Free Africa Tours and Safaris

Terms and Conditions for Travel Bookings with Free Africa Tours and Safaris L.T.D

Use of Free Africa Tours and Safaris Services, Access, and Information for Travel Bookings

Booking and Information Accuracy:
1.1. By using Free Africa Tours and Safaris' services, you warrant that you are at least 18 years old and have the legal authority to enter into this agreement and make travel bookings with Free Africa Tours and Safaris.
1.2. You are financially responsible for all travel bookings made on behalf of yourself and others, and you guarantee that all information provided is true and accurate.
1.3. Legitimate reservations or purchases with Free Africa Tours and Safaris and its suppliers are allowed, and any speculative, false, or fraudulent reservations are prohibited.

Payment for Groups that Selected the Group Payment Plan:
2.1. Payments for group tours are due according to the schedule identified on Client’s Tour Proposal Agreement (“TPA”). The final balance of the tour cost is due no later than 30 days prior to the departure date.
2.2. A late payment fee of $10.00 per paying passenger is levied by Free Africa Tours and Safaris for failure to comply with the payment schedule.
2.3. If the final balance and late payment fee are not received by Free Africa Tours and Safaris 14 days before the departure date, the company reserves the right to cancel all tour arrangements and issue NO refunds. All payments must be made in U.S. currency, payable to Free Africa Tours and Safaris. Any check returned to Free Africa Tours and Safaris as an NSF check or “bounced” check will result in a $36 recovery fee.
2.4. By submitting payment to Free Africa Tours and Safaris, you agree to allow the company to use your payment method to purchase travel products on your behalf.

Cancellation for Groups that Selected the Group Payment Plan:
4.1. In the event you or any participant desires to cancel a reservation, it must be done in writing. Upon cancellation, you or the participant shall only be entitled to a refund based on the following basis, and there shall be no other refunds:

Cancellations received 270 days or more prior to the departure date will be entitled to a refund of deposits LESS any prepaid attraction payments and cancellation charges levied by contracted suppliers. Free Africa Tours and Safaris' administrative fees will be waived.
Cancellations received from 269 to 150 days prior to the departure date will be entitled to a refund of deposits LESS an administrative fee of 20% of the tour price, any prepaid attraction payments, and cancellation charges levied by any contracted suppliers.
Cancellations received from 149 to 31 days prior to the departure date will be entitled to a refund of deposits LESS an administrative fee of 33% of the tour price, any prepaid attraction payments, and cancellation charges levied by any contracted suppliers.
Cancellations received 30 days or less prior to the departure date will receive NO refunds. You shall be completely responsible for all charges, fees, duties, taxes, and assessments arising out of your travel bookings through Free Africa Tours and Safaris.
4.2. Because Free Africa Tours and Safaris' relationship is also with the Client’s educational institution or other organization, these cancellation penalties do not include or cover any cancellation penalties imposed by the educational institution or other organization on individual travelers in the group.
Travel Documents and TSA/DHS Acceptable Identification Requirements:
6.1. It is your responsibility to obtain and carry a valid passport, visa(s), and all other required travel documents.
6.2. TSA and DHS require acceptable identification for boarding flights. Ensure that the information on your identification matches the airline ticket and booking records accurately.
6.3. Certain countries may require a passport to be valid for at least six (6) months from the return date.
6.4. Minors traveling may need specific consent forms; verify the latest entry and exit rules for each country.

Reviewing Itineraries and Booking Records:
7.1. When you receive itineraries, invoices, booking confirmations, or tickets, review and verify all information for accuracy.
7.2. Contact Free Africa Tours and Safaris immediately for corrections or changes.

Dispute Resolution:
8.1. Except in cases of fraud, you agree not to file any dispute with your bank or credit card company to avoid or violate any booking terms and conditions of Free Africa Tours and Safaris or its suppliers.
8.2. Attempting to chargeback or reverse a previously authorized trip payment may result in additional costs, fees, and expenses, including attorney fees.

Client Agrees to Individual Claims Only:
9.1. Client agrees that it may only bring claims against Free Africa Tours and Safaris in its individual capacity and not as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class or representative action.
9.2. Client will not initiate or participate in any class-action lawsuit.

Risks/Safety:
10.1. Travel to certain destinations may involve greater risk than others. Free Africa Tours and Safaris urges Clients to remain informed on a daily basis as to current news events, as well as to review travel prohibitions, warnings, announcements, and advisories issued by relevant authorities prior to booking travel to domestic and international destinations.
10.2. BY OFFERING FOR SALE TRAVEL TO PARTICULAR DESTINATIONS, FREE AFRICA TOURS AND SAFARIS DOES NOT REPRESENT OR WARRANT THAT TRAVEL TO SUCH POINTS IS ADVISABLE OR WITHOUT RISK, AND SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR COSTS, DAMAGES, OR LOSSES THAT MAY RESULT FROM TRAVEL TO SUCH DESTINATIONS. CLIENT’S PARTICIPATION CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE OF SUCH EVENTS AT CLIENT’S OWN RISK.
10.3. In the event of emergent health or safety concerns, once Free Africa Tours and Safaris has investigated the prevailing situation, the company shall have the sole and absolute discretion whether to proceed with any escorted trip or private departure, or to make alterations to the itinerary.

