Relaxed Terms and Conditions

These temporary, amended Terms and Conditions have been crafted in response to the unique circumstances and risks posed by the Coronavirus pandemic, to give guests peace of mind and allow you to book with no risk to you. We know the situation will improve again in the future, and we will review these relaxed terms and conditions monthly as the situation unfolds.

Please read through our booking conditions carefully. By making a booking with Wild Wings Safaris, you acknowledge that you have read and understood these terms and agree to them in full. These terms and conditions will apply to all bookings made and confirmed between 10 March 2020 and 31 October 2020 (subject to review at the end of October).

Provisional booking

All bookings made by us will be considered provisional until availability has been confirmed and the required deposit has been received. Should your requested safari or the preferred accommodation or travel dates be unavailable at the time of confirming your booking, we will try to find a suitable similar alternative for you. A rate amendment may result from such an alternative.

Rates amendments

Wild Wings Safaris reserves the right to amend the quoted rate in the event of preferred accommodation being unavailable, fluctuations in exchange rate, or unforeseen price increases by third party suppliers like the National Parks Board, accommodation providers or the government. Minor changes will usually be absorbed by us and it is always our aim to honour the quoted rate and avoid any unforseen price adjustments.

Deposit

In light of the uncertainty regarding Coronavirus, a 20% refundable deposit is required to confirm your booking. The deposit amount remains fully refundable should you need to cancel due to Covid-19, subject to the cancellation policies of third party suppliers whom we have paid deposits to on your behalf.

Balance

The balance is payable at least 7 weeks (49 days) prior to departure. If your booking includes a Kruger National Park safari, we will need to make final payment to Sanparks for your accommodation 45 days prior to departure. If you are booking within 7 weeks of departure, the full price will be payable at the time of making your booking. All transaction fees, including wire tranfer costs, cash deposit fees, foreign exchange conversion fees and bank routing fees are for your account. The full quoted amount needs to clear into our account. If you pay by credit card, we absorb the credit card fees and no credit card surcharge will be added.

Your contract and financial protection

You have the choice of contracting with Wild Wings Safaris UK Ltd (our UK company) or Wild Wings Safaris Pty Ltd (our South African company). These are separate legal entities, operating as one brand. If you prefer to pay in GBP into our UK bank account or Barclaycard facility, you will be contracting with Wild Wings Safaris UK Ltd, which is subject to UK consumer protection laws and travel trade regulations. Our UK office is a member of ABTA for your financial protection. If you prefer to pay in ZAR into our SA bank account, you will be contracting with Wild Wings Safaris (Pty) Ltd, which is subject to South African consumer protection laws and travel trade regulations. Our South African office is a member of SATSA and carries financial protection through the SATSA bonding scheme. Both companies are covered by extensive public liability and passenger liability insurance, underwritten by Lloyd's of London.

Cancellation Policy

Should you need to cancel or postpone your booking due to Coronavirus (* see clarification [a] below), the following cancellation policy will apply:

Cancellation or postponement 49 days or more prior to departure:
NO CANCELLATION FEE (** see clarification [b] below).

Cancellation or postponement 48 to 31 days prior to departure:
30% of the full price should you cancel (subject to supplier cancellation fees);
5% of the full price should you postpone to a future date (subject to supplier postponement fees).

Cancellation or postponement 30 days to 15 days prior to departure:
50% of the full price should you cancel (subject to supplier cancellation fees);
10% of the full price should you postpone to a future date (subject to supplier postponement fees).

Cancellation 14 days or less prior to departure:
100% of the full price

Should you need to cancel your booking or any part of it for any other reason not related to Coronavirus (* see clarification [a] below), the following cancellation fees will apply, regardless of the reason for cancellation:

Cancellation 49 days or more prior to departure – no cancellation fee
(subject to supplier cancellation fees which may be higher)
Cancellation 48 days to 31 days prior to departure – 50% of the full price
(subject to supplier cancellation fees which may be higher)
Cancellation 30 days to 15 days prior to departure - 75% of the full price
(subject to supplier cancellation fees which may be higher)
Cancellation 14 days or less prior to departure - 100% of the full price

* [a] Valid reasons for a cancellation or postponement due to Coronavirus include if you or a member of your family or group have tested positive for Coronavirus, have been quarantined, or have been advised by your doctor not to travel due to Coronavirus. Another valid reason is if official travel restrictions have been imposed which make it impossible for you to travel. Lastly, a valid reason would be if the spread of Coronavirus is still a significant threat and official recommendations by government or by the WHO include limiting or postponing non-essential travel for the dates that you are due to travel.

