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    GENERAL TERMS & CONDITIONS


Dear prospective Guest

These general terms & conditions apply to all safaris & transactions undertaken with Southern
Skies - Personal Safari Hosts.   
We tried to keep it as simple as possible, yet still cover all 
the aspects of your negotiations with us. All our safaris are professionally planned and executed 
with the utmost care - with your safety, comfort and personal preferences in mind. All those who 
have gone before will vouch for the excellent value for money received from Southern Skies.

Direct booking with us, using the Internet, guarantees four distinct advantages:

  •     Quick & effective personal response to your enquiry - normally within 24 hours

  •     A reduced price is quoted as no travel agent's commission is involved

  •     The entire communication/negotiation process takes place via Internet & e-mail

  •     Payments are hassle-free and easily executed via electronic money transfers
        (With retrievable records  available to both sender and receiver).

We strictly adhere to the rules & regulations as set out by the Hospitality Association of Namibia.
However, we do NOT require or discuss payment in any form until such time as negotiations are
complete and you, the guest, are 100% satisfied with the suggested itinerary & quotation of your
requested safari. Only after a written booking form had been accepted and signed by you, do 
the rules & regulations of HAN apply.

This signed booking form will authorize Southern Skies to start the reservation process at all 
the accommodation venues included in the accepted itinerary. You will be kept informed of the
progress on a continuous basis until all written confirmations have been received from the lodging
establishments. 30 Days prior to the departure of your safari, 100% of the quoted and accepted
safari price must be paid to Southern Skies, in order to secure your confirmed bookings. 
(The HAN Law & Regulation protects the accommodation establishments by allowing them to 
cancel any confirmed booking for which the 100% payment was not received on the due date,
and allocate it to another applicant).

ONE EXCEPTION!!    Where venues of the Namibia Wildlife Resorts (Para-Statal) are
                                       included in an itinerary, this portion of the accommodation costs
must be transferred together with the signed Booking Form. The reason being that these
venues are somehow not bound by the HAN regulations, and require FULL PAYMENT
within 48 hours after confirmation of a reservation. Where such venues are included in
an itinerary, it will be pertinently stated on the relevant Booking Form, clearly indicating
the amount involved for each individual itinerary.

We now invite you to come and share a few days of glorious sunshine with us, here in Namibia.

Your friendly Southern Skies team


                           PROCEDURES - for new enquiries

    BOOKING A SAFARI WITH SOUTHERN SKIES

  1. Either browse our site & sample itineraries, or go direct to our Information Request Form

  2. Basic information such as: intended dates of arrival and departure;
    Your name and those of your travel companions;
    E-mail address, fax- or telephone number . . .
    . . . and the other information fields on our Information Request Form, are all we need to
    compile a tailor-made safari itinerary for you.

    BASIC RESPONSIBILITIES & CONDITIONS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL GUEST

    1.    As soon as you've decided on the period you wish to visit Namibia, and/or the number 
   
        of days available to you, a reservation must be secured with an airline of your choice &
           tickets obtained. This will ensure that you can provide Southern Skies with specific
           dates and we can build a safari of choice around these dates. Obtaining airline tickets to
           suit any specific, pre-determined safari date, is very seldom to never possible. Southern
           Skies
does NOT include airline ticket prices in their safaris, and do NOT arrange flights
           or flight reservations. Should you encounter problems with arranging this yourself, your
           local, or any, Travel Agent could be of assistance.

    2.    All passport holders should verify with their travel agent or relevant consulate concerning
           visa entry requirements. If you are extending your journey to, or pre-visit, other countries,
           please establish entry requirements for those countries as well.
Before departure from your
           country of residence, the validity of passports, visas and/or any other travelling documents
           should be checked. It would be quite impossible for Southern Skies to assist in this regard,
           therefore we can not be held responsible for consequences or errors arising from invalid
           travel documents.

    3.    It is your sole responsibility to ensure that you carry the correct comprehensive travel and
           medical insurance to cover yourself, as well as any dependants/travelling companions for
           the duration of your trip to
Namibia, and anywhere else within Southern Africa, while on
           a Southern Skies safari. This insurance should include cover in respect of, but not limited
           to, the following eventualities: cancellation or curtailment of the safari, possible emergency
           evacuation expenses, medical expenses, repatriation expenses, damage/theft/loss of your
           personal baggage, money and goods.
Southern Skies – Personal Safari Hosts, including
           their representatives, employees & agents will take no responsibility for any costs, losses
           incurred or suffered by the guest, or guest's dependants and/or travelling companions,
           with regards to, but not limited to, any of the above mentioned eventualities. Guests will
           be charged directly by the relevant service providers for any emergency services they may
           require, and may find themselves in a position unable to access such services should they
           not be carrying the relevant insurance cover.
None of Southern Skies’ agents, staff or
           associates can be held responsible or liable for loss, damage, or theft of personal luggage
           and belongings, nor can they be held liable for personal injury, accident or illness.

           Please ensure that you and your belongings are adequately insured before your departure.
           Insurance is compulsory when participating in any of our
safaris. Although we could be of
           assistance in obtaining a policy for you in Namibia,
it is better to purchase a policy locally,
           as this will cover repatriation back to your home country.
We suggest that you enquire &
           make arrangements at home to avoid one of the above spoiling a well-deserved holiday.

