Booking Terms & Conditions
Clear, transparent guidelines for booking your safari with Teleios Safaris.
Please read these Booking Terms & Conditions carefully before confirming your safari. They explain how safari bookings, payments, cancellations, lodges, park fees, permits, game drives, transfers, guides, travel documents, insurance, and guest responsibilities are handled.
At Teleios Safaris, we plan wildlife journeys with care, honesty, and attention to detail. These terms help ensure that your safari is arranged clearly and responsibly, from your first enquiry to your safe return home.
By confirming a booking with Teleios Safaris, you agree to the terms outlined below.
Section One
Deposit + payments
To confirm your safari tour with Teleios Safaris, a deposit is required at the time of booking. Your booking is only confirmed once the required deposit has been received and acknowledged by Teleios Safaris.
The deposit amount may vary depending on your safari destination, travel dates, lodge or camp selection, number of travellers, safari duration, internal flights, park fees, permits, and supplier requirements.
The final balance must be paid by the due date stated on your invoice or booking confirmation. If payment is not received by the required date, Teleios Safaris may cancel the booking, and cancellation fees may apply.
Some safari lodges, tented camps, airlines, park authorities, gorilla and chimpanzee permit offices, conservation areas, and third-party suppliers may require higher deposits or earlier payment. Where this applies, Teleios Safaris will advise you before your safari is confirmed.
Peak Season Payment and Cancellation Terms:
Safari travel during peak season is often subject to stricter payment and cancellation terms because lodges, camps, guides, vehicles, permits, and internal flights are in high demand.
Peak season may include, but is not limited to, Christmas, New Year, Easter, school holidays, the Great Migration season, gorilla trekking periods, dry-season game viewing months, festive travel periods, and other high-demand safari dates.
During these periods, safari suppliers may require earlier deposits, earlier final payments, or full prepayment. Once paid, certain costs may be non-refundable, especially lodge deposits, park fees, conservation fees, trekking permits, and domestic flights.
Teleios Safaris will communicate any peak-season conditions that apply to your itinerary before confirmation.
Cancellation fees
All cancellations must be sent to Teleios Safaris in writing.
Cancellation fees may apply depending on when the cancellation is made, the value of the safari, and the terms imposed by lodges, camps, airlines, park authorities, conservation areas, vehicle operators, guides, and other suppliers.
Cancellation charges may include:
- Non-refundable safari deposits
- Lodge, camp, or hotel cancellation fees
- National park and conservation fees
- Gorilla, chimpanzee, or other trekking permit fees
- Domestic, regional, or international flight penalties
- Private guide or private vehicle cancellation costs
- Administration and planning fees
- Any payments already made to suppliers on your behalf
Some safari services are highly restricted and may be fully non-refundable once confirmed. This is especially common with primate permits, peak-season lodges, exclusive-use camps, charter flights, and special-interest activities.
Refunds, where applicable, will only be processed once Teleios Safaris has received the relevant refund from the supplier. Bank charges, exchange rate differences, card fees, and transaction costs may be deducted from any refund due.
Payment Methods
Teleios Safaris accepts payments through the approved methods listed on your invoice or booking confirmation.
Payments may be made by bank transfer, card payment, or any other authorised payment platform made available by Teleios Safaris.
All bank charges, card fees, international transfer fees, currency conversion costs, and intermediary bank deductions are the responsibility of the traveller unless agreed otherwise in writing.
Please include your booking reference, invoice number, or lead traveller name when making payment so that we can allocate your payment correctly.
Quotes + costs
All safari quotations are prepared based on the information available at the time of quoting.
Safari costs may be affected by exchange rates, lodge rates, park fees, conservation fees, government taxes, fuel prices, vehicle costs, guide fees, permit costs, flight prices, and supplier tariffs.
A safari quotation does not guarantee availability. Lodges, camps, guides, vehicles, permits, and flights are only secured once the required deposit has been received and availability has been confirmed by the relevant suppliers.
Teleios Safaris reserves the right to amend a quote if third-party costs change before confirmation.
