TERMS OF SERVICE

1. ROLE OF SOUTHERN AFRICAN TOURS

The role of Southern African Tours is to manufacture tours and itineraries to fit the requirements of our customers.  In doing so, Southern African Tours may use independent suppliers for the provision of selected services. However Southern African Tours accepts responsibility for the proper performance of your contract with us, subject to the following booking conditions.

2. BOOKING

To make your booking, please make sure you have the correct names, nationalities and date of birth of all travellers – as per their passport. Southern African Tours will hold an option of 14 days from the time Southern African Tours have confirmed a tour, before the cancellation rules apply. If our service or a tour is booked less than 14 days prior to the service is rendered or the tour commences, cancellation rules will apply immediately.  If you need longer time, please let us know.

3. PRICES

All prices are based on costs at the time of publication.  Southern African Tours reserve the right to change the prices at any time before your booking is made. Southern African Tours will confirm price changes, if any, together with our confirmation of your booking.

 4. PAYMENTS

– 40% of the total booking value within 14 days of  Southern African Tours confirmation of the booking.
– The remaining 60% no later than 45 days from the trip starting date.

5. CANCELLATION

If the customer cancels a tour up to 50 days prior to departure the deposit will be lost. If cancellation is made within 50-31 days prior to departure, a penalty fee of 50% of the total price of the tour will be levied. For any cancellation made within 25-16 days before departure, a penalty fee of 75% will apply. In the case of cancellations made less than 15 days before the start of the tour we are unable to offer any reimbursement. No refunds will be given by Southern African Tours for no-shows.

The payment of bank fees for credit card payments and/or bank transfers are the responsibility of the customer and are strictly non-refundable.

The trip may be cancelled with no penalty charge should war, a life-threatening epidemic, or any other natural catastrophe or similar event occur within 14 days prior to departure. This will however be on the condition that your government advises against travelling to the specific area, and that the situation in question has arisen after the booking of the tour was made.

Cancellations must be made in writing and delivered either by hand, post, fax or electronic mail.

In the case of death or serious illness, special cancellation terms can be negotiated if  Southern African Tours is presented with an officially-approved death/sickness certificate.

6. CHANGES

Southern African Tours reserves the right to make changes to brochure and website details and arrangements both before and after the booking has been made. Most changes will be minor, but if Southern African Tours has to do significant changes you will be notified at the earliest possible opportunity. In such cases you will have the opportunity to accept the changes or to receive a full refund.

Some service prices, such as government levies and airport taxes are not in the control of  Southern African Tours. In the event of these prices being changed at any date Southern African Tours will charge the supplement to the client at cost.

7. FORCE MAJEURE

Force Majeure means those circumstances where the performance of our contract with you is prevented or affected by reasons of war, threat of war, civil strife, industrial dispute, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, adverse weather conditions, government actions and all similar events beyond our control. In these circumstances, Southern African Tours shall not be liable for any compensation or otherwise responsible for any expenses or losses the client might incur.

8. LIABILITY

Each tour package comprises of one or more service components: the organization of transport, meals, entrance fees, accommodation and/or other facilities or services. Southern African Tours has no direct day to day control over its suppliers. Accordingly Southern African Tours accepts no responsibility for any injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, irregularity and/or inconvenience which may be occasioned by any defect in any object (including a vehicle) utilized by any supplier for the supply of any service or by an act or omission of any supplier or its servants or agents.

Southern African Tours shall not be liable for any loss or expense arising from the loss of property, cancellation or curtailment of the tour however caused, save only to the extent that such loss of baggage, cancellation or curtailment was caused by the negligence of Southern African Tours. If sickness or accident interrupts a tour, Southern African Tours shall not be liable for any cost or expense arising there from, save only to the extent that such sickness or accident (beyond any reasonable doubt) was caused by Southern African Tours willful act or gross negligence. Southern African Tours shall not be liable for any refund, either total or partial, of passage money paid. Southern African Tours recommends the travelers to take out necessary insurance to protect against such eventuality.

Southern African Tours needs to receive any claim in writing within 28 days after the end of our services under the contract. Where any payment is made, you will assign to Southern African Toursl or our insurers any right you may have to pursue any third party in relation to the claim and provide us with your full co-operation.

Carriers etc: In respect of air, sea and rail carriers, land vehicles and hotel owners Southern African Tours liability is in all cases limited as if Southern African Tours were carrier/hotelier within the relevant and appropriate international conventions. Furthermore, all transport is provided subject to the relevant carrier’s conditions of carriage, some of which may limit or exclude their liability to you, often in accordance with international conventions.

General: Please note our responsibilities and obligations apply only in respect of those services, which Southern African Tours agree to arrange or provide on your behalf. Southern African Tours  cannot accept any liability for any services arranged on your own.

9. COMPLAINTS

Should a problem occur, please advise Southern African Tours immediately, as most problems can be solved on the spot. Should you remain dissatisfied, please write to us setting out the complaint in detail within 28 days of the end of our services under the contract. Southern African Tours cannot accept responsibility for any complaints which are not notified entirely in accordance with this clause. Should any legal dispute arise it must be settled in Cape Town or Johannesburg.