TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Booking and Payment
To confirm a reservation, a deposit of 30% of the total cost of your travel arrangements is required. Once we receive this deposit and send you our booking receipt or confirmation invoice, this Agreement becomes effective. By making a booking, you confirm that you are authorized to accept these terms on behalf of all members of your party. Please carefully check our confirmation and raise any queries immediately upon receipt. This contract is governed by the laws of the state of California and falls under the jurisdiction of the courts of San Diego, California.

Please note that additional funds may be required if we are at your request to take care of and issue the intercontinental plane tickets.

Full payment must be made at least 90 days prior to departure. If a reservation is made within the final payment window, the entire trip cost must be paid at the time of booking to secure the confirmation.

Payment can be made through wire transfer, check, or any major credit card acceptable to us. Failure to make timely payments may result in travel arrangements being cancelled, and in such cases, the cancellation charges specified in the respective clause will apply.

For journeys including Uganda and Rwanda, an additional nonrefundable gorilla trekking permit fee is required at the time of booking.

Travel Insurance
Adequate insurance is essential. It is a condition of booking that the sole responsibility lies with you to ensure that you carry the correct comprehensive travel and medical insurance to cover yourself, as well as any dependents and traveling companions for the duration of your tour. This insurance should include coverage in respect of, but not limited to, the following eventualities: cancellation or curtailment of the Tour, emergency evacuation expenses, medical expenses, repatriation expenses, damage or loss of personal baggage, money and goods.

Alterations to Confirmed Booking
If you wish to alter any arrangements after we have sent you our confirmation invoice, we will do our best to arrange this. You must write to, or email us, with details of the alteration requested. Any alterations will be subject to availability plus agreement by relevant supplier(s) and there will be an administration charge of $300 per person. You will also be required to pay any additional costs arising from the alteration.

Changes to the Itinerary
Guests will be responsible for any changes or cancellations made to the itinerary at their request or beyond their control, before or during travel, including expenses incurred due to a change, delay or cancellation of any flights.

Cancellation Charges
Should you wish to cancel your confirmed booking, you must notify us in writing or by E mail. The following charges will apply from the date on which notification is received by us

91 days prior to departure or more $ 2,000
90-61 days prior to departure 25% of program price
60-31 days prior to departure 50% of program price
30-15 days prior to departure 75% of program price
14 days prior to departure or less 100% of the program price

Please be aware that additional cancellation fees may be applicable for services such as planes, vessels, and trains, as dictated by their individual policies. These services may carry substantial charges or, in some cases, may be completely non-refundable. Note that the gorilla trekking permit fee in Uganda and Rwanda is 100% non-refundable. All internal air is 100% non-refundable at time of final payment.If you have not paid the full amount, you must pay the cancellation charges within 7 days of notification of the cancellation.

Possible Issues during your vacations:
If you encounter any issues during your vacation, it is essential that you immediately inform our local representative, agent, or the relevant supplier, such as hotel management. This allows us the opportunity to address and resolve the issue locally and promptly. Should the problem remain unresolved, we ask you to formalize your complaint in writing and send it to us within one month following the conclusion of your vacation.

Pricing
We reserve the right to modify our prices prior to you committing to your booking. In case of such a revision, we will inform you of the new price applicable to your booking. Afterward, the price of your travel arrangements may be subject to surcharges that are beyond our control, such as increases in transportation costs, security charges, government-imposed fees, and other costs introduced by third parties.

If We Alter Your Confirmed Booking
We fully commit to providing the travel arrangements as confirmed to you. However, on rare occasions, alterations may be necessary. These changes are usually minor, not affecting the overall enjoyment or essence of your vacation. We will endeavor to notify you prior to your departure if such adjustments are required. If these revised arrangements result in lower costs than the original booking, the price difference will be refunded to you.

Cancellation of Your Travel Arrangements
In exceptional circumstances, we may need to cancel your travel arrangements, a right we reserve in our absolute discretion. Should such a situation arise, you will be given the option of switching to an alternative vacation of a comparable standard, if available, or receiving a full and prompt refund of all payments you've made.