Once your safari is confirmed, we will make every reasonable effort to maintain the agreed price. However, changes caused by government fees, park fees, taxes, conservation levies, fuel increases, exchange rates, or supplier changes may affect the final cost.
Travel Insuarance
Comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended for all travellers joining a safari with Teleios Safaris.
Your travel insurance should cover trip cancellation, emergency medical care, hospitalisation, medical evacuation, repatriation, baggage loss, travel delays, missed connections, supplier failure where available, and personal liability.
Safari travel may involve remote locations where medical facilities are limited and emergency evacuation can be costly. Your insurance should be suitable for your destination, age, health condition, and itinerary.
Certain safari activities may require specific insurance cover, including gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, walking safaris, canoeing, hiking, hot-air balloon safaris, horseback safaris, boating safaris, cultural visits, and adventure activities.
Teleios Safaris is not responsible for any loss, cancellation, injury, medical cost, delay, missed connection, or additional expense that could have been covered by adequate travel insurance.
Section Two
Included Safari services
Your confirmed safari itinerary will clearly state what is included in your package.
Depending on your itinerary, included services may include safari accommodation, meals as specified, national park fees, conservation fees, scheduled game drives, airport transfers, internal road transfers, domestic flights, professional guide services, private or shared safari vehicles, selected activities, and government taxes.
Only services specifically listed as included in your confirmed itinerary form part of your safari package.
Where meals, drinks, laundry, optional activities, premium park experiences, tips, flights, visas, or transfers are not clearly stated as included, they should be treated as excluded unless confirmed in writing by Teleios Safaris.
Excluded Safari services
Unless clearly stated in your confirmed itinerary, your safari package does not include:
- International flights
- Visas and passport fees
- Travel insurance
- Vaccinations and medical costs
- Personal spending money
- Tips for guides, drivers, lodge staff, porters, and trackers
- Premium drinks, champagne, cellar wines, or special beverages
- Laundry unless stated
- Optional activities
- Extra game drives or private activities not listed
- Excess baggage charges
- Telephone, internet, spa, minibar, and personal lodge expenses
- Meals or drinks not specified in the itinerary
- Any service not specifically listed as included
Teleios Safaris will always aim to make your safari inclusions and exclusions clear before you confirm your booking.
Unforeseen Safari circumstances
Safari travel takes place in natural environments, remote areas, national parks, conservation areas, and wilderness regions. Conditions may change unexpectedly.
Your safari may be affected by weather, road conditions, seasonal flooding, wildlife movements, park regulations, flight delays, mechanical issues, border procedures, health regulations, government decisions, lodge operational changes, or other circumstances beyond our control.
Game viewing is based on nature and cannot be guaranteed. While our guides and partners make every effort to provide excellent wildlife experiences, animal sightings, migration movements, predator encounters, river crossings, and specific wildlife behaviour cannot be promised.
Where itinerary changes are necessary, Teleios Safaris will make every reasonable effort to provide suitable alternatives. Any additional costs caused by circumstances beyond our control may be the responsibility of the traveller.
Special requests
Special requests should be provided in writing at the time of booking.
These may include dietary requirements, allergies, room preferences, bed configurations, honeymoon arrangements, anniversaries, birthday celebrations, mobility needs, medical considerations, guide preferences, vehicle preferences, or family travel requirements.
Teleios Safaris will pass your requests to the relevant lodges, camps, airlines, guides, and suppliers. However, special requests cannot be guaranteed unless confirmed in writing by the supplier.
Guests with dietary, mobility, medical, or accessibility needs should inform Teleios Safaris as early as possible so that we can recommend suitable lodges, vehicles, activities, and routes.
Active Safari Activities
Some safari tours include active or adventurous experiences such as walking safaris, gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, mountain hiking, canoeing, boating, horseback safaris, cycling, hot-air balloon safaris, or cultural village walks.
Travellers are responsible for ensuring that they are physically fit, medically able, and properly prepared for the activities included in their itinerary.
Some activities may have age, weight, health, clothing, footwear, fitness, or safety requirements. Guides, rangers, lodge managers, park authorities, and activity providers may refuse participation if a traveller is considered unfit, unsafe, improperly equipped, or likely to place themselves or others at risk.