** [b] Third parties that we have paid already (any lodge, hotel or other supplier) may have higher cancellation penalties, in which case the third party’s cancellation policy will apply. Many suppliers have waived or relaxed their cancellation fees in view of Coronavirus, or at least waived any penalties for postponing the booking to a future date, but some suppliers have not made any concessions.

If third party suppliers’ cancellation policies are more strict than our own, the supplier’s cancellation and refund policy will supersede our own cancellation policy.

The above relaxed cancellation policy will be reviewed monthly while the Coronavirus outbreak remains a global concern. We reserve the right to update our terms and conditions as the global situation changes, but will first discuss and communicate any updates with you in writing. We will honour the terms and conditions that were in place at the time you made your booking, or any amendments that were subsequently agreed to in writing.

Your travel plans are made entirely at your own risk and Wild Wings Safaris will not accept responsibility for any missed flights, problems with visas or travel documents, flight cancellations, delays, lost baggage, transport or traffic delays, bad weather, illness or medical problems, family matters or bereavement, or any other circumstances that may necessitate cancellation or amendments to your travel plans. Please ensure you purchase comprehensive travel insurance with adequate cancellation and curtailment cover for any eventuality. We advise that you specifically ask about cover for Coronavirus and purchase “Cancel for any reason” cover, and ensure that global pandemics are not excluded in the small print.

Changes to confirmed bookings

Changes to confirmed bookings can be requested but they may result in a rate amendment (e.g. a change of dates may result in a change of rates). Changes will only be made if the change is possible and does not inconvenience other clients.

Changes made by us

Every effort will be made to provide the accommodation, services and activities as described and quoted to you. In the unlikely event that unforeseen circumstances necessitate a change in the program, we will notify you as soon as is reasonably possible and discuss suitable alternatives with you. We cannot be held responsible for adverse weather conditions, traffic problems, vehicle breakdowns, supplier issues or any other unforeseen circumstances that may lead to the cancellation of certain activities. We reserve the right to change accommodation, vehicles, transport, meals and other program details as conditions dictate, only if absolutely necessary and unavoidable. We will always aim to offer an alternative of similar value should any changes be necessary.

Refund policy

Please see our cancellation policy above regarding refunds in case of cancellation or postponement due to Coronavirus.

Certain activities on your itinerary may be weather dependent, and might have to be cancelled if the weather is not suitable, or for another reason. Examples might include hot air balloon flights, shark cage diving, Table Mountain cableway, Robben Island, whale watching boat trips, bush dinners, etc.

If it is possible to reschedule the activity to another day on your itinerary, we will try that first (in partnership with the supplier of the activity). Normally there will be no additional cost to reschedule to another day, unless there are price differences outside of our control such as a change to high season rates by the supplier.

If it is not possible to reschedule, we will attempt to secure a refund or partial refund from the supplier or third party operator, on your behalf.
If the supplier does not offer a refund, we will not be able to offer you any refund either. Some suppliers (such as Robben Island or Table Mountain for example) are known to offer no refunds at all for weather cancellations. They expect you to come back on a different day, but this is not always possible. This is one reason why you should purchase decent travel insurance.
For those suppliers where we are able to secure some kind of refund, we will refund to you whatever nett amount we were able to secure from the supplier, less 5% admin fees to cover our transaction costs. Please be aware upfront that you will not receive a full refund for any cancelled activity.
For missed flights or transfers, late arrivals or no-shows, and last-minute cancellations or amendments requested by you, no refund will be made. Please ensure that you have comprehensive travel insurance in place with minimal excess.
Refunds can only be made in the currency you paid, back to the same credit card that you paid with. Refunds by bank transfer will only be done if the trip was paid for by bank transfer, and transaction costs may be deducted by your bank. Fluctuations in exchange rate may cause the amount you receive in your currency to be less than you expected, or what you originally paid.

Excluded items and spending money

Please take careful note of what is included and what is excluded from the price. Your quote and booking confirmation will clearly stipulate which items are included and excluded in the price. There are no hidden fees. Unless otherwise stated, items that are normally excluded are your international flights, airport taxes, visas and border crossing costs, certain meals, alcoholic drinks, personal expenses, gratuities and optional extra activities. Please ensure that you have enough spending money in cash to pay for these items as needed. Payment for optional extras can be made in cash or in some cases by credit card. Credit cards are accepted widely but not everywhere. Foreign currency can readily be exchanged at the airport and in most banks. USD is accepted almost everywhere. Tipping is optional and will be left to your own discretion. It is customary to tip the guide if you received good service, but not compulsory. Your booking confirmation and safari info sheet will contain guidelines and more details.

