Booking Information

The booking conditions and general information set out below are designed to outline our obligations to you and your commitments to us as clearly as possible. Please read them carefully before booking. We want you to have an enjoyable tour and the avoidance of any misunderstanding is to our mutual advantage.

Should you book a tour with us, the conditions set out below form the contract between us. The contract is deemed to have been made at our offices at Kemple End and is subject to English law and the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.

Many of our tours visit developing countries and/or remote areas where travel is still an adventure and local conditions are often very different from those we are used to back home. You should be prepared to cope with unusual situations, local inadequacies and unpredictable events as and when they occur.

In particular you should bear in mind that the standard of hygiene in many countries is poor and that ‘stomach upsets’ are, as a direct result, a hazard of travel in many parts of the world. As we only visit most restaurants etc. on a very infrequent basis we cannot monitor or effectively influence their standards.

 

About Our Tours

Financial Protection

Wild Images is a tour operator of very long-standing (founded in 1981), with a high level of assets and the financial resources that can provide our clients with peace of mind. Wild Images is a United Kingdom government licensed tour operator. Our Air Tour Operator’s Licence (ATOL) number is 2937. Some of our holidays are ATOL Protected by the Civil Aviation Authority of the United Kingdom, so your payments to us are fully protected against insolvency. Tour payments not covered by the ATOL scheme are still 100% protected against insolvency under the United Kingdom Package Travel Regulations.

We cannot stress enough how important it is to book your photography tours with a tour company that offers you financial security. The great majority of photography tour companies based outside the European Union provide no financial protection whatsoever for their clients. This saves costs for them, allowing them to cut prices, but leaves you very vulnerable if anything goes wrong. If they become insolvent you may lose your entire payment.

What a Wild Images Tour Price Includes

The tour price normally includes all surface transportation from the notified tour start point to the notified tour end point, all accommodation (including taxes and service charges), all meals, all entrance fees, all tips for local drivers/guides/boatmen and for accommodation/restaurant staff, and leader services.

In addition, where relevant, the tour price includes all specified internal flights (or, on occasion, international flights) in economy class (including all airport and other taxes that are part of the ticket cost, and also any cash airport taxes relating to these flights). Any exceptions are clearly indicated in the relevant tour description.

In addition, bottled (or filtered) water will be provided in those countries, regions or specific locations where the local tap water supply is generally considered unsafe to drink (by those with relevant local experience).

Please bear in mind that water supplies are improving in many countries and that an increasing number now have tap water that is perfectly safe to drink, either nationwide or in particular areas. We do appreciate that some clients take a very cautious view about drinking the local water, so you are always welcome to buy bottled water at your own expense anywhere we do not provide it. Our leaders will always be willing to assist in this regard.

Please note that in some situations our leader may decide to provide some bottled water at meal times simply because it is impossible to get tap water served at the table and not because there is any health issue locally.

Drinks (alcoholic drinks, soft drinks and hot beverages) are generally not included. However, some will be provided by us on occasion at our expense.

Tips

Wherever tipping is complex, we include all tips for local drivers and guides, boatmen, camp staff, porters, restaurant staff and others involved in providing local services for our groups.

We always include payments to local people who opt to pose for photographs on our cultural/tribal tours.

Where we travel, for example, to just one or a few hotels/lodges/safari camps, or go on a mobile safari, or on expedition cruise ships, tipping is usually straightforward and we leave it to the discretion of participants. Guidelines are generally provided.

Local guides, drivers and others usually work extremely hard to make a tour a success, working very long hours, and, as they receive low basic wages, tips for them are not a pleasant bonus but a crucial part of their annual income. Please remember that.

What the Tour Price Excludes

The tour price excludes all expenses incurred before arrival at the starting point of any tour and after arrival at the ending point of any tour, including international and/or internal airfares (and all taxes relating to these flights, included in the ticket cost or otherwise), additional accommodation costs, airport transfer costs (unless included), travel insurance, passport charges, vaccination charges, visa charges (including visas obtained on arrival) and excess baggage charges.

On some tours tips/gratuities are excluded (see above). We always make it clear whether they are included or excluded.

On a few tours internal flights are excluded, because they are more economically included with your international tickets. We always make it clear whether they are included or excluded.

The tour price also excludes drinks other than those provided, à la carte dishes on those occasions where the included meal is fixed-menu, snacks, laundry, telephone calls, private excursions, excess baggage charges during the tour and anything else of a purely personal nature, including taxes, service charges and tips relating to such items. In addition, should you decide not to accompany the group for any reason, you are responsible for the extra cost of any accommodation or meals while the rest of the group are elsewhere. On a very few of our tours there are additional exclusions and these are clearly specified at the end of the tour description.

