Terms and Conditions

NOTICE

Pigeon Safaris Limited (the company) organises safaris in Uganda. Safaris will be organised by the company which is registered in the Republic of Uganda. Please read the Terms and Conditions and the Travel Notes carefully as together they set out our respective obligations and form the basis of your contract with us. Confirming a safari with Pigeon Safaris assumes that you have read, fully understand and accept the Terms and Conditions described below.

In case you are in doubt, please contacts as for professional advice.

1. BOOKINGS/RESERVATIONS

Pigeon Safaris Limited provides accommodation bookings, restaurant meals, transportation, safaris and related services in conjunction with independent suppliers.

Bookings by Pigeon Safaris depend on the latest available information provided by third parties. Therefore, Pigeon Safaris cannot be held responsible for changes in the information provided by third parties.

For purposes of reserving flights and gorilla permits we shall need your full names as they appear in your passport, your nationality and passport number.

It is important to make reservations well in advance of your planned safari because accommodation facilities have limited capacity.

For gorilla trekking you are strongly advised to make advance bookings of at least three months before your planned travel to Uganda. Gorilla permits are sold on ‘first come first serve’ basis. They are subject to availability on the date and time of booking.

Only when payment has been received can permits for gorilla trekking in the relevant national park be purchased.

Getting a gorilla permit is not a guarantee of seeing a gorilla. Local conditions sometimes mean that access to the gorillas is made impossible at short notice. We will be by no means able to accept liability for any situations that might result in gorilla viewing being cancelled, whether it is the closure of the national park or borders; issues with gorillas; security modifications.

Children under 15 years are not permitted to trek gorillas and chimpanzees. Any person with signs of a communicable disease will not be allowed to trek the gorillas. Pigeon Safaris bears no responsibility for individuals rejected from trekking gorillas.

Prior to confirming your safari, you should inform Pigeon Safaris of any requirements and preferences related to your diet, medical and disability needs. Pigeon Safaris will endeavour to fulfil your requests where possible.

At the time of confirming your booking you must prove that your travel agent has paid for the appropriate insurance for your safari being taken with us. The insurance should fully cover personal injury, medical expenses; cover death, medical expenses, repatriation in the event of accident or illness or death, cancellation or curtailment of the holiday by either side or loss of, damage to, or theft of the clients’ personal property. Activities with a greater inherent risk, such as mountaineering, animal trekking on foot, white-water rafting should be covered.

In case that you amend your reservation, Pigeon Safaris will accordingly make the necessary adjustment where possible and confirm the same to you. Pigeon Safaris reserves the right to charge and add any cost accruing from the amendment to the total invoice.

2. PRICES

Please ensure that the quotation given with details of number of clients, dates, accommodation, transportation, permits, park fees and all other services to be provided is clear and accurate before confirming the booking in writing.

All references to quotations in writing shall include reference to correspondence by electronic mail.

The total and actual price of your chosen holiday package will be confirmed at the time of booking.

We exclusively reserve the right to correct any discrepancies in both advertised and confirmed prices and will do accordingly as soon as we become aware of any such events.

The prices quoted include airport transfers; accommodation; meals as stated; bottled mineral water in the vehicle; the services of an English-speaking driver/guide and a safari vehicle; porterage of two items of baggage per person; sightseeing as detailed in the itinerary; boat trips; park fees; gorilla and chimpanzee permits where appropriate; airport transfers where applicable.

The prices quoted exclude airfares to Uganda; an entry visa; airport taxes; travel insurance; meals not mentioned in the itinerary; drinks other than the mineral water provided in the vehicle; and gratuities as well as personal expenditure such as drinks and laundry at all lodges.

The prices cover full board unless otherwise stated at time of booking confirmation.

The company reserves the right to vary the safari services agreed with the client in the event of unforeseen circumstances, such as road closures, bad weather, problems with national parks or hotels, security considerations. In such cases alternative arrangements will be made as circumstances permit.

3. PAYMENT

At the time of booking you must make a deposit of 40% of the price of your safari. For a gorilla permit, a full advance payment of the permit fee is required in order to make the reservation.

The balance must be paid in full not later than 45 (forty-five) days before departure/arrival in Uganda. Bookings made within 30 (thirty) days of departure must be paid in full at the time of booking.

Payments can only be made to the company account and in the company names as they appear on the invoices we send to you. All prices are quoted in US dollars. Payment can be made by MASTER CARD and VISA credit card, bank transfer or cash, before the start of the trip.

Payments by MASTER CARD and VISA credit card attract a 5% service charge that is fully paid by the client. And transactions have to be made preferably two months prior to the start of your safari. In case of a bank transfer the client incurs the bank charges.

If payment is not received in accordance with the above, Pigeon Safaris has the right to cancel the booking.

4. CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS

All cancellations prior to arrival must be made in writing. A cancellation is not effective until we receive a copy of your written notice. Refunds on all prepaid money will be based on cancellation fees levied by hotels, lodges and the banks. To cover our estimated loss caused by the cancellation and as we may be unable to resell your holiday, cancellation fees, excluding insurance, will be levied per person as follows:

Cancellations within 60 days or more will attract a 10% charge
Cancellations within 59 to 32 days will attract a 25% charge
Cancellations within 31 to 8 days will attract a 50% charge
Cancellations within 7 to 3 days will attract a 75% charge
Cancellations within 48 hours or less will attract a 100% charge

Pigeon Safaris reserves the right to deduct all expenses incurred from money paid.

Gorilla permits and air tickets are 100% non-refundable.

Refunds will not be made for any unused services, late arrival or “no-show” of any of the members of the tour.

We exclusively reserve the right to hold or terminate the holiday of any person midway in your party with or without prior notice if in our view and opinion or in the view and opinion of any other person in authority, the behaviour of that particular person causes or is likely to cause danger, distress, or annoyance to any third party or causes damage to any property. If such situations arise, the concerned person(s) will be immediately required to leave the accommodation or other service halfway through their tour. Henceforth, we’ll not be entitled to the responsibility of those concerned person(s). No refunds will be made and we shall not pay any expenses or costs incurred as a result of the termination.

5. DANGERS POSED BY WILD ANIMALS

You are advised that, even in the most serene settings, the animals are wild and can pose a threat to life and safety. You are cautioned to observe all local or park regulations and heed all instructions given by our tour guides.

6. TRANSPORTATION

Every effort is made to ensure that vehicles are provided in a roadworthy condition but no liability can be accepted for breakdown, or any damage or delay. Our guides are instructed to follow our code of conduct for Guides (available on request), which you must not ask them to break in any way. If in any event a guide breaches the code of conduct, parties are requested to inform office in Kampala.

Only experienced English speaking driver/guides are permitted to drive whose all decision on every other matter, such as the route taken, is considered final. You will be liable for any damage caused to a vehicle by any interference by you with the vehicle, including legal costs.

Pigeon Safaris reserves the right to alter any route or arrangement, to cancel the operation of any scheduled tour or vary the safari services in any way in the event of unforeseen circumstances, such as road closures, bad weather, problems with national parks or hotels and security considerations. In such cases alternative arrangements will be made as circumstances permit.

7. COMPLAINTS

Complaints must be reported immediately to our representative and to the supplier of the service(s) in question, who will do their best to resolve any problem. If you remain dissatisfied, a written report should be submitted to the Safari Manager in Kampala as soon as possible after the incident and not later than 28 (twenty eight) days after completion of your holiday, to enable us to investigate them fully.

Liability for any complaints not notified in accordance with this procedure cannot be accepted.

8. LIABILITY

Pigeon Safaris will make every reasonable effort to ensure that (a) all component parts of the holiday are supplied as described in the brochure and to a reasonable standard; and (b) our employees, agents, suppliers and sub-contractors exercise due care in carrying out our obligations under the contract. However, the company does not have direct control of the provision of services by suppliers and, whilst every supplier is chosen with the utmost care, Pigeon Safaris will not be held responsible for errors or omissions of such suppliers.

Pigeon Safaris shall not be liable for any loss, damage or injury of any nature whatsoever whether to person or property.

Pigeon Safaris will not be, by any means, able to compensate or accept liability where the performance or proper performance of our obligations is halted, prevented, intercepted, or affected by any event which we or the suppliers of the service(s) in question could not foresee or avoid even with all due care. Such events include but are not limited to, flight delays/cancellations or force majeure such as war or threat of war, civil strife, riots, border closures, unexpected Government acts, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, industrial disputes, fire, technical and/or mechanical problems to transport, extreme weather conditions, road closures, disease and all similar events beyond our control.

9. GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION

The company is incorporated in the Republic of Uganda and it operates under the laws of Uganda. All the matters arising out of your contract with us come under and are governed by the laws of Uganda.

10. IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Tour tariffs are based on all known costs and rates of exchange at the transfer, any significant changes beyond control will be immediately communicated to you.

We also retain the right to alter any arrangements due to local conditions. We also retain the right to refuse any person from participating or continuing any tour if that person causes or is deemed to cause hazard or inconvenience to other clients and to our environment and ecosystems.

Please note that in Uganda US dollar banknotes series before year 2000 are accepted only with a low exchange rate. Commercial banks and upcountry towns do not accept the above transactions. In most cases such transactions are only done by forex bureaus within Kampala therefore you are advised to travel to Uganda with more recent banknotes series.