General Terms & Conditions
Please read our terms and conditions below. If you are an agent or travel company, please write to us.
These Terms & Conditions are effective as of 01 January 2025
- QUOTATIONS & PROVISIONAL HOLD
- Quotations received are valid for a period of 10 days and subject to availability.
- A provisional hold will only be confirmed on receipt of written confirmation of intent to book and payment will be required within 5 days to confirm and hold your booking.
- Any price quoted is subject to change in the event of an unforeseen fuel price increase, currency fluctuation or Government levies/taxes.
- All services are quoted and invoiced in $USD.
- Your Lux Gorilla Safaris specialist will provide you with an official quotation and a payment link for deposit payment, or our $USD banking information.
- DEPOSIT, PAYMENT & CANCELLATION
DEPOSITS
- A minimum 30% deposit is required to confirm a bookings accommodation, transport & activity elements (some accommodation may require a greater % deposit and this will be confirmed at the time of your enquiry)
- A 100% non-refundable payment is required for all permits (Gorilla, Chimpanzee, Golden Monkey etc)
- Remaining balances for any journey will become due 90 days prior to travel.
PAYMENTS
- BANKING DETAILS <INSERT BANKING INFO, INC IBAN, SWIFT & BANK ADDRESS>
- Your Lux Gorilla Safaris specialist will provide you with a copy of your invoice that will state the required deposit amount, along with a secure DPO payment link for payment. If you would like to pay directly to our $USD bank account, this information can be found on the invoice.
- Payments made in a currency other than $USD may be subject to a currency conversion and the correct amount may not be received by Lux Gorilla Safaris ltd. Please ensure Lux Gorilla Safaris ltd will receive the invoiced $USD figure into its banking accounts in full or the transaction will be deemed incomplete, and your booking may not be confirmed.
- Payments made via DPO link (credit card) are subject to a 4% transaction fee.
CANCELLATIONS
- Cancellations (which include a reduction in the number of nights, the number of guests or the number of rooms) received more than 90 days before arrival will forfeit 30% deposit.
- Cancellations received between 90 and 60 days prior to arrival will forfeit 50% of trip payment.
- Cancellations received less than 60 days prior to arrival will forfeit 100% of trip payment.
- No-shows or early departures will forfeit 100% of trip payment. Lux Gorilla Safaris ltd reserves the right to seek administrative fees because of such cancellation, including but not limited to ill health or injury.
- If a date change is required for Gorilla permits, a fee of $300 per permit will be levied to facilitate any change. Permits are non-refundable and non-transferable. Please ensure you have adequate travel insurance in place prior to booking your tour.
- Cancellations and booking amendments must be received in writing and must be acknowledged by Lux Gorilla Safaris ltd in return.
- INSURANCE
- Prior to booking confirmation, please ensure you have comprehensive travel insurance. This insurance should have adequate medical, cancellation, curtailment, and default insurance for the entirety of your trip. It is essential that all travelling parties are covered for emergencies and other unforeseen circumstances. Sambora will not be held responsible for any guest travelling without adequate insurance.
- Relevant cancellation policies will apply should a guest fail to join or start their journey with us for any reason. Please ensure adequate travel insurance is in place for this eventuality.
- When travelling to Rwanda or wider East Africa, you may travel to areas where Yellow Fever or Malaria are present, please ensure you take adequate medical advice prior to travel to establish what precautions and/or vaccinations will be required and ensure all are up to date. Some East African countries have declined entry to guests that do not hold a yellow fever certificate, so it’s essential you have this.
- FORCE MAJEURE
- “Force Majeure” means, in relation to Lux Gorilla Safaris ltd and its clients (including tour operators and travel agencies), any circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the Companies or clients (including, but without limitation, war or threat of war, sabotage, civil disturbance, or requisition, acts of God, fire, accident, flood or explosion, sickness, pandemic, epidemic, quarantine, Government intervention, weather conditions or other untoward occurrences).
- If the ability of Lux Gorilla Safaris ltd to provide the services booked is affected by Force Majeure, then they shall as soon as practicable notify you of the nature and extent thereof.
- Lux Gorilla Safaris ltd shall not be deemed to be in breach of these terms and conditions or otherwise be liable to you, by reason of delay in performance, or by non-performance of any of its obligations hereunder to the extent that any such delay or non-performance is due to any Force Majeure.
- If either Lux Gorilla Safaris ltd or the clients are affected by Force Majeure, Lux Gorilla Safaris ltd shall be entitled to and may in its absolute and sole discretion, cancel or vary any arrangements or itinerary in relation to the journey. Payment of any refund by Lux Gorilla Safaris ltd because of the non-performance of any of Lux Gorilla Safaris ltd obligations hereunder shall remain in its sole and absolute discretion. However, should Lux Gorilla Safaris ltd elect to grant a refund, it shall be entitled to deduct from any refund recoverable the reasonable actual and potential costs incurred Force Majeure.
- THIRD PARTY PROPERTY BOOKINGS
- Please note that any booking made with a 3rd party property (properties not owned or managed by Lux Gorilla Safaris ltd) are subject to their own booking terms and conditions and payment terms.
- The booking terms and conditions for a 3rd Party property, if different to the Lux Gorilla Safaris ltd terms and conditions outlined above, will be confirmed with you at the time of your booking. Lux Gorilla Safaris ltd, in these instances, acts as a reservations office and any obligation created because of such a booking shall be deemed as a booking between you and the 3rd party property.
- INCLUSIONS & EXCLUSIONS
INCLUSIONS
- Accommodation (on a shared basis)
- Excursions & activities mentioned.
- Meals, please note the basis outlined in the quote (B&B, HB, FB or AI)
- Fluent English-speaking driver/guide.
- Complimentary bottled mineral water.
- Transport and transfers where mentioned.
EXCLUSIONS
- Visa’s & International Airfares.
- Any extra activities not mentioned.
- Excess baggage charges.
- Travel insurance, medical cover.
- Personal expenses.
- Telephone charges.
- Tips & gratuities.
- GORILLA PERMITS
- Gorilla Permits are issued solely by RDB (Rwanda Development Board), who also manage the Volcanoes National Park.
- There are a restricted number of permits available each day and these are sold on a first come first serve basis. Permits can only be confirmed or held on receipt of full payment at RDB, with full names and passport information attached.
- The minimum age to embark on a gorilla trek is 15 years old, with no exceptions.
- Gorilla permits are non-refundable and non-transferable once purchased. Trekking date can be altered once, at a fee of $300 per permit. It is therefore essential to ensure adequate insurance is in place prior to booking and paying for permits.
- These terms cover the other permit often booked for you, including chimpanzee and golden monkey trekking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I trek mountain gorillas?
Within the whole world, mountain gorilla trekking is done in three countries; Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Below are some of the questions that are asked by the trekkers before going on a gorilla safari in Rwanda.
What time of the year should I travel to trek the gorillas?
- The gorillas can be visited anytime of the year though it can also rain any day of the year due to the changes in Climate, therefore there is also no time of the year to avoid travelling. May and April are also the rainiest months and many trekkers avoid traveling during these months.
Do I need to be fit to track the mountain gorillas?
- All the tourists need to have a level of fitness and the willingness to hike the muddy slopes and through the varied vegetation and the terrain. The mountain gorillas also live in the montane forests and so the treks are at the highest altitude.
Is it a guarantee to see the gorillas when you set out?
- The gorillas live in their natural habitats and so it’s not also a guarantee that you will view them though we have never heard of any situation were the tourists regret their treks. To help in making sure of this, the trackers set off at dawn and then locate the groups and then radio call their GPS coordinates to the park headquarters, so this means that when you set off for the trek with the guide, you know where you are headed. The trekkers also stay with the gorillas though they are not moving.
What type of clothing should I wear?
- For the safety of the camera, a waterproof day pack is important. Also pack water bottles and snacks as well. At just a small fee, the porters can be helpful in carrying the luggage to the steep slopes. The waterproof jacket will help you with the muddy and rained slopes. Also wear long trousers to be able to guard your legs against the nettles and the T-shirt with the long sleeved shirt over the top.
Is there a minimum or maximum age of visiting the gorillas?
- Trekking is also the mostly done activity by the people with 6 years and above and there is also no elasticity to this rule.this is also the same with Rwanda and Uganda and is also being enforced by the National parks. There is no upper age limit.
Do I need a gorilla permit?
- You must also obtain a gorilla permit to be able to visit the gorillas and its only 8 tourists that are allowed to see the gorillas per group per day. You must also secure a gorilla permit 4 months before you intend to travel and we can secure that you have the permit before you travel. The permits in Uganda cost $600 and this goes directly towards the conservation of the habitants, anti-poaching efforts and education of the local communities.
Will this be covered by my travel insurance?
- It’s also vital that your travel insurance does cover you for gorilla trekking as they may need an additional premium to be paid.
Can you track the gorillas when feeling unwell?
- This is a no, the gorillas are so vulnerable to Human diseases and even something that is so minor to us is so dangerous to them. You also need to take care of yourself before the safari and avoid getting sick. You need to warn your guide in case you are feeling unwell.
How big are the mountain gorilla tracking groups?
- There is also a maximum of 8 people in Uganda and Rwanda.
How much distance is my accommodation to the park headquarters?
- You will also be located in the easy access to the park headquarters, but the distance will also depend on which accommodation you chose. The distance to the headquarters will also vary from a one minute walk to an hour.
How long can I spend with the gorillas?
- Once you meet with the gorillas, you will be given I hour to spend with them. We also recommend that you track them twice and this also means that the second time, you can also ignore photos and then concentrate on enjoying the adventure.