Gratuities for the Wild Images tour leader

The leaders work extremely hard to make your tour a success. If you think their service was good or excellent, it is entirely appropriate to give them a gratuity at the end of the tour. It will surely be warmly welcomed. What you decide to give is entirely up to you.

Accommodation

As a general rule we use comfortable hotels, motels, guesthouses and lodges of a medium, good or very good standard, with rooms with en-suite bathrooms, wherever possible. In locations where such accommodations are unavailable we must use simpler accommodations, although wherever we can we choose those hotels, guesthouses or lodges with great locations, friendly staff, good food or other features that compensate for the simplicity of the establishment! Where any of the accommodation to be used clearly falls below the normal standard of accommodation described above (i.e. medium to very good quality) then such exceptions are specified in the tour description. In a minority of locations overall, usually in developing countries, we have no choice but to use basic or even very basic accommodations.

In the event that the accommodation has to be unexpectedly downgraded for any part of the tour we shall give you an appropriate refund (equivalent to the difference in price of the accommodation concerned). Please bear in mind that in many developing countries standards of maintenance are poor and this can result in unpredictable hot water supplies and other shortcomings such as faulty showers, toilets or lighting, and missing bath plugs or toilet paper.

Sharing Rooms

If you are a couple travelling together then please indicate on your booking form whether you prefer a double-bedded room (i.e. one large bed) or a twin-bedded room (i.e. two smaller beds), by indicating ‘Double’ or ‘Twin’ as appropriate. There is not always a choice but we will try to match preferences where we can.

Over half of those travelling with us are alone and some people in this situation prefer to share a room with another party member of the same sex for the sake of company or economy. If you are travelling alone and would prefer to share a twin-bedded room then please indicate this on the booking form by indicating ‘Twin’ in the question about accommodation.

Important: Bookings from those electing to share are only accepted on the condition that, should no room-mate be available, you will accept single accommodation and pay the appropriate single accommodation supplement.

Priority in allocation of room-mates is strictly based on the order in which bookings are received (except, of course, where friends who book separately but simultaneously both indicate on their booking forms that they wish to share with each other). Naturally, the earlier you book the higher the chance of being able to share, although there are occasions when even those who book far ahead fail to find a room-mate. In particular, few ladies opt to share. (Smokers should kindly note that smoking is not allowed in the room if you are sharing with a non-smoker, which is much the most likely scenario as less than 5% of our group members smoke.)

Single Rooms

Many hotels and lodges now charge a flat room rate for their twin-bedded or double-bedded rooms, regardless of whether one person or two people occupy them. The inevitable consequence is costly supplements for single occupancy. Where rooms intended for single-occupancy exist, the standard and location of such rooms may not be as good as that of twin or double rooms.

Please note that we cannot give an absolute guarantee that single accommodation will always be provided for those requesting it, but we can say that it is a rare event that people have to share unexpectedly. When unexpected sharing has to occur, the lack of availability at a particular hotel or lodge is usually not notified to us in advance and is only discovered on arrival. At some locations, usually remote lodges, single rooms are not available at any time, or only provided in return for a huge supplement: any such instances are mentioned in the tour description. If a single room is not available for you at any location where it was expected and paid for we will make an appropriate refund after the end of the tour. Please note that the extra cost per night of single accommodation often varies widely over the course of a tour (remote lodges can sometimes be more expensive than first class city hotels, while small, basic hotels cost far less), so any refund will reflect these variations in costs.

While we will do our utmost to secure single accommodation for those requesting it, bookings are only accepted on the understanding that you will consent to share in the event of an unexpected lack of single accommodation at any location (we want to stress that this is generally a rare event, but as it can happen you must be prepared for the possibility, however remote).

Surface Transport

We use small coaches or minibuses/passenger vans during our tours wherever possible, as these provide much better access to important areas. Occasionally these smaller vehicles are unavailable and so a large coach is the only viable option. Where necessary we use cars or 4-wheel-drive vehicles. Please bear in mind that in many developing countries vehicles are frequently not maintained to a high standard and the level of comfort is often well below what we are used to back home.

Joining/Leaving Tours

All participants need to ensure that they reach the starting point for the tour in good time. We will notify you in good time where the joining point will be, and at what time of day.

Kindly note that, in the event your own arrival flight is rescheduled or delayed so that you are unable to arrive by the scheduled tour joining time, it is not possible for us to delay the rest of the group for long, and any costs incurred in catching up with the group would be your own responsibility. Consequently we would advise you to arrange a flight that will allow you a generous safety margin.

Kindly note that we cannot accept any responsibility in the event you are somehow prevented from reaching the departure airport in time as a result of a badly delayed internal flight, a traffic jam caused by an accident or some other unanticipated event.

Important: If you are not making your air travel arrangements through us, please be sure to send us your full flight itinerary at least three months before the tour starts.

