Terms and Conditions
GENERAL
Raja Safari Holidays is a fully licensed tour and travel company based in Kampala, Uganda. We organize safari tours across East Africa, including Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania; gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, wildlife safaris, cultural experiences, mountain climbing, honeymoon safaris, and more.
Please read these terms and conditions carefully, and contact us with any questions, as they set out our respective obligations and form the basis of your contract with Raja Safari Holidays.
In these terms and conditions, “you” means all persons named on the booking (including anyone added or substituted at a later date), and “we” and “us” means Raja Safari Holidays.
These terms are subject to change based on evolving circumstances; however, the terms in effect at the time of booking are the terms that apply to your contract.
PRICES
Prices quoted for our safaris are per the itinerary and include, unless stated otherwise: accommodation in hotels, guesthouses, tents, or lodges with meals as indicated; sightseeing as noted in the itinerary; park entrance and ranger fees; English-speaking drivers/guides; and bottled mineral water in the vehicle.
The following are not included: international and domestic airfares; visas and passport fees; meals not mentioned in the itinerary; drinks other than the mineral water provided; tips and gratuities for guides and accommodation staff; laundry; travel insurance; and other items of a personal nature.
Prices quoted on our website or to clients are subject to change without notice and are not guaranteed until confirmed in writing.
We reserve the right to adjust prices at any time in response to exchange rate fluctuations or increases in the cost of any part of the tour, though we will always make every effort to minimize such increases.
DEPOSITS AND PAYMENT
A deposit of 40% of the total tour cost is required to confirm your booking, payable by bank transfer, credit/debit card, or mobile money. This deposit excludes gorilla and chimpanzee trekking permits, which must be paid in full at the time of booking, as permit fees are mandatory and non-negotiable payments to the relevant park authorities. All prices are quoted in USD unless otherwise stated. The remaining balance is due no later than 30 days before the start of your safari. Failure to settle the balance by this date may result in cancellation of your booking under our standard cancellation terms.
Solo travelers booking a group itinerary may be subject to a single supplement fee; details will be confirmed at the time of booking.
BOOKING CONTRACT
Your booking is confirmed, and a contract exists, once we issue written confirmation following receipt of the applicable deposit.
Please check your confirmation carefully and report any incorrect or incomplete information to us immediately. Names must match exactly as they appear on the relevant passport or identification document.
Your booking contract becomes valid once you have read and signed these terms and conditions.
AGE REQUIREMENTS
Anyone under 10 years of age on the date of the safari is considered a minor. An adult must always accompany minors, and one adult may accompany up to two minors. The minimum age for participation in our safari tours is 3 years.
Where local law requires consent from a parent, guardian, or other party, the accompanying adult is responsible for securing all necessary consents, documentation, and legal requirements for the minor(s) to travel. We are not liable for any fees, damages, or losses arising from a failure to secure such consents, permits, or approvals.
Each adult traveling with a minor is jointly and severally responsible for that minor’s behavior, wellbeing, supervision, and safety, and jointly and severally accepts these terms on the minor’s behalf, including all assumptions of risk and limitations of liability.
ACCOMMODATIONS
We select elegant, well-appointed hotels, lodges, and camps offering hot water, friendly staff, and fair prices. Please advise us in advance of any dietary requirements. We reserve the right to substitute equivalent or superior accommodations where necessary.
CANCELLATION AND REFUNDS
All cancellation requests must be made in writing and take effect on the date we receive them.
Cancellation charges on our standard program rates:
- 60+ days before arrival: 10%
- 59–32 days before arrival: 25%
- 31–8 days before arrival: 50%
- 7–3 days before arrival: 75%
- 48 hours or less before arrival: 100%
Raja Safari Holidays reserves the right to deduct all incurred expenses from payments made. Gorilla and chimpanzee permits, as well as air tickets, are 100% non-refundable.
We do not issue refunds for unused services, late arrival, or no-shows by any tour member.
We rarely cancel confirmed bookings and always try to avoid doing so. We will not cancel a confirmed holiday less than 60 days before departure unless forced to by unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control that we could not have avoided with due care. Should we need to cancel (outside of non-payment or force majeure), we will offer a comparable alternative tour where available, refunding any price difference if the alternative costs less or a full refund of all monies paid, except for gorilla permit fees, which can only be refunded once the permit issuer refunds us.
Cancellation fees are calculated based on the date we receive your written notice.
HEALTH AND VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS
You are responsible for confirming and meeting all health and vaccination requirements for entry into Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania, including any yellow fever vaccination certificate that may be required at border crossings. We recommend consulting your doctor or a licensed travel clinic well in advance of your safari. We accept no liability for denied entry or travel disruption resulting from a failure to meet these requirements.
PHYSICAL FITNESS FOR TREKKING
Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking involve strenuous hiking over uneven, often steep terrain at altitude, sometimes for several hours. You confirm that you are in adequate physical health to participate and will inform us in advance of any condition that may affect your ability to trek safely. We reserve the right to recommend alternative arrangements (such as a porter or a shorter trek route) but cannot guarantee suitability for all fitness levels.
ACCURACY OF INFORMATION
Information, descriptions, and opinions regarding itineraries, national parks, gorilla permits, animal sightings, accommodation, and security are provided in good faith, based on the most current information available, with care taken to ensure accuracy. We cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions arising from matters beyond our control.
INSURANCE
We recommend purchasing travel insurance through your agent before arriving in Uganda. Local medical evacuation coverage is available in the event of an emergency during the tour. Please request this at the time of booking so we can arrange it based on your length of stay.