Responsibility:
Our Role: We serve exclusively as agents for the suppliers specified in your confirmation or itinerary, procuring a diverse range of services. These include transportation (commercial airlines, light aircraft, coaches, trains, vessels, etc.), hotel and lodging accommodations, dining establishments, ground support, sightseeing tours, car rentals, driving services, and entertainment, all of which are provided by various independent suppliers. Neither Metropolis Travel / Roqueni Travel, nor any of their affiliates or subsidiaries, own or operate any aspect of the services included in your trip. All associated entities and individuals act as independent contractors.

Liability and Travel Information: Given our exclusive role as agents, we do not assume responsibility for any personal injury, property damage, financial or physical loss, death, accident, delay, inconvenience, overbooking, strike, or irregularity caused by any such independent contractor or any third party providing the services. Additionally, we do not have specific knowledge regarding the financial condition of the suppliers, unsafe conditions, health hazards, weather hazards, or climate extremes at locations to which you may travel. For information about potential dangers at destinations, we recommend contacting the Travel Warnings Section of the U.S. State Department at 1 (202) 647-5225 or visiting www.travel.state.gov, and clicking on “Travel Warnings.” For medical information, please contact the Centers for Disease Control at 1 (800) 232-4636 or visit www.cdc.gov/travel.

Traveler's Responsibility: The Party or family Leader and all passengers or family members bear full responsibility for complying with the local laws of the countries included in the itinerary and for understanding and accepting the inherent risks of adventure travel. Such risks can lead to illness, injury, or even death, particularly as these journeys often occur in remote locations, far from immediate medical facilities.

Adventure Travel Risks & Activities:
Our travel experiences may include or be offered as optional alternatives various activities such as animal excursions, animal rides, scuba diving, snorkeling, boating, hot air ballooning, helicopter flights, ziplining, high altitude treks, climbing, quad biking, parasailing, parachuting, kayaking, whitewater rafting, jet boat rides, snowmobiling, primate tracking, and more. Participation in these Activities inherently involves risks of serious illness, injury, or death. By choosing to participate, you accept full responsibility for your own health and safety and agree to assume all these risks, thereby releasing Metropolis Travel / Roqueni Travel, and their respective parties from any liability related thereto.

Waiver and Indemnification: In exchange for being allowed to participate in the Activities, you agree to release Roqueni Travel parties from any liability for property damage, cancellations, illness, negligent rescue operations, personal injury, or death arising out of your participation in the Activities. This release applies regardless of whether such incidents result from the negligence of these parties or from any defect in equipment. Additionally, you agree to indemnify and hold the "Parties" harmless against any claim related to your participation in any trip or any Activities. Upon receipt of notice of the assertion of such a claim, Roqueni Travel reserve the right to approve or withdraw approval of counsel, in its sole discretion.

Behavior:
We expect all our customers to have consideration for other people. If in our reasonable opinion or in the reasonable opinion of any other person in authority, you or any member of your party behaves in such a way as to cause or be likely to cause danger, upset or distress to any third party or damage to property, we are entitled, without prior notice, to terminate the vacation of the person(s) concerned. In this situation, the person(s) concerned will be required to leave the accommodation or other service. We will have no further responsibility toward such person(s) including any return travel arrangements. No refunds will be made and we will not pay any expenses or costs incurred as a result of the termination.

Data Protection:
In order to process your booking and to ensure that your travel arrangements run smoothly and meet your requirements, we need to use the information you provide such as name, address, any special needs/dietary requirements etc. We take full responsibility for ensuring that proper security measures are in place to protect your information. We must pass the information on to the relevant suppliers of your travel arrangements such as airlines, hotels, transport companies etc. The information may also be provided to security or credit checking companies, public authorities such as customs/immigration if required by them, or as required by law.

General Health & Safety Issues:
When you book with us, you accept that participating in adventurous activities, such as those included in our tours, inherently involves a level of risk. These risks include personal injury, damage to property, disease, loss or theft of property, political instability, and forces of nature. You acknowledge and agree that we will not be responsible for providing any medical facilities or for any losses you suffer in remote areas, either as a result of illness, accident, theft, or otherwise. You must be fit enough to participate in the tour and you are responsible for bringing and taking any necessary medication. You must notify us of any medical condition that you have which may affect your ability to participate fully in the journey.

