TERMS & CONDITIONS
Reservations and Payment
When booking your holiday directly with Buutu Safaris please quote the itinerary, intended date of arrival and departure, number of people traveling in your party, sleeping arrangements and flight details, if known. This ensures that all arrangements are made to your satisfaction.
Please note that for safaris that include gorilla trekking, advance bookings of at least ten weeks are strongly recommended. Cancellations may allow for shorter term bookings, but it is strongly advised to book well in advance if specific dates are needed. Children under fifteen are not allowed to trek the gorillas. A 40% deposit is required at the time of booking with the balance to be settled thirty days prior to commencement of the tour. On issuance of Buutu Safaris official receipt or e-mail confirmation, your booking is confirmed. Reservations made within thirty days of departure require the total amount due to be paid at the time of confirmation.
At Buutu Safaris cash payments are accepted in any foreign convertible currency and in Uganda Shillings. Travelers Cheques (TCs) are also accepted with a USD$30 surcharge.
Unless otherwise stated, tour prices quoted are ex-Kampala and include transport with fuel and driver/guide, accommodation, meals on safari, National Park and activity fees associated with your itinerary.
Guests will be directly responsible for: airfare to/from Uganda, visa fees if applicable, airport transfers, meals and accommodation in Kampala, transport in and around Kampala, supplemental activities not included in the itinerary, refreshments and beverages (between meal snacks, alcohol, other refreshments), personal items (porterage, telephone calls and souvenirs), tips and gratuities. Coffee and tea are usually available with meals in upcountry properties and drinking water may be provided. It is advisable to always check what is included in menu prices. All bookings are subject to availability
Cancellation/Refunds
Refunds are given on written cancellations within sixty days prior to commencement. Refunds are calculated after deduction of office fees and cancellation fees levied by hotels, lodges and banks. There is a 30% charge on cancellations with 59 -36 days, 50% with 35- 14 days, 75% charge with 13 – 0 days
We are accommodative and flexible to allow your deposit to remain valid for 3 years until you are ready to go on safari with us. You can also cancel and rebook your safari tour with no added costs for upto 60 days prior to the start date.
Buutu Safaris reserves the right to deduct all expenses incurred from any advance payments made. There will be no refund on utilized services once the tour has commenced. Gorilla permits are non-refundable but are transferable under some circumstances.
While every effort will be made by Buutu Safaris to ensure all bookings and arrangements are completed to the guest’s satisfaction, Buutu Safaris cannot accept liability for any injury, damage or delay caused directly by lodges, hotels, restaurants, transport carriers or any other service agency or company with whom bookings have been made.
Alteration of Tour:
Buutu Safaris reserves the right to alter any route or arrangement or to cancel the operation of any scheduled tour should political or environmental conditions necessitate. Buutu Safaris reserves the right to decline, accept or retain any member of a tour at any time. Should you fail to join a tour by the required departure time or leave prior to its completion, Buutu Safaris bears no responsibility for any additional transportation, accommodation or any other service to such individual(s). No refunds will be made for client failure to attend or complete a booked tour.
Transfer of Booking:
In the event you are unable to travel due to extraordinary circumstances, we may transfer your booking to another party provided the arrangements remain the same, and provided that suppliers (airlines, hotels, etc) are all ready to accept the transfer. Gorilla permits are transferable only in a few instances and this should not be expected.
Mode of Payment:
All prices are quoted in US Dollars. You may pay online via the https://payments.pesapal.com/buutusafaris PESAPAL platform, by cash, cheque or direct bank transfer to Buutu Safaris, or your travel agent. Foreign currency cheques, TT’s and payment by credit card are accepted, subject to bank charges at the prevailing rates at the time of transaction. Local currency is accepted at the current Buutu Safaris dollar buying rate. Cheques may incur service charges.
Transport:
The mode of transport utilized will be dependent on the number of clients, route taken and/or the specifications of the chosen itinerary. All vehicles will be properly maintained and in good working condition with full registration and appropriate licenses displayed.
Most safaris use 4WD minibuses (up to nine passengers) with pop-up tops and seven window seats for game viewing. Small group safaris (three or less) can be executed in 4WD station wagons. We also use 4WD long chassis land cruisers. Groups of twelve or more people who would like to travel in one vehicle are offered 25-29 seat coasters that have about 16 window seats. Overland trucks and 14 seater minibuses are available on request. VIP visitors can request luxury 4WD station wagons, 7 seater Land cruisers and limousines.
Fully trained and experienced English-speaking local driver/guides will accompany every safari car.
Accommodation:
Based on twin bed rooms or tents with private bathrooms where possible. Single rooms may be available with the payment of a supplemental fee but cannot always be guaranteed. Single room and double bed requirements should be specified in advance to avoid disappointment.
Tour Price:
The prices quoted are inclusive of all transportation as per the itinerary, park entrance fees, activities noted in the itinerary, permits where applicable, driver allowances and third party insurance. The rates are not inclusive of accommodation and meals while in Kampala unless stated, traveler’s insurance, local departure taxes, visa fees, gratuities, beverages, telephone calls, laundry and other personal expenses.
Where full board accommodation is paid, alcoholic drinks will still not be inclusive in the price.
Travel Insurance/Personal Injury:
You are advised to buy travel insurance before coming to Uganda.
Guests’ participation in any activities during your visit will be at the guests’ own risk and Buutu Safaris cannot accept any liability for injury or accidents.
Medical Requirements:
Bookings with Buutu Safaris are made with the assumption that all members of the travel party are in good health and have no specific medical or dietary requirements. Buutu Safaris cannot assume liability for any medical care or special dietary requirements. All guests must be fully responsible for their own international medical insurance coverage with evacuation. Guests are responsible for any specific medications they might need.
Liability
All bookings are accepted on the specific condition that Buutu Safaris and its agents act only as agents in all matters relating to hotel/lodge accommodations, tours, transport, etc. Buutu Safaris cannot accept liability for injury, delay, loss or damage in any manner whatsoever.
Buutu Safaris reserves the right to employ subcontractors to carry out all or part of the services agreed to be supplied. All claims are subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of Uganda.
Finally, whilst every care is taken, Buutu Safaris cannot be held responsible for loss or damage to baggage. Please guard your valuables and maintain vigilance while on safari in Uganda as you would elsewhere.
Complaints:
Contrary to Western style terms and conditions, most services in Uganda are paid for in cash prior to departure. Local conditions make cash refunds problematic if inconsistencies are not solved on site.
Please let the guide know immediately if you are inconvenienced in any way during your trip. Many issues can be resolved either by the guide or by the head office. A senior member of staff is on call 24 hours a day to help resolve issues that may arise.
If the client has an unresolved complaint, a written statement with details should be delivered to the Executive Director of Buutu Safaris not later than 30 days following completion of the trip, failing which no claim may be brought against Buutu Safaris.
Gorilla Trekking:
A gorilla permit guarantees you will track gorillas but does not guarantee that the gorillas be in plain sight. Pre-trekking briefings will be given by Park Rangers and rules and regulations must be strictly adhered to. Buutu Safaris bears no responsibility for individuals rejected or terminated early from tracking by Park Authorities.
