Allgemeine Geschäftsbedingungen

1. Definitions

• Client / Traveller: The person(s) booking services through African Safari Dream.
• Services: Travel planning, itinerary design, booking of accommodation, transfers, private guides, activities, and related ground arrangements.
• Supplier: Any lodge, hotel, camp, villa, transfer company, activity operator, or other third-party service provider included in your itinerary.
• Proposal / Quotation: A written itinerary and costed travel plan prepared by us and approved by the Client.
• Buchung: A confirmed reservation after payment of the required deposit and written confirmation from us.
• Force Majeure: Events beyond reasonable control, including natural disasters, epidemics, civil unrest, government restrictions, and similar circumstances.

2. Scope of Services

African Safari Dream provides:

• Tailor-made itinerary planning and consulting
• Booking of lodges, camps, hotels, villas, and guesthouses
• Booking of ground transfers and, where applicable, private guiding and hosted services
• Coordination of activities such as game drives, excursions, park entries, and selected permits
• On-trip support for emergency or time-sensitive matters during travel

Important:

• International flights are not included and are not sold by African Safari Dream.
• For exclusive-use bookings (such as private villas or exclusive-use lodges) as well as many safari lodges, different deposit and cancellation policies may apply. These will be clearly highlighted in your quotation and invoice.

3. Pricing & Currency

All prices are based on supplier rates and taxes applicable at the time the quotation is issued.

• The price offered is subject to unforeseen changes in VAT, tourism levies, and other taxes imposed by authorities or suppliers.
• Unless otherwise stated, the quotation is valid for 21 days from the date of issue.
• We generally quote in the currencies charged by our service providers:
  • ZAR (South African Rand) for services in South Africa and Namibia
  • USD (United States Dollar) for services in Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and East Africa
• For Clients paying in EUR, the daily exchange rate to EUR is applied on the date the quotation is issued and is updated again on the day the invoice is generated.

Exclusions (unless specifically stated otherwise):

• International flights
• Travel and medical insurance
• Visa fees and border charges
• Vaccinations and health-related costs
• Items of a personal nature (e.g. laundry, telephone, minibar)
• Gratuities and tips

4. Deposits

To confirm your booking, we require a deposit of 30% of the total price, payable by bank transfer to our South African business account, unless your quotation or invoice specifies a different amount.

In exceptional cases (for example, special offers, exclusive-use properties, villa reservations, or certain peak-season bookings), different deposit conditions — including a higher percentage or full payment at the time of booking — may apply. These will be clearly indicated in your proposal and/or invoice.

Unless otherwise stated, deposits are non-refundable, as most lodges and camps apply strict cancellation policies and charge us immediately once reservations are confirmed.

5. Balance Due Dates

The remaining balance is due 60 days prior to departure, unless otherwise indicated on your invoice.

Bookings made less than 60 days before the start of the trip must be paid in full at the time of confirmation; otherwise, we are unable to secure the reservations.

Balance payments will be converted into Euro (EUR) at the time they become due, using the applicable daily exchange rate at our bank.

If payment is not received by the stated due date, African Safari Dream reserves the right to treat the booking as cancelled. In such cases, the cancellation conditions in Section 7 apply.

6. Client Obligations

You agree to:

• Provide accurate traveller information (full legal names as per passports, dates of birth, contact details, flight details, dietary needs, allergies, and medical conditions relevant to travel).
• Hold valid passports, visas, health documents, and any other entry requirements for the destinations visited.
• Purchase comprehensive travel insurance including medical cover, emergency evacuation, and cancellation protection.
• Comply with lodge, park, and activity operator safety rules and instructions.
• Ensure that all payments are made by the due dates stated on your invoice.

African Safari Dream is not responsible for any loss, delay, or additional costs arising from incorrect, incomplete, or late information provided by the Client.

7. Changes & Cancellations by the Client

Changes

Requests to change your itinerary (dates, traveller names, services, or routing) must be made in writing. We will do our best to accommodate changes, but:

• Availability for new dates or services cannot be guaranteed.
• Suppliers may charge change or rebooking fees.
• Seasonal rate differences, exchange-rate changes, and administration fees may apply and will be payable by the Client.

Cancellations

In case of cancellations, the following policy applies (unless your quotation or invoice specifies stricter conditions):

• More than 60 days before departure: 30% of the total cost
• 60 to 30 days before departure: 50% of the total cost
• Less than 30 days before departure: 100% of the total cost

Please note: Contrary to the above conditions, many safari lodges and camps may charge 100% cancellation fees for cancellations made less than 60 days before departure. Where this applies, it will be highlighted in your detailed proposal and invoice.

Any bank charges, transfer fees, or exchange differences arising from refunds are for the Client’s account. We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance to cover cancellation for medical or other unforeseen reasons.

8. Changes & Cancellations by Suppliers

Occasionally, a Supplier may change or cancel a service (for example due to weather, safety concerns, operational issues, or Force Majeure events). In such cases, African Safari Dream will:

• Inform you as soon as reasonably possible once we are notified.
• Assist in sourcing reasonable alternatives of a similar standard, where available.
• Facilitate any refunds or credits offered by the Supplier, if and when such refunds or credits are issued.

African Safari Dream is not responsible for any additional costs or consequential losses resulting from Supplier changes or cancellations, except where required by South African law.

9. Force Majeure

African Safari Dream is not liable for any loss, damage, delay, or disruption to travel plans caused by events outside our reasonable control, including but not limited to extreme weather, natural disasters, fire, drought, epidemics or pandemics, government actions, border closures, strikes, civil unrest, or technical or operational issues affecting Suppliers.

Under Force Majeure conditions, normal Supplier cancellation policies generally remain in effect unless a Supplier expressly waives or amends them. Any refunds or credits granted under such circumstances are at the sole discretion of the Supplier.