Force Majeure:
11.1. Free Africa Tours and Safaris will not be in breach of these Terms and Conditions or otherwise be liable to you for any failure or delay in performing an obligation under this Agreement that is due to any of the following causes, to the extent beyond its reasonable control: acts of God, accident, riots, war, terrorist act, epidemic, pandemic, quarantine, civil commotion, breakdown of communication facilities, breakdown or malfunction of equipment, destruction of or serious damage to facilities, natural catastrophes including, but not limited to extreme weather events, floods, and volcanic eruptions, governmental acts or omissions, changes in laws or regulations, national strikes, fire, explosion, generalized lack of availability of raw materials or energy, and any other unforeseen circumstance which is beyond the control of Free Africa Tours and Safaris.
11.2. THE PURCHASE OF TRAVEL INSURANCE IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ON ALL TRIPS.
11.3. In addition, each of Free Africa Tours and Safaris' Suppliers has terms and conditions which include Force Majeure provisions. In the event that a Force Majeure event occurs, those Suppliers may be entitled to, and may in their sole and absolute discretion, vary, postpone, or cancel any itinerary or arrangement in relation to the trip. Payment of any refund to you as a result of the non-performance of any obligations hereunder shall remain in the sole and absolute discretion of the Supplier, pursuant to their policies, although Free Africa Tours and Safaris shall use its reasonable efforts to secure reimbursement for you where possible.

Client Conduct:
12.1. The Client is responsible for appointing a director and chaperones for each tour. Room assignments shall be made by the Client’s educational institution or other organization. The director and chaperones shall be responsible for enforcing whatever group rules and standards that may be adopted by the Client’s educational institution or other organization, including, but not limited to, rules regarding attendance at meetings, daily curfews, dress standards, prohibition against vulgar language and smoking, and general behavior on tour. The director and chaperones shall be responsible to see that all tour participants are present at all tour activities. If a tour participant is ill, it is the responsibility of the director and chaperones to see that they are not left unattended. Participants terminated from a tour by the Client’s educational institution or other organization or official because of behavior may be returned to their home at their own or their parent/guardians’ expense with no refund of tour payments by Free Africa Tours and Safaris.
12.2. When you book with Free Africa Tours and Safaris, the Client and each passenger accept responsibility for any damage or loss they caused themselves. Full payment for any such damage or loss (reasonably estimated if not precisely known) must be paid directly at the time to the accommodation owner or manager or other Supplier. You must indemnify us for the full amount of any claim (also including legal costs) made against us. We are not responsible for any costs incurred concerning a guest removed from a trip, or any portion of a trip. You agree not to hold Free Africa Tours and Safaris or any of its related entities liable for any actions taken under these Terms and Conditions. Baggage and personal effects are at all times the sole responsibility of the participant.
12.3. Each participant in any trip escorted by Free Africa Tours and Safaris is expected to act responsibly and adhere to all behavior guidelines established by the company and its Suppliers. Free Africa Tours and Safaris and all local Suppliers reserve the right to remove you from any facility, hotel or resort property, tour location, or means of transportation if your health or your conduct appears to endanger yourself or others, disrupts the general well-being of other clients on any element of your trip, or interferes with the operation or security of the places we visit. In any such case, there will be no refund.

Currency Fluctuations:
13.1. Currency exchange rates fluctuate. Prices are subject to change based upon currency exchange rate fluctuations. Free Africa Tours and Safaris is not responsible for surcharges or foreign transaction fees imposed by the Client’s credit card or bank.

Travel Insurance:
14.1. Free Africa Tours and Safaris provides travel agency/tour operator operations liability insurance coverage during tours. However, it is recommended that participants obtain additional travel, medical, and baggage insurance independently.
14.2. The purchase of travel insurance is not required in order to purchase any other product or service offered by Free Africa Tours and Safaris. Free Africa Tours and Safaris is not a licensed insurance broker and cannot provide advice on insurance coverage. Participants are encouraged to obtain additional independent insurance coverage to suit their needs.

Reservation of Rights: Changes to These Terms:
15.1. Free Africa Tours and Safaris reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to change these Terms and Conditions at any time. Updated versions of the Terms will be provided to Clients and are effective immediately on posting.

General:
16.1. The laws of the State of Minnesota govern these Terms and Conditions. You hereby consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of courts in Dakota County, Minnesota, in all disputes arising out of or relating to travel bookings with Free Africa Tours and Safaris.
16.2. If any part of these Terms and Conditions is determined to be invalid or unenforceable pursuant to applicable law, including but not limited to the warranty disclaimers and liability limitations set forth above, then the invalid or unenforceable provision will be deemed superseded by a valid, enforceable provision that most closely matches the intent of the original provision, and the agreement shall continue in effect.
16.3. These Terms and Conditions (and any other terms and conditions referenced herein) constitute the entire agreement between the Client and Free Africa Tours and Safaris with respect to travel bookings made with Free Africa Tours and Safaris by any means, and it supersedes all prior or contemporaneous communications and proposals, whether electronic, oral, or written, between the Client and Free Africa Tours and Safaris with respect to communications with Free Africa Tours and Safaris. A printed version of this agreement and any notice given in electronic form shall be admissible in judicial or administrative proceedings based upon or relating to these Terms and Conditions to the same extent and subject to the same conditions as other business documents and records originally generated and maintained in printed form. In the event of any action arising out of or relating to this agreement, the Client shall bear all expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees, incurred by the Client and Free Africa Tours and Safaris in connection with such action.