Terms & Conditions

1. Who you are contracting with

These terms govern every safari, mountain climb and day trip sold by Humble Cat Safaris Tanzania, a tour operator licensed by the Tanzania Tourist Board and based at City Center, Arusha, Tanzania. “We” and “us” mean Humble Cat Safaris Tanzania. “You” means the person making the booking and everyone travelling on it. Making a booking means you accept these terms on behalf of your whole party.

2. Booking and deposit

A booking becomes a contract when we receive your deposit of 30% of the total trip cost and send you a written confirmation. Until that confirmation is issued, nothing is held and prices may change.

The balance is due 45 days before your arrival date. Bookings made within 45 days of arrival are payable in full at the time of booking. If the balance is not received by the due date we may treat the booking as cancelled by you and apply the charges in clause 6.

3. Prices and payment

Prices are quoted in US dollars per person and are based on the party size stated in your quotation. If your party size changes, the per-person price changes with it.

Bank transfer in US dollars is our preferred method and carries no surcharge. Card payments are accepted through a secure hosted page and carry the processor’s fee. Bank charges levied by your own bank on an international transfer are yours to pay, and the amount we receive must be the full invoiced amount.

We may pass on, in full, any increase in Tanzania National Parks fees, concession fees, government taxes or fuel duty that is introduced after your booking is confirmed. We will not increase the price for any other reason. If such an increase exceeds 8% of your total trip cost you may cancel without penalty within 14 days of us telling you.

4. What the price includes

Unless your itinerary states otherwise, the quoted price includes park and concession fees for the parks named in the itinerary, accommodation on the stated board basis, a private safari vehicle with a licensed driver-guide, drinking water in the vehicle, and airport transfers on your stated arrival and departure days.

5. What the price excludes

International flights, visas, travel insurance, tips, drinks not included in your board basis, laundry, items of a personal nature, optional activities such as balloon flights or cultural visits, and anything else your itinerary does not list.

6. If you cancel

Cancellation takes effect on the day we receive written notice from you. Charges are calculated as a percentage of your total trip cost:

• More than 60 days before arrival: deposit retained
• 60 to 31 days before arrival: 50% of the total
• 30 days or fewer before arrival: 100% of the total

Tanzania National Parks fees and certain camp deposits are paid in advance on your behalf and are non-refundable once lodged, whatever the date of cancellation. Where we can recover them we will pass the recovery back to you in full.

If you cut a trip short after it has started, or do not use part of it, no refund is due.

7. If we change or cancel

Camps close, roads flood, parks change their rules, and aircraft are grounded. Where we must substitute part of your itinerary we will provide accommodation and services of an equivalent or better standard and tell you as early as we reasonably can. A change of camp for one of comparable standard is not a significant change.

If we make a significant change or cancel your trip for a reason other than force majeure or your own non-payment, you may accept the change, accept an alternative trip of comparable standard, or cancel and receive a full refund of everything you have paid us.

8. Force majeure

We are not liable for failure to perform where that failure results from events beyond our reasonable control, including war, civil unrest, terrorism, epidemic or pandemic, government action, border or park closure, industrial action, fire, flood, drought, adverse weather, or the grounding or withdrawal of aircraft.

9. Insurance is a condition of travel

Comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory on every trip we operate. It must cover medical treatment, emergency evacuation by air, repatriation, and cancellation. If you are climbing Kilimanjaro or Mount Meru, the policy must cover trekking to the altitude of your route. Many standard policies do not. We will ask for your insurer and policy number before departure and may refuse to carry you without it.

10. Passports, visas and health

You are responsible for holding a passport valid for at least six months beyond your departure date, for obtaining any visa required, and for meeting the vaccination and health-certificate requirements in force at the time you travel. Requirements change; check them close to departure. We are not liable for any loss arising from your failure to meet them.

11. Fitness, altitude and participation

Safari travel involves long days on rough roads. Mountain routes involve sustained walking at high altitude, where altitude sickness is a real and potentially fatal risk regardless of fitness. You must tell us at the time of booking about any medical condition, disability, allergy or dietary requirement affecting you or anyone in your party.

Our guides may require any traveller to descend, withdraw from an activity, or leave the trip where in their reasonable judgement that person’s health, safety, or the safety of others requires it. Their decision on the mountain is final. No refund is due in these circumstances, which is one of several reasons insurance is mandatory.

12. Behaviour and wildlife

You must follow your guide’s instructions and all Tanzania National Parks regulations at all times, including remaining in the vehicle where required and keeping the distances from animals that the park sets. We may end the trip of anyone whose behaviour endangers themselves, other travellers, our staff or wildlife, or who is persistently disruptive, without refund and without liability for onward costs.

13. Our liability

We accept liability for the services we provide directly, and for the negligence of our own employees acting in the course of their employment. Nothing in these terms excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, or for fraud, where that exclusion would be unlawful.

We are not liable for loss, damage or injury arising from the acts or omissions of independent suppliers, from events outside our reasonable control, or from your own acts, omissions or failure to follow instructions. We are not liable for loss of or damage to your personal belongings, which your insurance should cover.

14. Complaints

If something is wrong during your trip, tell your guide or call our Arusha office immediately. Nearly everything can be fixed on the ground, and almost nothing can be fixed once you are home. If a problem cannot be resolved while you are travelling, write to us within 28 days of your return and we will investigate and reply in writing.

15. Photography

We may use photographs taken by our guides during your trip for marketing purposes. Tell us in writing at any time if you would rather we did not, and we will not.

16. Governing law

These terms and any dispute arising from them are governed by the laws of the United Republic of Tanzania and subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Tanzanian courts.

17. Contact

Humble Cat Safaris Tanzania, City Center, Arusha, Tanzania. Email info@humblecatsafaris.com, telephone +255 756 327 132, Monday to Saturday 08:00 to 18:00 East Africa Time.