Health and Safety Precautions for Travel
When embarking on journeys such as safaris, it is essential to consider the possibility of encountering "Communicable and/or Infectious Diseases." These are illnesses caused by microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi that can spread from person to person or through different vectors, potentially leading to severe illness or even fatality.

As part of the preventive measures, prophylaxis against diseases such as Malaria is highly recommended. Moreover, vaccination for Yellow Fever may be a requirement for entry into certain countries. Your healthcare provider should prescribe these precautions, offering individualized advice and information about possible side effects. When you choose to travel with us, you acknowledge and accept that participating in adventurous activities such as those included in our journeys inherently involves certain risks. You recognize and agree that we will not be responsible for providing any medical facilities.You are responsible for your fitness to participate and for carrying and administering any necessary medication. By choosing to travel, you voluntarily assume all related health risks. We strongly urge you to consult with a healthcare provider to understand your individual risk before making a travel decision.

Adherence to public health regulations and safety protocols is crucial. These rules may change over time, so it's important to stay informed through travel advisories and warnings issued by relevant authorities. Despite these warnings, should you choose to travel, you accept all risks associated with the journey. We recommend reviewing advisories from recognized authorities like the CDC before confirming your travel reservations.

Travel to African & Other Developing Countries:
When traveling to developing countries, it's important to note that standards of health, safety, and customer service may differ from those in the USA. While standards in wildlife camps are generally high, with excellent customer service and clean, comfortable accommodations, there may be differences in regulations and infrastructure. For example, pools may not be fenced off or have depth markings, steps may not have handrails, and paths may be uneven or unlit at night. In some places, camps are not fenced from larger animals, and it's nearly impossible to keep out smaller animals and insects. Game viewing vehicles may not have seatbelts, and drivers may drive faster than you're comfortable with. Life jackets may not always be readily available on boats. You may also be in a remote location with limited communication options.

Passport, Visas & Other Entry Requirements:
A valid passport is required for US citizens traveling on our international trips. If your destination requires a visa for US citizens, you will be notified. All passports must contain at least five consecutive blank pages and must be valid for six months after the completion of your trip. Non-US citizens should contact the appropriate consular office for entry requirements pertaining to their trip.

If one parent or guardian is traveling with a minor child without the other parent, some nations have strict documentation requirements, including possibly requiring birth certificates for children under 18. Currently, South Africa requires birth certificates for minors under 18 years of age, even if they are traveling with their parents. Some nations may also require proof of vaccinations for all travelers.

Luggage:
We provide porterage of up to two (2) pieces of baggage per person. Please note: Should your journey include internal/domestic or charter flights, your luggage allowance may be just one piece and weight/size restrictions and additional costs may apply. When charter flights are operated by light aircraft, baggage allowance is usually restricted for safety reasons and due to limited space. This is typically between 26-44 lbs per person in a soft bag, including camera equipment and carry-on baggage. If you arrive with excess baggage without prior warning, your baggage could be delayed, and you may incur considerable extra costs. However, if you know in advance that your baggage will exceed the limit, we can usually make arrangements to book an extra seat for the bags on the aircraft, at an additional cost. Baggage and personal effects are at the owner’s risk throughout the travel program, and we assume no liability for lost, stolen or damaged baggage. Please check with your international carrier for other baggage restrictions and fees applicable to your international flights

Valuables and Cash Responsibility
The traveler acknowledges and agrees that the safekeeping of all valuables, including but not limited to cash, jewelry, electronics, travel documents, and other personal items, is their sole and exclusive responsibility at all times during the journey, regardless of the location or the presence of security facilities such as hotel room safes. Metropolis Travel / Roqueni Travel shall not be held responsible or liable for any loss, theft, or damage to such valuables under any circumstances. This clause applies even if the traveler chooses to use the safes or other security facilities provided by the accommodation or other service providers during the journey. By agreeing to these terms, the traveler understands that they bear all risks associated with the handling and storage of their valuables during the entirety of the journey.