Insurance

All clients are required to arrange their own comprehensive travel insurance and medical emergency insurance. It is absolutely essential to purchase travel insurance, and failure to do so will not influence our cancellation and refunds policy. We advise you to take note of the details of your insurance policy to ensure that it covers any eventuality and that the limits for cancellation or curtailment are sufficient. We advise you to specifically ask about Coronavirus, to ensure you are covered. It is advisable to add “Cancel for any reason” cover to your policy and check the fine print to ensure that global pandemics like Coronavirus are not excluded. Please add your insurance details on the booking form. For your peace of mind, Wild Wings Safaris is covered by extensive public liability, passenger liability and bonding insurance (financial failure insurance).

Health requirements

No compulsory vaccinations are required for travel to South Africa, but if you plan to visit other destinations in Africa as well, please consult with your travel clinic or doctor regarding vaccinations. For example, a Yellow Fever vaccine may be required to enter South Africa if you have travelled to countries where Yellow Fever occurs. We recommend that you take anti-malaria tablets as prescribed by your doctor, pharmacist or travel clinic. If you suffer from any medical conditions that may affect you or your participation on this tour, please inform us about this on your booking form. You are responsible for bringing any prescription medication you may need. We accept no responsibility for any medical conditions, illnesses or related incidents that may occur during your safari, even if we have been fully informed about your condition.

Dietary requirements

It is up to you to inform us in advance of your dietary requirements, food allergies or any foods you don't eat. We try our best to cater to everyone's dietary requirements but we rely on the information you provide in advance, so we can be as prepared as possible. We take no responsibility for special dietary requests if we have not been informed in advance. In remote bush locations, it may not always be possible to cater to very strict alternative diets.

Indemnity

Wild Wings Safaris and its staff accept no liability or responsibility for any damage, injury or loss of any kind whatsoever, including but not limited to death, trauma, disability, injury, property theft or damage, financial loss, emotional trauma, missed flights, missed accommodation, cancellation of your safari or any other such incident as may arise on your safari. By completing this form and booking your safari you agree that you are aware of the inherent risks associated with travel and you further agree to indemnify Wild Wings Safaris from any claim or liability which may result from any kind of loss, injury or accident which may occur during or after or as a result of your tour. You are participating on this tour entirely at your own risk. Please ensure you have adequate health insurance and comprehensive travel insurance in place to cover any eventuality.

Travel documents

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have all your necessary travel documents, including passport (valid for at least 6 months beyond date of safari with at least 2 blank pages), visas (apply well in advance if you need a visa), spending money, flight tickets and insurance policy. Visa policies may change at short notice and it is the traveller’s responsibility to check visa requirements. Please note that an unabridged birth certificate may be needed for South African children under 18 (see below). Passports and visas need to be applied for well in advance, if applicable. Wild Wings Safaris accepts no responsibility or liability if you fail to obtain the correct travel documents for your trip. Please read your booking confirmation document carefully and bring it along on your safari.

Requirements for children

If you are travelling with a child under 18 on a South African passport, please be aware that they will need an unabridged birth certificate (full birth certificate showing details of both parents). Please apply for this in advance if you don't have their unabridged birth certificate. For children travelling on foreign passports, no birth certificate is necessary (the regulation was scrapped in November 2019). In addition, for South African passport holders, a minor travelling with only one parent will need written consent from the other parent in the form of an affidavit, or a court order granting full custody, or a valid death certificate. Adopted children require official proof of adoption.

Behavior

You are expected to act within the confines of the law and take your fellow travellers into consideration. If you behave in such a way as to endanger our staff or other passengers or cause damage to property, we reserve the right to terminate your safari without further liability.

Expectations

We will discuss your expectations with you in the process of booking and conducting your safari, and will strive to meet them as far as is realistically possible, but we make no guarantees with regard to expected weather, game viewing or animal sightings, exact travel times, or any other unpredictable factors that may affect your expectations or safari experience. At third party suppliers like safari lodges or hotels, we usually have no control over the exact room or guide assigned to you. The lodge management is responsible for these choices. We are proud of our excellent reputation and will do our best to offer you the best possible experience.