HRH TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. Reservations and Payments
A non-refundable prepayment deposit of a minimum of thirty percent (30%) of the total tour cost, along with a completed and signed Terms and Conditions, Release of Liability, Assumption of Risk, and Binding Arbitration Agreement (“Agreement”), are required to confirm your reservation. This deposit includes a non-refundable $500 per person booking administration fee. We will confirm your trip upon receipt of this form and your deposit. This Agreement, [the signed Reservation form and the signed Agreement], is part of your agreement with us.
The balance of your tour cost is due ninety-eight (98) days before departure.
2. Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance. If you must cancel your participation in a Tour, trip cancellation insurance may be the only source of reimbursement. Trip cancellation insurance is available for coverage of certain expenses in conjunction with cancellation due to illness or accident and damaged or lost luggage. We will send you an application upon receipt of your reservation. In addition, medical evacuation coverage may be required as a condition of booking.
3. Cancellations
Cancellations for all or any part of the Tour will only be effective once received in writing in the offices of HRH. Should you cancel, the following terms will apply: reservation cancellation(s) are subject to loss of deposit, including booking administration fee, from the time of booking through 98 days before departure; from 97 through 75 days before departure, 50% of the published full regular tariffs; from 74 through 62 days before departure, 75% of the published full regular tariffs; cancellations 61 days or less before departure, a no-show, or early return from the Tour will result in loss of 100% of the tour price. In addition, applicable airline cancellation or optional excursion cancellation fees may apply.
Your decision not to participate in the Tour due to State Department or Centers for Disease Control advisories or warnings, fear of travel, or for any other reason will be deemed a cancellation. If a flight or other delay for any reason prevents you from joining the Tour on the Tour start date, you will be considered a no-show. No refunds will be available, but you may join the Tour late if you wish.
4. Not Included
Taxes; passport, visas, and associated fees; personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, and Internet access; accident/sickness, trip cancellation, and baggage insurance; gratuities to ship and hotel personnel; optional sightseeing excursions; baggage charges on aircraft; local departure air/airport tax(es); airfare and associated local taxes, airport facility and security taxes and federal inspection fees not listed as included in the Tour; transfers and baggage handling to/from airport/hotel/ship on the day(s) of arrival and/or departure; any overnight on land due to flight schedule(s); meals, alcoholic or other beverages and all other services not explicitly mentioned as included in the Tour.
5. Airfare
Airfares are subject to change and availability and, depending on the fare basis, are likely nonrefundable. Air tickets for your tour (regional flights within Africa) are subject to change and are non-refundable. Your airline tickets constitute a contract solely between you and the airline, even if purchased through HRH.
6. Baggage
Luggage allowance policies are set by the airlines and may change without notice. Baggage is at the owner’s risk throughout the trip. Airlines, buses, vans, and other modes of transportation may all have weight and size restrictions on luggage. It is your responsibility to comply with all baggage restrictions.
7. Price Increases
Destination countries increase their VAT and other taxes from time to time. Some suppliers impose energy surcharges or other price increases. Prices are also subject to increase due to currency fluctuations. Any such increases will be applied to your total due at the time of final payment.
8. Passports, Visas, and Other Entry Requirements
International travel requires a passport valid for six months beyond your intended return travel date. In most cases, you will also need multiple consecutive blank visa pages within your passport (the number varies depending on the destination(s)). Many destinations also require that visas be obtained before travel. Some countries and airlines have strict documentation and permission requirements if one parent or guardian plans to bring a minor child without the other parent or parents. Birth certificates may be required for children under 18. Some nations require proof of vaccinations and/or negative tests for certain diseases for all travelers. Please speak with us if you need clarification on the visa requirements for your travel destination. You are solely responsible for complying with passport, visa, and other foreign entry requirements and vaccinations.
9. Responsibility and Assumption of Risk
HRH, its employees, shareholders, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, successors, and assigns (collectively “HRH”), do not own or operate any entity which is to or does provide goods or services for your Tour, including, for example, lodging facilities, airline, vessel, or other transportation companies, safari or guide services, local ground or safari operators, whether or not they utilize the HRH name, providers or organizers of optional excursions, food service or entertainment providers, etc. All such persons and entities are independent contractors. As a result, HRH is not liable for any negligent or willful act, failure to act, financial failure, or other defaults of any such person, entity, supplier, or third party.
In addition and without limitation, HRH is not responsible for any injury, financial or other loss, death, inconvenience, delay, or damage to person or property in connection with the provision of any goods or services whether resulting from, but not limited to, acts of God or force majeure, acts or orders of government, acts of war or civil unrest, insurrection or revolt, bites from or attacks by wild or domestic animals, insects or pests, strikes or other labor activities, criminal or terrorist actions of any kind or the threat thereof, sickness, illness, epidemics or the threat thereof, the lack of availability of or access to medical attention or the quality thereof, overbooking or downgrading of accommodations, mechanical or another failure of airplanes, vessels or other means of transportation, or for any failure of any transportation mechanism to arrive or depart timely or safely. Further, I release HRH from its negligence and assume all risk thereof.
I am aware that adventure travel, whether in civilized or remote areas, by plane, train, auto, boat, horseback or by other animals, or by other conveyance or on foot, contains inherent risks of danger and illness, death, or loss and damage of property, which may be caused by the negligence of third parties, negligence of HRH, intentionally by third parties, by forces of nature and by other causes, known or unknown. I recognize that such risks may be present at any time before, during, and after my trip. I am also aware that medical services or facilities may not be readily available, the evacuation to the same may be time-consuming and difficult, and the competence and quality of same may not be up to the standards of services in the U.S.A. I accept all such risks.
