General Terms and Conditions
1. Definitions
In these general terms and conditions the following definitions apply: Puur Safaris (hereinafter: "the tour operator"): the company that offers and carries out safari trips to East Africa as a tour operator. Traveller: the person who enters into a travel agreement with Puur Safaris, as well as the person for whom the trip has been stipulated and who has accepted that clause. Travel agreement: the agreement under which Puur Safaris undertakes to provide a trip it offers.
Travel price: the total price charged for the trip, including all services, surcharges and levies included in the travel agreement. Force majeure: abnormal and unforeseen circumstances that are independent of the will of the person invoking them and the consequences of which could not be avoided despite all precautions. Package travel: a combination of at least two different types of travel services in accordance with the European Package Travel Directive.
2. Applicability
These general terms and conditions apply to all offers, quotations and agreements from Puur Safaris with regard to the trips it organizes. By entering into a travel agreement, traveller declares that it has taken note of these conditions and agrees to them. Deviations from these conditions are only valid if confirmed in writing by Puur Safaris.
In addition to these general terms and conditions, additional terms and conditions may apply to specific services or destinations. Any additional conditions will be communicated to traveller when booking. In the event of any conflict, the additional terms and conditions shall prevail over these general terms and conditions.
3. Conclusion of the agreement
The travel agreement is concluded by acceptance by traveller of the offer from Puur Safaris. Acceptance is made by completing and sending the booking form on the website, by e-mail or by telephone. After receiving the booking, Puur Safaris will send a written booking confirmation to traveller. The travel agreement is binding from the moment traveller has received the booking confirmation.
The traveller is obliged to provide all information that may be important for the execution of the trip correctly and completely. This includes the names of all travellers (as stated in the passport), dates of birth, nationalities and any special wishes or medical details. Incorrect or incomplete information may lead to additional costs or inability to carry out (parts of) the trip, which will be borne by traveller.
4. Payment
When concluding the travel agreement, a down payment of thirty percent (30%) of the total travel sum must be paid. The deposit must be credited to Puur Safaris' account within fourteen (14) days of receipt of the booking confirmation. The remainder of the travel sum must be paid in full no later than eight (8) weeks before the departure date.
For bookings made within eight (8) weeks before departure, the full travel sum must be paid immediately upon booking. If traveller does not meet its payment obligations on time, Puur Safaris is entitled to terminate the travel agreement. The costs of dissolution will be borne by traveller and are equal to the cancellation costs as stated in article 7 of these conditions.
5. Travel sum and price changes
The published travel prices are based on the prices, exchange rates, levies and taxes as known at the time of publication. Puur Safaris reserves the right to increase the travel price as a result of changes in transport costs (including fuel prices), taxes and levies due, or exchange rates. A price increase is only permitted if Puur Safaris immediately informs traveller of this, stating the reason.
The traveller has the right to terminate the travel agreement if the price increase amounts to more than eight percent (8%) of the total travel sum. Dissolution must be done in writing within three (3) working days after notification of the price increase. In that case, traveller is entitled to a full refund of all amounts already paid. Price increases are no longer permitted after twenty (20) days before departure.
6. Travel documents and health
The traveller is responsible for possessing a valid travel document (passport) that is valid for at least six (6) months after the planned return date. In addition, the traveller is responsible for timely applying for the necessary visas for the countries to be visited. Puur Safaris can advise traveller on this, but accepts no liability for the rejection of a visa application or failure to meet entry requirements.
The traveller must inform himself prior to the trip about the recommended and mandatory vaccinations for the destinations to be visited, including yellow fever (mandatory for Uganda and in transit through certain countries). Puur Safaris advises the traveller to consult a specialized travel clinic or GP in a timely manner. Any costs and consequences of failure to comply with health and document requirements will be borne entirely by the traveller.
