Never wire a safari deposit on hope. Check the operator first.|Check free →
Deposits and payments

Safari contract terms you should check before signing

Quick answer

Read six clauses before you sign: accommodation and vehicle substitution, the cancellation refund ladder, force majeure, liability limits, governing law and jurisdiction, and exactly what the price includes. These decide your position if the trip changes.

Last reviewed by the SafariVerify team.

Substitution and inclusions

'Or similar' is where downgrades live. Ask for named alternatives of equal category, and get park fees, transfers, drinks and tips explicitly in or out.

Cancellation, liability and jurisdiction

Get the refund percentages by date. Check whether liability is capped at the amount paid, and note which country's courts govern — often the operator's, which is a real practical constraint.

Your checklist

  • Get named substitute lodges of equal category
  • Get the refund ladder as percentages by date
  • Check what force majeure lets the operator do without refunding
  • Note the governing law and jurisdiction
  • Get a written list of what is not included

Sources

Licensing rules, fees and directories change. Always confirm details with the issuing body on the day you pay. See our methodology for what we can and cannot know.

Check the operator before you pay

Free, no account, about 60 seconds. One verdict — safe, caution or stop — with the sources shown.

Check an operator

Related guides