We have no special or unique knowledge regarding the financial condition of the suppliers of services, unsafe conditions, health or safety hazards, weather hazards, or climate issues at locations where you may travel. For helpful information regarding your destination, we strongly recommend reviewing the destination-specific information at www.travel.state.gov and the Centers for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov/travel.
You will be responsible for your hotel, transfers, and meal costs if you are required to spend an additional night(s) due to weather, flight schedules or other uncontrollable factors. The right is reserved to decline to accept as a Tour participant, or remove from a Tour, without refund, any person HRH judges to be incapable of meeting the rigors and requirements of participating in the activities or who is abusive to other Tour participants, leaders or third parties, or whom HRH determines to detract from the enjoyment of the Tour by others. Specific room assignments are within the sole discretion of the lodge or hotel.
10. Cancellations, Postponements, and Changes by HRH
HRH reserves the right to change the itinerary, the lodges, hotels or vessels utilized, or any Tour features at any time, and for any reason, such as for safety, comfort, convenience, or logistical reasons, with or without notice, and HRH shall not be liable for any loss of any kind as a result of any such changes. HRH may cancel or postpone a Tour (or an option) for any reason. Seasonal changes (for example, from low to high season) may result in higher prices. In any event, for cancellations (or postponements) based upon acts of God or force majeure, acts or orders of government, epidemics or the threat thereof, terrorism or the threat thereof, strikes or labor disturbances, demonstrations, riots or civil unrest, criminal activity, supplier default or insolvency, or other similar circumstances, its sole obligation is to issue credits in the total amount of sums of money paid to HRH, but only to the extent its suppliers are crediting HRH with those monies paid by HRH to them.
Under no circumstances is HRH obligated to refund the cost of any purchased travel insurance. HRH is not required to cancel any Tour for any reason, including, without limitation, the United States Department of State, Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization, or other Warnings or Advisories of any kind. HRH is not responsible for fees assessed by air carriers resulting from operational and/or itinerary changes, even if HRH makes the flight arrangements or cancels the Tour.
11. Changes by Participant
If a client wishes to alter any tour before its confirmation by HRH, HRH will, upon written request, use reasonable endeavors to bring about such alterations. If the itinerary has already been confirmed and the client then wishes to change it, HRH may, at its discretion, levy a charge per alteration as well as for communications or other costs, expenses, or charges that may be incurred.
12. Other Taxes and Fees
Some governments charge departure taxes and fees. These fees are the responsibility of each passenger traveling to the designated country and are not included unless stated.
13. Force Majeure
HRH assumes no responsibility for any personal injury, property damage, financial or other loss, accident, delay, inconvenience, or irregularity that may be occasioned because of any matter beyond our control, including but not limited to a delay or cancellation of a flight that causes you to miss all or any portion of the Tour, acts of God, acts or orders of government, epidemics, war, terrorist acts, riots, disaster, weather events, or strikes.
14. Photo Release
You consent to our use of pictures or videos of you in our marketing materials without compensation.
15. Physical Accessibility
All Tours require physical independence and mobility. Any physical or mental condition requiring special medical attention or physical assistance (for example, the need for a wheelchair) must be reported in writing when you make your reservation. Participants must be able to embark or disembark vans or motor coaches alone or with minimal assistance from their traveling companion, climb stairs, and step over raised thresholds without assistance. Participants requiring assistance must travel with a companion responsible for handling equipment and rendering necessary assistance. Please understand that the Americans with Disabilities Act does not apply outside the United States.
16. Health Issues
HRH is not qualified to convey medical advice. We encourage you to consult your doctor for specific medical advice about any activities or destinations. He or she is most familiar with your personal medical history and is best qualified to determine your particular needs.
17. Medical Proxy
If you cannot authorize your own medical attention and treatment, you authorize HRH or its subcontractors or agents to authorize medical attention and treatment on your behalf. You agree to hold harmless and release HRH from any liability for medical attention arranged or not arranged on your behalf. HRH assumes no liability regarding the provision of medical care or evacuation services.
18. Registration
NEED HRH REGISTRATION NUMBER
CALIFORNIA SELLER OF TRAVEL ACT DISCLAIMER: California has established a Travel Consumer Restitution Fund under the California Seller of Travel law. This Fund is designed to protect consumers from unscrupulous practices by sellers of travel. This law does not cover non-California residents, and even in the case of California residents, it does not cover any foreign travel where the foreign “providers of transportation or travel services” are not in compliance with the Seller of Travel law (compliance is defined as a Seller of Travel in California and a participant in the Travel Consumer Restitution Fund). Thus, none of HRH’s trips qualify. The law requires all tour operators to advise each of their clients that they would not be eligible to make any claim from the Fund in the unlikely event of default by HRH or any of our foreign suppliers.
19. Changes
Changes in this Agreement may be made only in writing, signed by an officer of HRH.
20. Binding Arbitration
Any dispute concerning, relating, or referring to this Agreement, the brochure, or any other literature concerning the Tour, or the Tour itself, shall be resolved exclusively by binding arbitration under the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Sections 1-16, either according to the then existing Commercial Rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) or under the Comprehensive Arbitration Rules & Procedures of the Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. (JAMS). Such proceedings will be governed by substantive (but not procedural) California law and will take place in Healdsburg, California. The arbitrator and not any federal, state, or local court or agency shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability, conscionably, or formation of this contract, including but not limited to any claim that all or any part of this contract is void or voidable. Please understand that by agreeing to these terms and conditions, the participant and HRH are waiving the right to a trial by jury.