Specializing in tailor-made and small group tours for the international travel trade, we delight in delivering unmatched ground operations for all our clients through our fully-owned offices in Uganda and Rwanda.
The Far Horizons Terms and Conditions
TERMS & CONDITIONS
THE FAR HORIZONS is registered as private limited companies in Ireland and Rwanda.
RESERVATIONS AND PAYMENTS
Reservations are accepted after we receive a 25% deposit per person per tour and the full payment for gorilla tracking and chimp tracking permits for each tour participant. Reservations are confirmed when we contact you. The remainder of the cost of the tour is due 90 days prior to the departure date. If your reservation is made within 90 days of departure, the entire cost of the tour must be paid at the time of confirmation. Failure to deliver complete payment at least 90 days prior to departure will be considered notification of cancellation by default and is subject to cancellation charges as stated below. Bulk transfers for multiple safari payments will be considered upon request. The Far Horizons reserves the right to deny participation to anyone whom it deems unsuitable for a tour. There is a lower age limit of 15 years on the Gorilla tracking excursions, and 12 years on the Chimpanzee tracking and Golden Monkey tracking tours.
CHANGING TOURS
Any such changes made less than 90 days prior to departure are subject to The Far Horizons’ cancellation fees.
MAIN TOUR CANCELLATION POLICY
Cancellations received will be subject to the following forfeit of tour cost (please see below for further information on cancellation policies for primate tracking permits):
91 days and above 25% of the tour cost
46-90 days 40% of tour cost
31-45 days 60% of tour cost
0-30 days 100% of tour cost
Cancellation fees are based on the date your written notification is received at The Far Horizons by email.
UGANDA PRIMATE PERMIT CANCELLATION POLICY (SEPARATE FROM MAIN TOUR CANCELLATION POLICY)
Primate Permits (for tracking Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Golden Monkeys and any other primates) cannot be guaranteed until we receive a deposit to the full value of each permit and actually pay for the permits at the Uganda Wildlife Authority Offices.
The cancellation policy varies according to the type of primate permit booked. Cancellations received for Gorilla Tracking Permits will be subject to the following forfeit of cost:
More than 95 days before the tracking date – 25% cancellation fee
50 to 94 days before the tracking date – 50% cancellation fee
14 to 49 days before the tracking date – 75% cancellation fee
0 to 13 days before the tracking date 100% cancellation fee
Cancellations received for Chimpanzee Tracking Permits will be subject to the following forfeit of cost:
50 to 94 days before the tracking date – 50% cancellation fee
35 to 49 days before the tracking date – 75% cancellation fee
0 to 34 days before the tracking date 100% cancellation fee
Please enquire at the time of booking as to the current policy for Golden Monkeys or other primate permits.
Percentages are based on the full current permit prices.
RWANDA PRIMATE PERMIT CANCELLATION POLICY (SEPARATE FROM MAIN TOUR CANCELLATION POLICY)
Primate Permits (for tracking Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Golden Monkeys and any other primates) cannot be guaranteed until we receive a deposit to the full value of each permit (separate from the main tour deposit) and actually pay for the permits at the Wildlife Authority Offices.
The cancellation policy is the same for all primate permits in Rwanda. Cancellations received will be subject to the following forfeit of cost:
100% cancellation fee
Percentages are based on the full current permit price.
GROUP DEPARTURES
Our group departures run on a minimum participation of 2 clients. If we do not achieve this number on a particular departure by 90 days before the departure, you will be given the option to carry on with the tour privately, and bear the extra costs of doing this. If you do not wish to take up this option, the trip will be cancelled, and your deposit will be returned in full.
CLAIMS AND REFUNDS
Except for verifiable extenuating circumstances, refunds are not made for any missed tour services. Please see below our Limits of Responsibility. For verifiable claims to be considered, they must be received in writing within 30 days of the termination of the tour. Any adjustment considered will be based on the actual cost of the services involved and not on a per diem basis. Adjustments will not be made for unused sightseeing trips or meals. The Far Horizons will not accept liability for any claims that are not received in writing within 30 days of the termination of a tour.
EXPENSES COVERED AND NOT COVERED
The details of what your trip price includes and does not include can be found under the 'Inclusions and Exclusions' supplied at the time of quoting.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Unless a specific accommodation is requested, we reserve or recommend the best available, reasonably priced, charming hotels/lodges with private bathroom, hot water, good service and value. Prices are based on two persons sharing a twin-bedded room. The Far Horizons reserves the right to substitute equivalent or superior hotels. If a hotel of equivalent standard is not available, we reserve the right to substitute the next best quality hotel. A refund may apply in this case.
We make every effort to arrange shared accommodations for single travelers when requested to do so. If the request cannot be honored, the quoted single supplement will apply.
PHOTOGRAPHY ON TOUR
The Far Horizons reserves the right to take photographic images of individual participants to use for commercial promotion. Tour members who prefer that their image not be used are asked to identify themselves to their tour escort at the start of the tour.
MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS
Good physical and mental health is essential for the enjoyment of these active, outdoors tours. Your clients may travel in rugged areas removed from modern medical facilities. Good physical conditioning is recommended as preparation for all tours, especially those involving trekking.
By forwarding the deposit, the agent certifies on their clients’ behalf that they do not have any physical or other condition of disability that would create a hazard for themselves or other passengers. It is essential that The Far Horizons and any international tour leaders are notified by the booking agent, in writing in advance of travel, of any participant with a medical condition requiring regular treatment or which may be affected by vigorous activity, high altitude, heat, cold, other natural phenomenon, or particular foods.
The Far Horizons assumes no liability for medical care or for special dietary requirements. Participants may be required to furnish a doctor’s statement of good health. The judgment of The Far Horizons, or the local operator or guide, shall make the ultimate determination of an individual tour participant’s fitness to embark upon, or to continue a tour.
Once a tour has been confirmed medical circumstances will not be considered as exceptions to our cancellation policy. All participants must be covered by a current medical insurance policy applicable for overseas travel for the duration of their tour. Proof of coverage may be required.
LIMITS ON THE FAR HORIZONS’ RESPONSIBILITY
The Far Horizons purchases transportation, hotel accommodations, restaurant services medical evacuation services and other services from various independent suppliers that are not subject to its control. The Far Horizons cannot therefore be liable for any death, personal injury, property damage or other loss that may occur due to any act or omission of any such supplier, or by reason of any other event over which it has no control.
The Far Horizons reserves the right to revise prices without notice to reflect marked increases in foreign exchange or tariff rates. The Far Horizons also reserves the right to withdraw a tour or any part of it, to make such alterations in the itinerary as it deems necessary or desirable, to refuse to accept or retain as a member of any tour any person at any time, and to pass on to tour members any expenditure or losses caused by delays or events beyond its control.
Depending on the itinerary you have selected, optional activities will be available at some of the places you will visit. Some of these activities carry with them the inherent risk of serious personal injury. These activities include, but are not necessarily limited to:
Walking tours
Horseback tours
Canoe, boat and white-water rafting trips
Primate, rhino and mongoose tracking
Hiking
You should be aware that your clients’ personal safety cannot be guaranteed. Should your clients elect to participate in such activities while you are on tour, they are, of course, free to do so. However, they must understand that such participation will be at their own risk and that The Far Horizons assumes no responsibility for their safety.
The Far Horizons is not responsible for acts of God, fire, acts of governments or other authorities, wars, civil disturbances, riots, terrorist acts, strikes, thefts, pilferage, epidemics, quarantines, dangers incident to sea, land and air travel, and other similar acts or incidents beyond its ability to control.
PRIMATE TRACKING
There is a possibility that an individual traveller may be prohibited from tracking on the day of a scheduled excursion because of an illness that might be transmitted to the primates, or for some other health-related condition. Only travelers in good health are permitted to track primates, and the decision whether or not a traveler will be allowed to participate in a primate tracking excursion will be made on the day of the excursion by the local guides and trackers, whose decision in such matters is final.
No guarantee can be made that primates will be seen on any primate tracking tour. In light of the foregoing, each traveler should be made aware that in the event that they prohibited from visiting the primates because of ill health, the cost of the primate tracking permit and all of the other costs associated with the trip to the primate tracking area (including air fare, hotel accommodation costs, etc.) are not refundable for any reason. Refunds will not be made for the costs associated with the trip to the primate tracking area (including air fare, hotel accommodation costs, etc.) in the event that primates are not seen on a primate tracking tour. The minimum age limit for gorilla tracking participants is 15 years.
AGENT’S RESPONSIBILITIES
Booking agents are responsible for ensuring that tour members:
Understand the conditions implied in our Terms and Conditions and trip itinerary
Understand that they are responsible for selecting a trip which is appropriate to their interests and abilities
Prepare for the trip by studying the trip itinerary and supplemental trip information sent by The Far Horizons
Bring appropriate clothing and equipment as advised by The Far Horizons
Follow normal standards of personal hygiene in order to lessen risk of travelers’ diseases, as advised by the trip leader
Follow normal social behavior patterns with fellow trip members
Act in an appropriate and respectful manner in accordance with the customs of countries visited
Complete the itinerary as scheduled (or as adjusted in the field as necessary)
At the tour or tour guide’s discretion, a member may be asked to leave the trip if it is felt the person’s further participation may be detrimental to other trip members or to the individual.
Travellers may require a visa depending on which country they come from. The regulations for each African country are different, and for travelers visiting more than one country on a tour, it is your responsibility to ensure that you have an entry visa for each country you will be visiting before you arrive in Africa.
KNOWING AND VOLUNTARY EXECUTION
Payment of a deposit to The Far Horizons certifies that agents/tour participants have carefully read and fully understand the contents of the Terms and Conditions, especially those regarding cancellation and refund policies, limitation of liability, and responsibility borne by trip participants. On the advance of a deposit to The Far Horizons the depositor, his or her client, their family and heirs agree to be bound by the above Terms and Conditions.