Hotel Check-In and Check-Out
Passengers understand that hotel check-in typically commences during the mid-afternoon hours. Immediate access to rooms upon arrival may necessitate booking an additional night. Standard check-out times usually fall between 11 AM and noon, varying by individual hotel policies. Retaining the room beyond the stipulated check-out time may result in direct charges from the hotel, possibly equivalent to an additional night's stay. Passengers acknowledge that requests for early check-in or late check-out are subject to the hotel's availability and cannot be guaranteed. Passengers hereby agree that any additional costs arising from these circumstances are their exclusive responsibility.

Release of Liability & Assumption of Risk:
During your participation in the tour, certain risks and dangers may arise, including but not limited to hazards of traveling in undeveloped areas, forces of nature, political unrest, accident or illness in remote regions, and risks inherent in activities in underdeveloped countries. The tour operator and its agents and suppliers will not have liability regarding provision of medical care or the adequacy of any care that may be rendered. By participating in these activities, you voluntarily accept these risks and agree not to make a claim against the tour operator, its agents or employees, for bodily injury, emotional trauma, death, and/or property damage. This release of liability and assumption of risk agreement is entered into on behalf of all members of your family, including minors accompanying you, and is binding on your heirs, legal representatives, and assigns.

Force Majeure Event
A Force Majeure Event refers to exceptional circumstances that are beyond the control of Roqueni Travel or our suppliers. Such events are unusual, unforeseeable, and unavoidable despite our best efforts, and may include, but are not limited to, situations such as war or threat thereof; riot; civil strife; actual or threatened terrorist activity; industrial disputes; technical issues with transport, machinery, or equipment; power outages; natural or nuclear disasters; adverse weather conditions; fires, floods, or droughts; pandemics, epidemics or outbreaks of illness; and ice conditions in oceans or water levels in rivers. Should a Force Majeure Event necessitate the cancellation or significant alteration of the Journey, we will not be liable for any travel-related costs incurred by the Guest, including but not limited to expenses for air travel, insurance, visas, or any other travel arrangements of any kind.

Terms of Agreement and Liability Limitations

Risk Acknowledgment and Assessment: Customers recognize and accept the potential for unforeseen losses, damages, or injuries associated with the agreement. They confirm having sufficient time and opportunity to assess these risks, including matters which are uncertain and beyond the company's control.

No Reliance on Unstated Representations: Customers confirm they have not depended on any unstated representations or statements made by the company, its employees, agents, or representatives.

Full Release of Claims and Class Action Waiver: Despite uncertainties, customers fully release all current and future claims related to the agreement, taking on the risks involved. They agree to resolve disputes through individual legal action, waiving any rights to participate in class actions.

Waiver of Certain Rights: Customers waive any benefits under section 1542 of the Civil Code of California, or similar laws. They agree that the class action waiver and arbitration clause are inseparable.

Subrogation of Insurance: If a judgment is made against the company or any payment is made in settlement, customers agree that the company's insurers are entitled to recover these amounts from third parties.

Limitations on Claims and Liabilities: The company is not liable for emotional distress, mental suffering, or psychological injury unless directly linked to physical injury caused by the company's negligence. The company's liability for improper performance or breach of the contract is capped at two times the price paid for the tour package, and it is not liable for any consequential, indirect, or punitive damages.

Consent to Exclusive Jurisdiction:
Any litigation involving this contract, any of our brochures or your trip can be brought only in accordance with this paragraph. The parties hereto agree that all actions or proceedings arising in connection with this the trip contemplated by this Agreement shall be litigated or arbitrated exclusively in the County of San Diego, State of California and in no other jurisdiction.

Miscellaneous:
You hereby consent to our use of pictures or video of you in our marketing materials without compensation. Facsimile or E mail transmission of any signed document shall be deemed delivery of an original. At our request, you shall promptly provide an original document as well. If there are any conflicts between this Participant Agreement, the Reservation Form, and the Itinerary, this Participant Agreement shall apply. We reserve the right to decline to do business with anyone on a non-discriminatory basis.

Disclosures - California Travel Consumer Restitution Fund:
Passengers who purchase from within California: This transaction is covered by the California Travel Consumer Restitution Fund (TCRF) if the person booking travel or the passenger is located in California at the time of payment.

Trust Account: California law requires certain sellers of travel to have a trust account or bond. We have a trust account.