Safeguard your travel documents as you would cash. It is your responsibility to meet all passport, visa, and immigration requirements for your itinerary; please confirm these with the relevant embassies or consulates. We accept no responsibility if you are unable to travel due to non-compliance with such requirements, though we’re happy to advise on visa matters just get in touch.
FORCE MAJEURE
Force majeure refers to any event beyond our control that could not have been foreseen or avoided even with due care, including war, riots, civil unrest, border closures, government action, terrorism, industrial disputes, natural or nuclear disaster, extreme weather, fire, road closures, epidemics, quarantines, and similar hazards incident to land, air, or lake travel.
Raja Safari Holidays will not accept liability or pay compensation where a service is affected by an event that our suppliers or we could not reasonably foresee or avoid.
We reserve the right to revise safari costs without prior notice in response to general price increases from other service providers (hotels, fuel, national park fees, food, etc.), and before full confirmation to withdraw a tour or part of it, make itinerary changes, decline or remove any tour participant, and pass on any expenditure or losses caused by delays or events beyond our control.
TRANSPORT AND FLIGHT DELAYS
While we coordinate transfers and internal flights to align with your itinerary, we are not liable for missed connections, delays, or additional costs arising from airline schedule changes, delayed domestic flights, or road closures beyond our control. Where possible, we will assist in rearranging affected portions of your itinerary, though additional charges may apply.
COMPLAINTS
We aim to exceed expectations in every aspect of our tours, and we welcome suggestions to improve our service.
Any complaint should be reported immediately to our office, your representative, or the relevant service supplier, who will do their best to resolve it. If you experience any issue with your vehicle or guide while on tour, please report it to us immediately and allow us 24 hours to resolve the matter before escalating your complaint. If unresolved to your satisfaction, please submit a written complaint within 30 days of tour completion. We cannot accept liability for complaints not raised through this process.
LIABILITY
We take every measure to ensure all arrangements and services are delivered as specified, as efficiently and effectively as possible. However, we do not have direct control over services provided by third-party suppliers and, while every supplier is selected with care, we cannot accept liability for their errors or omissions.
We are not liable for any loss, damage, or injury to person or property. While every care is taken, Raja Safari Holidays cannot be held responsible for direct or indirect loss or damage to baggage or personal belongings, nor for unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, including flight delays or cancellations, force majeure, extreme weather, civil unrest, strikes, epidemics, fire, mechanical issues, or theft.
You waive any claim against us for such loss, damage, injury, or death.
It is your travel agency’s responsibility to ensure all tour members hold the appropriate passports, visas, permits, and health documentation. It is your responsibility to take appropriate medical and practical health precautions, seeking medical advice well ahead of travel.
Raja Safari Holidays’ liability to passengers carried in its own vehicles is governed by the laws of Uganda. All claims are subject to the jurisdiction of the courts where the cause of action arises.
We are not liable for claims, losses, damages, costs, or expenses arising from inconvenience, loss of enjoyment, upset, disappointment, distress, or frustration, physical or mental, resulting from the acts or omissions of any party other than ourselves and our employees, including third-party suppliers.
ACCEPTANCE OF RISK
You acknowledge that our safari tours may carry inherent risk to health and safety, and that by joining the tour, you have considered these potential risks. You assume responsibility for such risks and release Raja Safari Holidays from claims arising from losses, damages, injuries, or death resulting from risks inherent to the safari. You confirm that you understand the degree of personal risk varies by service and location, and that you accept these risks in light of your own capabilities and needs.
BAGGAGE
All personal belongings and baggage travel at the passenger’s own risk.
PHOTOGRAPHY ON TOUR
We reserve the right to photograph tour participants for use in promoting our safaris. Any guest who prefers not to be photographed should inform their guide at the start of the tour.
WILDLIFE VIEWING
Caution is advised when viewing wildlife; sightings are never guaranteed. Observing animals in their natural habitat is a privilege; please maintain a safe distance at all times while photographing them. Liability rests with the guest in the event of an animal encounter resulting from not maintaining a safe distance. A gorilla permit guarantees the opportunity to trek, but not that the gorillas will be visible.
DATA PRIVACY
In the course of preparing and delivering your safari, we collect personal information including passport details, dietary and health information, and photographs. This information is used solely for booking, permit applications, park registration, and safety purposes, and is not shared with third parties beyond what is necessary to deliver your tour (e.g., park authorities, accommodation providers). Photographs taken during your tour may be used for promotional purposes as described under Photography on Tour, unless you opt out at the start of your trip.
GOVERNING LAW
These terms and conditions, and your contract with Raja Safari Holidays, are governed by the laws of the Republic of Uganda. Any disputes arising from your booking or tour are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Uganda.
ENTIRE AGREEMENT
These terms and conditions, together with your written booking confirmation, constitute the entire agreement between you and Raja Safari Holidays and supersede any prior discussions, correspondence, or representations, whether oral or written.
SEVERABILITY
If any provision of these terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision shall be severed, and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.
VOLUNTARY EXECUTION
By submitting a deposit to Raja Safari Holidays, you confirm that you have read and fully understood these terms and conditions.
CONTACT US
For any questions, written notices, or complaints relating to these terms, please contact us at:
Raja Safari Holidays
rajasafariholidays@gmail.com
Susie House, Level 2, Ggaba Road, Kampala, Uganda
+256753398869