10. Liability, Insurance & Public Liability Cover

African Safari Holidays (Pty) Ltd t/a African Safari Dream contracts directly with you to arrange and coordinate your travel services. Many of the individual services included in your itinerary (such as accommodation, transport, activities, and excursions) are provided by independent third-party Suppliers who operate under their own terms and conditions.

To the fullest extent permitted by South African law, African Safari Dream is not liable for any injury, illness, death, loss, damage, delay, or additional expense arising from the acts or omissions of third-party Suppliers, or from events beyond our reasonable control.

All travellers are required to obtain comprehensive travel insurance, including cover for medical treatment, emergency evacuation, baggage, and cancellation or curtailment of the trip. Failure to secure adequate insurance is entirely at the Client’s own risk.

For your additional peace of mind, African Safari Holidays (Pty) Ltd t/a African Safari Dream holds public liability insurance with Outsurance, currently providing cover up to ZAR 20,000,000. This insurance is in addition to any cover held by the lodges, camps, and other Suppliers used in your itinerary.

11. Complaints & Dispute Handling

If you experience a problem or are dissatisfied with any aspect of your trip, please:

1. Notify the relevant Supplier (lodge, camp, hotel, or operator) immediately so they have an opportunity to resolve the issue on site.
2. Contact African Safari Dream as soon as possible so that we can support you and assist in finding a solution.
3. If the matter remains unresolved, submit a written complaint to us within 7 days of returning home, providing all relevant details.

We aim to resolve all matters amicably. If a dispute cannot be settled by negotiation, it may be referred to the competent courts in South Africa as set out below.

12. Governing Law & Jurisdiction

These Terms and any disputes arising from them are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa. The parties agree to the exclusive jurisdiction of the South African courts.

13. Room Categories

The descriptions and photographs of rooms and suites used in our proposals are examples only and may vary depending on the exact room category booked at each property. Layout, views, décor, and furnishings can differ between units of the same category.

14. Car Rental (where applicable)

If a rental vehicle is included in your itinerary, the car hire will be provided by a third-party rental company. The rental company’s own rental agreement, insurance conditions, and deposit rules will apply and must be signed on collection.

Car Rental Cancellation Policy

• If a booking is cancelled between 2 and 7 days from pick up: the renter will be charged 50% of the full rental agreement amount, and the balance will be refunded.
• If a booking is cancelled more than 7 days before pick up: a cancellation fee of 20% of the full rental agreement amount will be charged, limited to a maximum of R500.00.

Typically, the following documents and conditions are required to collect a rental car:

• Printed rental voucher
• Original driver’s licence and, where required, an international driver’s licence
• Valid passport or identity document
• Credit card with PIN code in the name of the main driver for the deposit (virtual cards and debit cards are generally not accepted)
• An amount (for example, approximately ZAR 3,950) may be reserved on the credit card as an authorisation hold for the deposit

Exact requirements and deposit amounts may vary by rental company and will be confirmed in your travel documents.

15. Charter Flights & Scheduled Charters

Where small aircraft charter flights or scheduled charters are included in your itinerary, please note that some airlines restrict passenger weight to around 100 kg per person for safety reasons. In such cases, the airline may require the purchase of a second seat if the weight limit is exceeded.

Strict baggage rules also apply on many charter flights, including limitations on total weight and bag type (often requiring soft-sided luggage). Please carefully follow the baggage instructions provided in your travel documents. Failure to comply may result in additional charges or denied boarding by the airline.

16. Entry Requirements

Visa and entry requirements in African countries can change regularly. It is the Client’s responsibility to check current requirements with the consular offices of the relevant destination well in advance, especially if you hold a non-European nationality.

As a general guideline, for most destinations your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your date of departure and contain at least two consecutive blank pages for visa and entry stamps. When travelling onward to neighbouring countries and returning to South Africa, you must ensure sufficient blank pages remain.

For South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, and Kenya, holders of a German passport do not require a visa; however, an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) is needed for Kenya (https://etakenya.go.ke/).

For Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Tanzania, and Namibia, a visa is required. Of course, we are happy to assist you with this important step in your travel planning and will provide you with all the necessary information you need for your visa application.

17. Health

Before departure, please consult your doctor, travel clinic, or a tropical medicine institute to obtain advice on vaccinations, malaria prophylaxis, and other health precautions relevant to Southern and East Africa or your chosen destinations.

Some areas are malaria-risk zones and may require prophylaxis; others have specific vaccination requirements. It is your responsibility to obtain appropriate medical advice and to follow it. African Safari Dream cannot be held responsible for any health-related issues, illnesses, or consequences arising from your decision to travel or from failure to follow medical guidance.

18. Website Disclaimer

African Safari Holidays (Pty) Ltd t/a African Safari Dream has made every reasonable effort to verify the accuracy of the information presented on this website and in our marketing materials. However, details such as lodge descriptions, facilities, wildlife sightings, and travel conditions may change without prior notice.

We do not accept responsibility for any errors, omissions, or outdated information on the website, and we reserve the right to correct or update content at any time. The specific inclusions, exclusions, and conditions of your trip are those set out in your confirmed proposal, invoice, and travel documents.

19. Data Protection

In order to design your journey and make the necessary bookings, African Safari Dream may need to collect certain personal information from you, such as passport details, contact information, dietary requirements, health or disability information, and religious or other preferences relevant to your travel arrangements.

This information is treated confidentially and is used only for the purpose of planning and operating your trip. It will be shared with Suppliers solely to the extent necessary for them to fulfil their services (for example, to note dietary restrictions or medical considerations).

Further details on how we collect, store, and protect personal data are set out in our separate Privacy Policy, which should be read together with these Terms & Conditions.