           INSURANCE GUIDELINES:

           a) Health Insurance   

           It is compulsory to have full medical, emergency evacuation and repatriation cover for
           the period of time you are away.

            b) Cancellation and Curtailment

           You might have to cancel or curtail your journey due to unforeseen circumstances. If for
            any reason you cancel a trip close to departure date, you could lose the entire cost of
            your holiday. Should you have to leave before your holiday is finished, we cannot refund
            you the cost of the portion of the package you do not complete, as payment to all lodging,
            services & other expenses are paid by us in advance. In the eventuality of this happening,
            insurance may cover you, depending on the reason for cancellation and curtailment.

            c) Baggage & Money Insurance

            It is advisable to take out baggage and money insurance especially if you are carrying a
            lot of cash or expensive and valuable camera equipment. You should always carry such
            equipment as "carry-on" luggage. Do not put anything of value, including vital medication,
            in your checked-in baggage!

            d) Claims

            If you anticipate an insurance claim upon your return, be sure to document as accurately
            as possible any accident, injury or loss. Doctor's notes & police reports will aid any claim.

            INDEPENDENT TRAVEL OPTIONS (SELF DRIVE):

            Indemnity / disclaimer

            Although Southern Skies shall perform all advance reservations for camping sites or other
            accommodation, plus car hire, on behalf of the guest(s), the guest(s) will be required to sign
            a document, indemnifying Southern Skies of all responsibilities, including but not restricted to,
            vehicle break-downs; accidents;
lack of service or unacceptable conditions encountered at
            included venues, or any mishap experienced by guests during such an unguided/-hosted safari.

    BASIC RESPONSIBILITIES AND CONDITIONS OF SOUTHERN SKIES

  1. Southern Skies, as safari operator, acts as mediator between our guests and the lodging
    venues visited. Although great care is taken in selecting suitable accommodation venues for
    our safaris, based on the interests and preferences of our guests, we are not responsible for
    a lack of service or unacceptable conditions encountered at these venues on a particular visit.
    (This also holds true for any independent travel option arranged by Southern Skies).

  2. Unforeseen circumstances can be experienced in any field of endeavour, and they often are.
    Southern Skies therefore retains the right to make emergency itinerary changes if or when
    such circumstances occur. We will always attempt to find the best alternative in such cases,
    be it itinerary routes or places of accommodation.

  3. The safety, comfort & personal service of our guests are the foundations on which our 
    reputation is built. To maintain this service, our reputation, and to ensure the safety of each 
    individual as well as the group, the only member of a party allowed to make a decision,
    is your host. They are all well-trained, qualified, experienced and well-versed in the various
    Park rules & regulations, as well as general conduct in the preservation of our heritage. Any
    individual who refuses to accept these decisions, places the group in danger or otherwise
    compromises the normal running of the safari, will be expelled from the group - immediately. 
    In such a case, this individual will forfeit any refund or claim for compensation.

  4. All our prices and quotations will be offered in South African Rand (ZAR) which deals at a 
    1:1 ratio with the Namibian Dollar (N$). We have decided on this currency quote as the
    International Currency Exchange rates vary too much and too often, sometimes on a daily 
    basis. This will enable us to "fix" our rates per safari for a specified period - normally from 
    the 01 November to the 31 October the following year.

    GENERAL GUIDELINE TO EX- AND INCLUDED ITEMS PER QUOTED PRICE
        (Only for hosted safaris. These items are excluded for all self drive options)

A.    EXcluded from the safari prices quoted:

  • Airport taxes and return air tickets to and from Namibia
  • Pocket money and/or private/personal spending
  • Purchases of any souvenirs, gifts, mementos or payment of gratuities
  • General travel insurance – normally issued at point of departure
  • Personal toiletries & accessories, binoculars, cameras, films, discs, cartridges & batteries
  • Optional activities offered by private operators, not part of in-house activities at lodgings
  • Foodstuffs, drinks and beverages privately acquired by guests, from licensed establishments
    (This includes ANY alcoholic drinks or other beverages, not automatically included with meals)
  • Any requested deviation from the itinerary after acceptance - including route and/or 
    accommodation

B.    INcluded in the safari prices quoted:

  • Transfers from- and to Namibia's International airport during arrival & departure
  • Suitable vehicle with driver, fuel, oil, maintenance and unexpected emergency repairs
  • Drinks, snacks & beverages available in the safari vehicle while en-route
  • All entrance fees, permits and local guide fees required by Resorts, Nature Reserves 
    and establishments visited (as included in each relevant itinerary)
  • Full time experienced host/guide for the duration of the safari
  • Usually most activities at lodging facilities, except for optional, adrenalin activities - such
    as those offered by private operators in Swakopmund
  • We do carry a set of reference material on all our vehicles. However, if you are a keen
    birder, we recommend that you bring your OWN, preferred bird book.
  • Your own, personalized sighting Check List, to keep track of Namibian Animals, Birds 
    and Trees, viewed while on safari - issued as one Check List per shared accommodation

The above lists are general guidelines, detailed items to be either excluded or included will be 
attached with each specific safari itinerary and quotation, subject to the type of safari chosen.


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Date last updated:    Saturday, February 09, 2008 19:03