At Calm Africa Safaris, we understand that plans can change. This Refund Policy sets out clearly what happens when a booking is cancelled whether by you or by us and how any refunds are processed. We encourage all clients to read this policy carefully and to purchase comprehensive travel insurance to protect against unforeseen cancellations.
Cancellation Schedule
All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing to bookings@safaritours.com. The cancellation date is the date we receive your written request. The following charges apply:
| Days Before Departure | Cancellation Fee | Refund Amount |
|---|---|---|
| More than 90 days | Deposit only (30%) | 70% refunded |
| 60 – 90 days | 50% of total cost | 50% refunded |
| 30 – 59 days | 75% of total cost | 25% refunded |
| Less than 30 days | 100% of total cost | No refund |
Non-Refundable Items
Regardless of when a cancellation is made, the following items are strictly non-refundable and non-transferable once purchased on your behalf:
- ✗ Gorilla trekking permits (Uganda Wildlife Authority)
- ✗ Chimpanzee tracking permits
- ✗ Non-refundable hotel or lodge deposits
- ✗ Visa fees or government levies
- ✗ Travel insurance premiums
Date Changes & Amendments
If you wish to change the dates of your booking rather than cancel, we will do our best to accommodate you subject to availability. Please note:
- ✓Date change requests must be submitted in writing at least 60 days before your original departure date.
- ✓An amendment fee of USD 50 per person applies to all date changes.
- ✓Any price difference between the original and new booking dates will be charged or refunded accordingly.
- ✓Date changes are not possible within 30 days of departure — these are treated as cancellations.
Cancellation by Calm Africa Safaris
In the unlikely event that we need to cancel your tour, we will notify you as soon as possible and offer you one of the following:
- ✓An alternative tour of equivalent or greater value at no extra cost
- ✓A full credit note valid for 24 months
- ✓A full cash refund of all amounts paid to us
Force Majeure: We are not liable to provide refunds if cancellations are caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including natural disasters, pandemic-related restrictions, war, civil unrest, or government travel bans. In such cases, we will issue a credit note valid for 24 months.
How Refunds Are Processed
- ✓Approved refunds are processed within 14 business days of the cancellation being confirmed in writing.
- ✓Refunds are issued via the same payment method used for the original transaction.
- ✓International bank transfer fees are deducted from the refund amount.
- ✓Refunds are issued in USD. Exchange rate fluctuations are not our responsibility.
- ✓We cannot refund costs incurred by third parties (airlines, visa agencies, insurance providers).
🛡️ Protect Your Investment — Get Travel Insurance
A good travel insurance policy can reimburse you for non-refundable tour costs if you need to cancel for a covered reason (illness, bereavement, redundancy, etc.). We strongly recommend purchasing insurance at the time of booking.
Look for a policy that includes: trip cancellation & curtailment · medical & evacuation · baggage loss · personal liability.
Questions About a Refund?
Our team is happy to talk you through your options. Please don't hesitate to get in touch: