive detailed Terms and conditions upon booking.
DEPOSIT AND PAYMENT:
Please note that each booking carries a non-refundable administration fee, payable as a 30% (unless stated otherwise) deposit payment. The deposit payment must be made within 7 days of confirming your booking, in order to secure your placement. The remaining balance must be paid before 60 days prior to departure.
If you do not pay your full fee 60 days prior to the commencement of your trip, without making prior arrangements with us, we reserve the right to cancel your booking. If you book less than 60 days prior to the commencement of your trip, you will be asked to make full payment immediately to secure your booking.
CHANGES TO YOUR BOOKING
If, after our confirmation invoice has been issued, you wish to change your travel arrangements in any way, for example your chosen departure date or accommodation, we will do our utmost to make these changes but it may not always be possible. Any request for changes to be made must be in writing from the person who made the booking. You will be asked to pay an administration charge of £50/$50, and any further cost we incur in making this alteration. You should be aware that these costs could increase the closer to the departure date that changes are made and you should contact us as soon as possible.
Note: Certain travel arrangements may not be changeable after a reservation has been made and any alteration request could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements.
CANCELLATION POLICY
- If you cancel your trip up to 61 days before your holiday start date, you will only be charged the agreed deposit. Any payment received that exceeds the deposit amount will be refunded minus any bank fees.
- If you cancel your trip between 60 – 31 days before your holiday start date, we will return 50% of the horse safari cost minus any bank fees.
- If you cancel your trip between 30 days and your holiday start date, the cancellation charge is 100% of total holiday cost.
Please check when you arrange travel insurance that a cancellation clause is part of the policy. - Any trips which are started, but terminated early by the client, are not eligible for refunds.
At no time does any refund include travel or extraneous expenses as part of your trip
In the highly unlikely event of us having to cancel your trip for reasons other than:
a) Fault of the client, b) Force majeure, c) Insufficient numbers to proceed with ride, we will offer you an alternative holiday of at least comparable standard if available. If this alternative holiday option costs less than your original booking, we will refund the difference. If the alternative trip you decide upon costs more that the original option, we will invoice for the additional amount.
Should you not wish to book an alternative or one is not available a full refund will be paid with the exception of insurance premiums, amendment charges and bank fees. Please note that we will not be liable to refund you for any incidental expenses that you may have incurred as a result of your booking, such as visas, vaccinations, non-refundable connecting flights, etc.
African Horse Safaris cannot offer refunds or compensation in the event of cancellation or amendments as a result of force majeure. For the purpose of these conditions, force majeure is defined as war, threat of war, riot, civil strife, industrial dispute, pandemic, government action, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, fire and adverse weather conditions.
COSTS OUTSIDE OF AFRICAN HORSE SAFARIS
All itineraries clearly state what is included and excluded in every package. In signing the booking form, you agree to the itinerary and the price.
AHS reserves the right to pass on costs outside of their, or their affiliated partners’ control (e.g. park fee increases, changes in local applicable taxes, for example value-added-tax). In the event of this occurring, we will absorb an amount equivalent to 2.5 % of the holiday price excluding amendment charges. Only amounts in excess of 2.5% will be surcharged. Such events will include circumstances such as increases in transportation costs including fuel, taxes, (e.g. VAT) or other fees payable for services such as landing taxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at ports or airports.
EXCHANGE RATE FLUCTUATIONS
Invoices are written for the client based on the current exchange rate. Please note that invoices and quotes may be subject to change due to fluctuating exchange rates, should at the time the remaining payment is due, 60 days prior to travel, the exchange rate has fluctuated the final payment by more than 2.5% – African Horse Safaris may re-invoice you with a quote that reflects current exchange rates. Please note; this would have been discussed with you upon booking if it was relevant to your booking, if it was not discussed with you, then it is not applicable.
TRAVEL ADVICE
Any information or advice provided by African Horse Safaris on matters such as permits, visas, vaccinations, climate, clothing, baggage, etc. is given in good faith, but without responsibility on the part of African Horse Safaris, and the passenger accepts responsibility for obtaining any necessary visas and travel documents required for your trip.
DISCLOSURE OF IMPORTANT INFORMATION
African Horse Safaris and its operating partners reserve the right to terminate a rider’s placement, without recourse. Particularly, if it comes to light that the client failed to provide or provided inaccurate/incomplete booking information, with reference to medical conditions, current medication and riding ability.
