Safari Payment Terms & Booking Conditions

1. Booking & Deposit Requirements

• Standard Safari Deposit: A deposit of 30% of the total tour cost is required at the time of booking to confirm your safari reservation.

• Peak Season / Luxury Lodge Bookings: Bookings during high season (June–October and December–January) or involving high-end luxury lodges may require an initial deposit of up to 50%, depending on individual lodge deposit requirements.

2. Balance & Final Payment

• The remaining balance of 70% must be settled no later than 45 days prior to the departure date.

• For bookings made within 45 days of departure, 100% full payment is required immediately upon booking confirmation.

• Failure to pay the full balance by the due date may result in the automatic cancellation of your reservation and forfeiture of your deposit.

3. Accepted Payment Methods

All pricing is quoted in US Dollars (USD), as is standard practice for Tanzanian wildlife conservation fees and lodge rates.

• Bank Wire Transfer (EFT/SWIFT): Payments can be made directly into our USD bank account in Tanzania. Bank transfer fees/intermediary bank charges are the responsibility of the sender.

• Credit / Debit Card (Online): We accept Visa, Mastercard, and American Express via our secure online payment portal. Credit card processing fees of [3%–3.5%] apply.

• Local Cash Payments: USD cash payments upon arrival are only accepted for last-minute incidental charges or pre-agreed remaining balances. Note: Per Bank of Tanzania guidelines, USD cash notes must be printed in or after 2013, clean, and free of tears or marks.

4. Cancellation & Refund Policy

Cancellations must be submitted in writing via email. The cancellation fee is determined based on the date written notice is received prior to departure:

Time Prior to Departure	Cancellation Charge (% of Total Tour Price)
More than 60 days	Deposit amount (or 15% administrative fee, whichever is lower)
59 to 45 days	30% of total tour price
44 to 30 days	50% of total tour price
29 to 15 days	75% of total tour price
Less than 14 days / No-Show	100% of total tour price (No refund)

Non-Refundable Expenses:

Regardless of the timeframe above, fees paid for domestic flight tickets (e.g., Bush flights to Serengeti/Zanzibar), and non-refundable lodge deposits during peak season cannot be refunded once issued.

5. Price Alterations & Statutory Charges

• Government Fees & Taxes: Safari rates include current Tanzanian Value Added Tax (VAT – currently 18%), Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) entry fees, Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) fees, and transit permits.

• Unforeseen Tax Increases: We reserve the right to pass along any price adjustments caused by official government changes in park entry fees, concession fees, VAT rates, or fuel surcharges imposed after booking confirmation but before travel.

6. Travel Insurance Requirements

• Travel, medical, and cancellation insurance is mandatory for all guests traveling with Matey Wild Tours.

• Your insurance policy must explicitly cover emergency air evacuation (flying doctors), medical treatment, trip cancellation, trip interruption, loss of luggage, and personal liability.

7. Force Majeure

Matey Wild Tours shall not be liable for non-performance, changes, or delays caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, extreme weather, floods, volcanic activity, civil unrest, war, strikes, government restrictions, epidemics/pandemics, or closure of national borders. In such instances, we will work to rebook your travel dates or issue credit vouchers for future use (less unrecoverable third-party costs).