No refund will be due where a traveller cannot participate because they do not meet the required conditions or choose not to take part.
Section Three
Passports, Visas & Entry Requirements
Travellers are responsible for ensuring that they have valid passports, visas, permits, vaccination certificates, and all required travel documents before departure.
Your passport should usually be valid for at least six months after your intended return date and should contain sufficient blank pages for immigration stamps and visas.
Visa and entry requirements vary by nationality and destination. These may also change without notice.
Teleios Safaris may provide general guidance, but it remains the traveller’s responsibility to confirm current requirements with the relevant embassy, consulate, airline, immigration office, or official government authority.
Teleios Safaris is not responsible for denied boarding, denied entry, cancellation, delay, loss, or additional cost caused by incorrect, expired, missing, or incomplete travel documents.
Malaria and Tropical Disease Warning
Many safari destinations are located in areas where malaria, yellow fever, and other tropical diseases may be present.
Travellers should seek professional medical advice from a doctor, travel clinic, or qualified health professional well before departure.
It is the traveller’s responsibility to understand the health risks of each destination and to take appropriate precautions, including vaccinations, malaria prevention, insect repellent, suitable clothing, prescribed medication, and other preventative measures.
Some countries may require proof of yellow fever vaccination, especially when arriving from or transiting through certain destinations.
Teleios Safaris does not provide medical advice and is not responsible for illness, injury, medical complications, or failure to meet health-entry requirements before, during, or after travel.
Force Majeure
Teleios Safaris shall not be liable for delays, changes, cancellations, failure to perform, or additional costs caused by circumstances beyond its reasonable control.
These may include, but are not limited to, natural disasters, extreme weather, floods, drought, fire, pandemics, epidemics, wildlife-related disruptions, road closures, park closures, border closures, war, civil unrest, terrorism, strikes, government restrictions, airline disruptions, fuel shortages, or supplier failure.
Where possible, Teleios Safaris will assist with alternative safari arrangements. However, any additional costs arising from such events may be the responsibility of the traveller.
Limits on liability
Teleios Safaris acts as a safari planner and coordinator, arranging services provided by independent third-party suppliers. These may include lodges, tented camps, hotels, airlines, park authorities, conservation bodies, vehicle operators, guides, rangers, trackers, boat operators, and activity providers.
Although we carefully select our partners, Teleios Safaris is not liable for acts, omissions, delays, injuries, losses, accidents, cancellations, service failures, or additional costs caused by third-party suppliers.
Safari travel may involve inherent risks, including wildlife encounters, remote locations, rough roads, uneven terrain, boat travel, small aircraft, changing weather, limited medical facilities, and outdoor activities. By booking a safari, travellers acknowledge and accept these risks.
Teleios Safaris shall not be responsible for indirect loss, loss of enjoyment, emotional distress, missed connections, additional expenses, or consequential damages resulting from travel disruptions, supplier actions, or circumstances beyond our control.
Nothing in these terms is intended to exclude liability where such exclusion is not permitted by law.
Travel advisories
Travellers are responsible for reviewing official travel advisories and destination information before departure.
Travel advisories may relate to safety, security, health, political conditions, weather, borders, entry rules, park access, or transport disruptions.
If a traveller chooses to travel despite official warnings, restrictions, or advisories, they do so at their own discretion and risk.
Teleios Safaris may provide general destination guidance where possible, but final responsibility for travel decisions remains with the traveller.
Dispute resolution
If a concern arises during your safari, please notify Teleios Safaris, your guide, lodge manager, or local representative as soon as possible so that we have the opportunity to assist while you are still travelling.
Concerns raised only after the safari may be more difficult to investigate or resolve.
Any formal complaint should be submitted in writing within a reasonable time after completion of travel, together with relevant details and supporting documents.
Teleios Safaris will review all complaints fairly and seek to resolve disputes in a professional and reasonable manner.
Section Four
Travellers’ Representation
The person making the booking confirms that they are authorised to act on behalf of all travellers included in the safari booking.