Furthermore, your booking is accepted on the understanding that if you have not provided accurate information regarding your horse riding abilities, height, weight and fitness levels, both African Horse Safaris and our partnering safari operators reserve the right to refuse anyone horse riding and you may not be allowed to ride. On occasion, the client may believe that they are of a high enough horse riding level to complete the ride, but the decision to dismount a rider will be at the discretion of the team on the ground. This is for the safety and the enjoyment of yourself, and your accompanying group. Those who are dismounted for any reason, will not be eligible for a refund.
INSURANCE
Before you travel to your trip you must be covered by travel insurance, which must include adequate cover for baggage, any medical/hospitalisation expenses – including medical evacuation/air lift, cover the sport of horse riding/trail riding (specifically horseback safari) and the cost of repatriation. Should you not have adequate cover prior to the commencement of your trip you may not be allowed to continue on the programme and will have no right to a refund. Any claims concerning matters for which you are insured, such as lost luggage, must be directed to your insurers.
We advise that you purchase your travel insurance as soon as possible after booking to cover yourself in case of any horse riding or sporting accidents that might happen prior to your travel, and would mean you couldn’t complete your trip.
LIABILITY UNDERSTANDING
In signing the booking form, all persons accept that horse riding is classed as a high risk sport and being in the vicinity of horses poses risks. Whilst on your holiday trip and in the care of the tour operator or guide on your holiday, you must comply at all times with their instructions. It is a condition of your booking that you accept the aforementioned is entitled to insist that you dismount, refuse you the right to ride for any reason including your inability, health or behaviour, if they consider you may endanger the safety or welfare of any persons or horses, including yourself. In the event of such circumstances, you will not be entitled to any compensation or refunds.
African Horse Safaris strongly advise, whilst in the vicinity of horses and riding, that clients wear suitable safety equipment with specific reference to hard hats. We advise that hats comply with relevant safety standards, are purchased from reputable suppliers and fitted by qualified persons. On signing the booking form, you accept our suppliers may require you to sign separate acknowledgment and personal liability forms before being allowed to ride. Refusal to sign may result in clients not being allowed to participate in riding or other activities. In this instance you will have no claim against African Horse Safaris or the supplier and will not be entitled to any refunds or compensation.
We accept responsibility for ensuring that all parts of our contracts with you are properly performed except where failure or improper performance was due to: a) your own acts or omissions. b) the acts or omissions of a third party not connected with the provision of your arrangements and which were unforeseeable or unavoidable. c) Any event which either ourselves or the suppliers of the services in question could not have foreseen or forestalled even with all due care. d) Force majeure
Although African Horse Safaris will honour the contract with you in accordance with the above exceptions, it should be noted that accommodation, transport and other services we arrange on your behalf belong to and managed by independent suppliers for whom we act as an agent and, therefore, do not have direct control over these components.
UNDERSTANDING TRAVEL IN AFRICA
Your booking is accepted on the understanding that you realise the potential hazards that may arise in this kind of travel, including injury, disease, loss or damage of property, inconvenience or discomfort. This type of travel is one that should allow for alternatives and a substantial degree of flexibility as the services provided on a riding holiday or safari are different to many other holiday services. The outline itineraries given for each trip must therefore be taken as an indication of what each rider should accomplish, and not as a contractual obligation on the part of African Horse Safaris. Changes in itinerary may be caused by circumstances beyond our control such as; the potentially unpredictable nature of horses and riding, game, ground, adverse weather and other local conditions. These factors may influence the pace, amount and manner in which you can ride at any time and horses may perform better for some riders or in some conditions than others.
You accept that descriptions and details of the riding provided to you on our website are an indication of what is planned but are not contractually binding and may alter. Flexibility is always required. Any alteration made due to the above reasons will be made in the interests of the group / riders as a whole – no refunds will be made in regard to such alterations.
You are also aware that the infrastructure and standards relating to travel, accommodation and safety in Africa may be lower than in your home country. African Horse Safaris and our operators will do our best to make sure arrangements, including travel services, transport and connections run smoothly but this may not always be possible due to flight cancellation, weather, mechanical breakdown or other unforeseen circumstances and there will be no refund or compensation for any unused services. We are also unable to make special arrangements for you in the event of delays or cancellations at your outward or homeward point of departure or on your outward or homeward journey (or, where you are making your own travel arrangements, in the event of delays or changes to any of those arrangements) or to refund or compensate you in the event of any such delays.