7. Cancellation by the traveller
The traveller can cancel the travel agreement at any time. Cancellation must be made in writing (by e-mail or letter). In the event of cancellation, the following costs are due, calculated on the total travel sum: in case of cancellation more than forty-two (42) days before departure: thirty percent (30%) of the travel sum; in case of cancellation between forty-two (42) and twenty-eight (28) days before departure: fifty percent (50%) of the travel sum.
In case of cancellation between twenty-eight (28) and fourteen (14) days before departure: seventy-five percent (75%) of the travel sum. In case of cancellation less than fourteen (14) days before departure or in case of no-show: one hundred percent (100%) of the travel sum. Puur Safaris strongly advises traveller to take out cancellation insurance to limit financial risks in the event of unforeseen cancellation.
8. Cancellation or change by Puur Safaris
Puur Safaris reserves the right to cancel a trip in the event of force majeure, including but not limited to natural disasters, political unrest, epidemics, war or terrorist threats in the destination area. Puur Safaris can also cancel a trip if the minimum number of participants has not been reached, provided that the traveller has been notified of this no later than twenty (20) days before departure.
In the event of cancellation by Puur Safaris, the traveller is entitled to a full refund of all amounts already paid. If possible, Puur Safaris offers an equivalent alternative. In the event of cancellation by Puur Safaris, traveller is not entitled to additional compensation, unless there is intent or gross negligence on the part of Puur Safaris.
9. Changes by the traveller
Requests to change the booking after the travel agreement has been concluded will be processed by Puur Safaris, but are dependent on availability and the cooperation of the service providers involved. An administration fee of fifty euros (€50) per booking will be charged for each change, in addition to any additional costs arising from the change itself.
Name changes are possible up to fourteen (14) days before departure, provided that the airline and other service providers cooperate. Puur Safaris cannot guarantee that a change is always possible. If a desired change cannot be made, the traveller can choose to maintain the original booking or cancel the trip in accordance with the cancellation policy.
10. Insurance
Puur Safaris urgently advises the traveller to take out adequate travel insurance that at least provides coverage for medical costs (including evacuation and repatriation), luggage, personal belongings and personal liability. Given the nature of safari travel in East Africa, insurance with cover for medical evacuation by air is essential.
Taking out cancellation insurance is also strongly recommended. Puur Safaris is not liable for costs resulting from the lack of adequate insurance. The traveller is responsible for taking out insurance that suits the specific trip and personal circumstances.
11. Liability
The liability of Puur Safaris for damage suffered by the traveller is limited in accordance with the provisions of the European Package Travel Directive (Directive (EU) 2015/2302) and the Dutch implementation legislation. Puur Safaris is liable for the proper performance of the travel services included in the travel agreement, regardless of whether these services are performed by Puur Safaris itself or by other service providers.
Puur Safaris is not liable for damage resulting from force majeure, acts or omissions of the traveller itself, acts or omissions of a third party who is not involved in the execution of the trip, or unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances. The liability of Puur Safaris for damage other than bodily injury or intent is limited to a maximum of three times the travel price per traveller.
12. Complaints
If the traveller discovers a shortcoming during the trip, this must be reported as soon as possible to the local representative of Puur Safaris or, if this is not available, directly to Puur Safaris. Puur Safaris will make every effort to provide a suitable solution on site. Failure to report a complaint on site may limit the possibilities for a solution and may affect any possible compensation.
Complaints that have not been satisfactorily resolved on site must be submitted in writing and with reasons to Puur Safaris via info@puursafaris.nl within two (2) months of return. Puur Safaris will respond to the complaint within thirty (30) days. If the complaint cannot be resolved by mutual agreement, the traveller can submit the dispute to the competent court in Amsterdam.
13. Governing Law and Disputes
All travel agreements with Puur Safaris and these general terms and conditions are exclusively governed by Dutch law. Disputes arising from or related to the travel agreement will be submitted to the competent court in Amsterdam, unless the law mandatorily designates another court. The foregoing is without prejudice to the traveller's right to file a complaint with the European Online Dispute Resolution Platform (ec.europa.eu/odr).