These terms apply to every safari booked with Uwera Travels. Please read them before you pay your deposit, because paying it confirms that you accept them on behalf of everyone travelling in your party. We have kept the language plain. If anything is unclear, ask us before you book and we will happily explain.
1. About these terms
“Uwera”, “we” and “us” mean Uwera Travels. “You” means every person named on a booking. The person who makes the booking (the lead traveller) confirms that they are over 18 and authorised to accept these terms for everyone in the party, and is responsible for passing on our information to them.
Your contract with us begins when we confirm your booking in writing after receiving your deposit. Anything agreed with us that differs from these terms only applies if we have confirmed it in writing.
2. Quotes and prices
- Prices are quoted in US dollars, per person, based on two people sharing unless your quote says otherwise. A single supplement applies to travellers who prefer their own room or tent.
- Each quote shows exactly what is and is not included, and is valid until the date written on it. Lodge availability is not held until you book.
- Until you have paid in full, the price may change if our costs change for reasons outside our control, such as new government taxes, park or permit fees, fuel prices or significant exchange rate movement. We will always show you the reason in writing.
- Once you have paid in full, your price is fixed, except for increases in fees or taxes imposed by governments or park authorities, which we pass on at cost.
3. Booking and deposit
- To confirm a safari we ask for a deposit of 30% of the total price, plus the full cost of any gorilla, chimpanzee or other permits in your itinerary. Permits must be paid in full because park authorities require full payment before they will issue them.
- With the deposit we need the full names, nationalities, dates of birth and passport numbers of everyone travelling, exactly as they appear on their passports.
- We will send you a written confirmation and invoice. Please check every detail carefully and tell us straight away if anything is wrong.
4. Paying the balance
- The balance is due 60 days before your safari begins. If you book within 60 days of departure, the full price is due when you book.
- If the balance is not received on time, we will contact you first. If it is still not paid, we may treat the booking as cancelled by you and apply the charges in section 6.
- You can pay by bank transfer in US dollars or by card. Card payments may carry a processing fee, which is shown before you pay. Bank charges for sending money are paid by the sender, so please make sure we receive the full amount invoiced.
5. Gorilla and chimpanzee permits
- Permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) or the relevant park authority, in your name and for a specific date and park sector. Their prices are set by those authorities and can change.
- Once purchased, permits cannot be transferred to another person. Refunds and date changes are decided only by the issuing authority under its own rules, which may include fees. If an authority refunds any part of a permit, we pass the full refund on to you, less any bank charges.
- The minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15, with no exceptions. Chimpanzee tracking has its own age limit set by each park, and we will confirm it for your itinerary.
- Park rangers may refuse to let anyone with a cough, cold, fever or other infectious illness track primates, to protect the animals. This decision is final, and no refund is given for the permit or any related arrangements.
- Sightings on habituated gorilla and chimpanzee treks are very likely but can never be guaranteed. No refund is due if the animals are not found.
6. If you cancel
Cancellations must be made in writing by the lead traveller and take effect on the day we receive them. We will charge the following, as a percentage of the total price of the safari excluding permits:
When we receive your cancellation
Cancellation charge
61 days or more before your safari starts
Your deposit (30%)
31 to 60 days before
50%
15 to 30 days before
75%
14 days or fewer before, or if you do not arrive
100%
Permits are non-refundable once issued, except where the issuing authority agrees otherwise (see section 5). Flights booked for you follow the airline’s own rules. If you leave a safari early or miss any part of it, no refund is given for unused services. This is exactly why we insist on good travel insurance.
7. Changes you ask for
We will always try to help if you want to change your safari after booking. Any extra costs charged by lodges, airlines or park authorities are passed on to you. A change that shortens your trip or removes services within 60 days of departure may be treated as a part cancellation under section 6. Names on permits usually cannot be changed, so please double-check them before booking.
8. Changes made by us
We plan carefully, but safaris happen in real places where roads flood, flights are rescheduled and lodges occasionally close. Minor changes, such as a switch to a comparable lodge or a different route between parks, may be needed and are part of travelling here. If we have to make a significant change before you travel, we will tell you as soon as possible and you may choose to accept it, take a suitable alternative, or cancel for a full refund of what you have paid us. If we cancel your safari for any reason other than events beyond our control, we will refund everything you have paid us.
9. Events beyond our control
We cannot be responsible for changes, delays or cancellations caused by events that neither we nor our suppliers could reasonably foresee or avoid. These include extreme weather, natural disasters, fire, disease outbreaks, government action, border closures, war, civil unrest, terrorism, strikes, park closures and airline failures. In these cases we will do everything we reasonably can to help you, pass on any refunds we receive from suppliers and offer alternatives where possible, but we cannot pay compensation or cover extra costs.
10. Travel insurance
Comprehensive travel insurance is a condition of booking. It must cover medical treatment, emergency evacuation by air, repatriation, cancellation and curtailment, and activities in your itinerary such as gorilla trekking, hiking at altitude and boat trips. We may ask to see your policy details before you travel.
11. Passports, visas and health
- Your passport must be valid for at least six months after you leave Africa and have at least two blank pages.
- Obtaining the right visas is your responsibility. We will advise you on what is needed for your route, but entry rules are set by each country and can change without notice.
- Uganda requires travellers to carry a yellow fever vaccination certificate, and other countries may ask for one depending on your route. Please see a travel health clinic well before departure for advice on vaccinations and malaria prevention.
- Primate treks and some walks are physically demanding. Please tell us in writing about any medical condition, mobility need or allergy that could affect your safari when you book, so we can plan properly. We may ask for a doctor’s note if an activity could put your health at risk.
12. On safari
Your safety comes first. Your guide, rangers and lodge staff have the final say on safety matters, and we ask everyone to follow their instructions and the rules of each park. Wild animals are unpredictable and some activities carry natural risk; by taking part you accept the risk that comes with them. If anyone’s behaviour puts themselves, other guests, staff or wildlife in danger, or breaks the law, we may end their safari without a refund.
13. Accommodation and itineraries
We book the lodges and room types named in your confirmation. If one becomes unavailable, we will replace it with one of a similar or higher standard and explain why. Itineraries, driving times and activity timings are a guide and may be adjusted by your guide on the day to suit weather, road conditions or wildlife movements.
14. Our responsibility to you
We choose our guides, lodges and other suppliers with care and check them regularly. We are responsible for making sure the services we have agreed to provide are delivered with reasonable skill and care. We are not responsible for loss, injury or damage caused by your own actions, by someone unconnected with your safari, or by events beyond our control. Where we are found responsible, our liability is limited to the price of your safari, except in cases of death or personal injury caused by our negligence. Nothing in these terms limits any rights you have by law.
15. Photographs
We would love to share memories from your safari, but we will only use photographs or words from you in our marketing with your clear permission.
16. Concerns and complaints
If something is not right during your safari, please tell your guide or our team straight away so we can put it right while you are still travelling. If you are still unhappy afterwards, write to us within 30 days of returning home. We will acknowledge your message promptly and give you a full reply within 14 days.
17. Your personal information
We use your personal details only to plan and run your safari and to meet legal requirements, such as permit applications. Our privacy policy explains how we collect, protect and share your information.
18. Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of Uganda, and any dispute will be dealt with by the courts of Uganda. This does not remove any rights you may have under the consumer laws of your own country.
Questions about these terms? Talk to our team before you book. You may also like our FAQs and Responsible Travel Policy.
