TERMS & CONDITIONS

1.       General

1.1 Ruki Travel Agency (U) Limited, trading as Ruki Safaris, organizes tours and travels in Uganda and the East African Region. In these terms and conditions, “you” and “your(s)” means all persons named on the booking form/contract (including anyone who is added or substituted at a later date) while “company”, “we” and “us” means Ruki Safaris.

1.2 You are advised to read these terms and conditions, as your confirmation of conducting your tour expedition/safari with us implies that you have fully read and understood the same.

2.       Application of these terms and conditions

2.1 Your travel with us or your contract with us in respect to your expedition/safari and all bookings are subject to these terms and conditions. For the avoidance of doubt, these terms and conditions shall be read and taken to form part of your contract with us and all transactions with us.

3.       Communications and documents

1. a) All communications by Ruki Safaris in relation to your safari will be sent to you from our official email addresses of info@rukisafaris.com or booking@rukisafaris.com.
2. b) All documents including your invoices, confirmation vouchers and receipts shall be made on the company’s document papers and may bear the company seal.
3. c) The company shall not assume liability for any losses you may incur as a result of failure to transact with us in compliance with the above communication procedure.

4.       Payments to us

1. a) All payments must be made directly to the company; either to the company’s account through Bank Transfer, online payment or by cash.
2. b) The company will consider you have booked for the safari upon payment of at least a deposit of 40% of the total trip cost. The balance of 60% should be paid within 60 days from the date of start of your safari, upon receipt of the initial deposit of the safari sum, we will send to you a confirmation voucher indicating the booking details.
3. c) Any safari that involves Gorilla and Chimps tracking will require you to pay the necessary permit fees at the time of booking. This implies that the sum of the initial deposit of 40% will be increased where the safari involves gorilla and chimps tracking.
4. d) If you book a Safari less than 60 days in advance, you must pay the entire tour price to confirm your reservation. We may offer alternative payment arrangements via email.
5. e) Our safari prices are quoted in US dollars and the company operates a US Dollars account. It is desirable that payments are made in US dollars.
6. f) The person who signs the booking form and the contract guarantees payment of the total amount shown on the booking form in accordance with these conditions. It is your responsibility to ensure the Company receives payment in full by the due date.
7. g) The Company reserves the right to refuse a booking or cancel the Safari without giving any reason and shall in that event return any money received in accordance with our terms of refunds mentioned herein.
8. h) The company reserves the right to increase the prices quoted should circumstances warrant that an increment is desirable for successful execution of the safari.

5.       Cancellations by you and by the company, and any incidental refunds.

5.1 Cancellations by you

Should any member of the Safari team be forced to cancel, you should communicate to us in writing. A cancellation is not effective until we receive a copy of your written notice. Below are the charges and corresponding refunds:

1. a) 60 days prior to date of arrival 25% Charge
2. b) 45-59 days prior to the date of arrival: 50% charge
3. c) 30-44 days prior to the date of arrival: 75% charge
4. d) 0-29 days prior to the date of arrival: 100% charge

Please note that these cancellation charges are also applicable if you shorten your stay or reduce the number of people in your travel party. We highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance that includes trip cancellation coverage to protect yourself against unexpected events that may cause you to cancel or interrupt your trip.

5.2 Changes by You

If you need to make any changes to your itinerary, please let us know as soon as possible. We will do our best to accommodate your requests, but please understand that some changes may not be possible due to the availability of accommodations, transportation, and other factors.

If you make any changes to your itinerary after your booking has been confirmed, there may be additional charges or fees. We will inform you of such charges or fees before making any changes to your itinerary.

5.3 Changes or Cancellations by Us

While we will do our best to ensure that your safari goes ahead as planned, we may need to make changes or cancellations due to unforeseen circumstances, such as weather conditions, political unrest, or other events beyond our control. If we need to make any changes or cancellations, we will inform you as soon as possible and provide you with alternative options.

If we need to cancel your safari, we will refund all payments made to us, but we will not be liable for any other expenses incurred by you as a result of the cancellation. If we need to make significant changes to your itinerary, we will offer you the option to either accept the changes or cancel your booking and receive a full refund.

5.4 Travel Documents and Vaccinations

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have all the necessary travel documents, such as a valid passport and visa, and any required vaccinations or medical certificates. We recommend that you check with your local embassy or consulate to determine what documents and vaccinations that are required for your travel destination.

If you are unable to travel due to not having the required travel documents or vaccinations, we will not be responsible for any cancellation charges or fees. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have all the necessary documents and vaccinations before you travel.

5.5 Insurance

We strongly recommend that you purchase comprehensive travel insurance before your trip. Your insurance should cover, at minimum, medical expenses, personal accident, loss of baggage, and cancellation or curtailment of your trip.

If you choose not to purchase travel insurance, we will not be responsible for any costs or losses incurred due to unforeseen circumstances, such as medical emergencies, trip cancellations, or lost baggage.

5.6 Liability

We take all reasonable precautions to ensure your safety and comfort during your safari. However, we will not be responsible for any injury, illness, death, loss or damage to personal property, or any other claim arising from your participation in our safari, unless such injury, illness, death, loss or damage is directly caused by our negligence.

In no event shall our liability exceed the total amount paid to us for the safari. We will not be liable for any indirect, consequential, or punitive damages.

5.7 Force Majeure

We will not be responsible for any delay or failure to perform our obligations under this agreement if such delay or failure is caused by an event beyond our control, such as acts of God, natural disasters, war, or terrorism.

5.8 Governing Law and Jurisdiction

This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Uganda. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with this agreement shall be submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Uganda.

5.9 Entire Agreement

This agreement constitutes the entire agreement between you and us and supersedes all prior understandings or agreements, whether written or oral, relating to the subject matter of this agreement.

6.0 Consent

By consenting to this agreement, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to all the terms and conditions set forth herein.