By confirming the booking, the lead traveller accepts these Booking Terms & Conditions on behalf of all members of the travelling party.
The lead traveller is responsible for ensuring that all travellers understand the itinerary, safari costs, payment terms, cancellation conditions, inclusions, exclusions, entry requirements, health precautions, activity requirements, and risks associated with safari travel.
Accommodation key
Safari accommodation may include luxury lodges, tented camps, mobile camps, boutique hotels, bush camps, private villas, guesthouses, or city hotels depending on your itinerary.
Accommodation standards, room categories, star ratings, facilities, and service styles vary by destination and supplier.
Many safari camps are located in remote wilderness areas. Facilities may differ from urban hotels and may be affected by solar power, limited Wi-Fi, seasonal access, wildlife presence, water supply, or conservation regulations.
Images, descriptions, room layouts, and facilities are provided as guidance and may change due to renovations, maintenance, seasonal operations, local conditions, or supplier updates.
Teleios Safaris will make every effort to recommend accommodation that suits your preferences, comfort level, budget, and safari style, but specific rooms, views, and facilities are subject to availability.
COVID-19 and Other Health-Related Travel Disruptions
Travel requirements relating to COVID-19, epidemics, pandemics, or other health-related disruptions may change at any time.
Travellers are responsible for checking and complying with all entry requirements, testing rules, vaccination requirements, health declarations, airline policies, quarantine rules, and destination regulations.
Teleios Safaris is not responsible for denied boarding, denied entry, quarantine costs, testing costs, itinerary changes, lodge restrictions, flight disruptions, or additional expenses caused by failure to comply with health or travel requirements.
Where safari travel is disrupted due to COVID-19 or similar events, the terms of the relevant lodges, airlines, park authorities, and suppliers will apply.
Qualifying Requirements
Certain safari destinations and activities may have age, weight, fitness, health, permit, or safety requirements.
These may apply to gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, walking safaris, rhino tracking, horseback safaris, hot-air balloon safaris, canoeing, boating, hiking, diving, mountain climbing, or other specialist experiences.
Travellers are responsible for ensuring that they meet all qualifying requirements before booking and before participating.
If a traveller is refused participation because they do not meet the required conditions, no refund will be due from Teleios Safaris.
Remedies
Where a confirmed safari service cannot be provided, Teleios Safaris will make reasonable efforts to provide a suitable alternative of similar standard where possible.
This may include alternative accommodation, routes, transfers, activities, guides, or travel arrangements.
The availability of refunds, credits, or alternative services will depend on the circumstances and the terms of the relevant lodges, airlines, park authorities, and suppliers.
Teleios Safaris shall not be required to provide a refund where the failure to provide a service is caused by the traveller’s own actions, late arrival, missed flights, incorrect documents, illness, refusal to participate, failure to follow guide instructions, or circumstances beyond our control.
Entire Contract
These Booking Terms & Conditions, together with your confirmed safari itinerary, invoice, payment schedule, and any written correspondence from Teleios Safaris, form the entire agreement between you and Teleios Safaris.
No verbal statement, informal message, website wording, brochure description, or representation shall override these terms unless confirmed in writing by Teleios Safaris.
By making payment, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and accepted these Booking Terms & Conditions.
Questions About These Terms?
If you have any questions about your safari booking, payment schedule, cancellation conditions, lodge policies, park fees, permits, travel documents, health requirements, or supplier terms, please contact Teleios Safaris before confirming your journey.
We are here to make your safari planning process clear, smooth, and reassuring.
The Conditions (together with all enquiries, advice, quotations or estimates addressed to, provided by or bookings made and indemnities signed and the Company’s Privacy Policy) constitute collectively the entire terms of the relationship between the parties. There exist no other terms, conditions, warranties, representations, guarantees, promises, undertaking or inducements of any nature whatsoever regulating the relationship and the Client acknowledges that he/she has not relied on any matter or thing stated or presented on behalf of the Company or otherwise that is not included herein. The contra proferentem rule will not apply to the interpretation of the Conditions. The Company reserves the right to revise these conditions from time to time – each revision will be dated and posted on its website.   Â