Hotel & Airport Transfer Bookings

We will be pleased to arrange hotel accommodation at airports or elsewhere in connection with our tours for anyone needing this. Private transfers can also be arranged, where needed. Please contact us.

International Flight Arrangements

International flights are not generally included as part of our tours, but we have a separate IATA airline ticket booking agency that can make efficient flight arrangements for you anywhere in the world.

Acting as a booking agent, we will be pleased to arrange flights for you to and from the tour starting and ending points. If you ask us to book flights you acknowledge that this is a separate travel arrangement from the tour as such and does not form part of a package. Flight cancellation and amendment regulations are set by each individual airline.

If you are willing to pay a considerable premium, business class flights can be arranged.

Should you wish to extend your tour in the country concerned (by flying out early, deferring your return, or both), we can arrange this for you.

We strongly recommend flying out in advance of any tour that involves a long-haul flight and taking a day to recover from the effects of a long flight and ‘jet-lag’. We feel confident you will be fresher and enjoy the tour more.

Wherever possible we use quality airlines with excellent safety records for international flights. There is little or no choice as regards carrier on most domestic flights.

Important: Lower fare category tickets typically have refund and rebooking restrictions in the event of cancellation, non-use, no-show or redating. Fully changeable and refundable air tickets are available, but these are typically much more expensive. Many people opt for tickets that can be redated or cancelled in return for a charge. We do not recommend the purchase of non-refundable and non-changeable air tickets.

Important: Revising flight arrangements at a later date, after you have made an original request for air travel arrangements to us, can result in you suffering costly airline cancellation or rebooking charges, so please bear this in mind.

Booking & Paying for a Tour

Provisional Bookings

It is sensible to call us on or email us to check if places are still available on any tour you are interested in before sending your booking form to us. We will be happy to hold open space for you for up to 3 days.

Definite Bookings

To make a definite booking you first need to complete the online booking form on our website and submit it to us electronically.

Once we have received the booking form, you need to pay us the required deposit per person, as specified in the tour description. Our office will let you know the amount of deposit required. (Some tours have both initial deposit and interim payment requirements: such cases are clearly specified in the tour description.)

If you are booking less than four months before the date of departure of the tour you will need to send full payment.

Please see the Payments section below for payment methods.

If you decide you wish to pay the deposit by means of a credit or debit card, you can, if you are concerned about security, telephone your card details to us. Our website is secure, however.

On receipt of your booking form and deposit our official confirmation will be sent to you.

The person signing the booking form warrants that he/she has the authority to make the booking on behalf of all other persons included on the booking form. Online booking forms are deemed to have been signed by the persons submitting them.

For your own protection we strongly recommend that when you make a booking you hold travel insurance that will cover you for medical/repatriation expenses and for cancellation/curtailment charges in the event you have to cancel due to the illness of yourself, a travelling companion or a close relative. If you do not already have travel insurance you should take this out as soon as possible.

Airfare Payment

If you are arranging your air travel in connection with the tour through us, we will need full payment at the time we book your flights.

Tour Invoice

Unless specified otherwise in the individual tour description, the invoice for the remaining balance of the tour cost will be sent by email approximately four months before the tour start date and the full payment due needs to be received by us not later than 7 days from the date of invoicing. We will acknowledge your payment promptly.

Please note that we will treat your booking as cancelled by you if your payment due has not been received by us 14 days after the date of tour invoicing. Cancellation charges will apply.

If you are going to be away from home when the tour payment is due, please make arrangements with our office for early payment.

Payments for Wild Images Tours

Wild Images clients may opt to pay for a tour in the tour pricing currency or by paying the equivalent at the time in any other currency listed below. Please note that all our bank accounts are in the name of Birdquest, Wild Image’s parent company.

Payments in Pounds

You may pay by one of the following methods:

1. Make a bank transfer of the required amount in Pounds direct to the Birdquest (not Wild Images) Pound account at National Westminster Bank PLC, 11 Spring Gardens, Manchester M60 2DB, United Kingdom.

For UK clients, our bank’s sort code is 01-10-01 and our bank account number is 00199990.

For clients resident overseas, the international bank identifier code (IBAN-BIC/SWIFT) for our bank is NWBKGB2L

The international bank account number (IBAN) for our Pound account is GB03NWBK01100100199990.

If making a transfer from overseas, please ensure that you cover the bank charges levied at both ends of the transaction, otherwise there will be a shortfall.

2. Method available for residents of the United Kingdom only. Post us a personal cheque drawn on a United Kingdom bank and made out to Wild Images. Our postal address is: Wild Images, Two Jays, Kemple End, Stonyhurst, Clitheroe BB7 9QY.

3. Pay with a debit or credit card displaying the Visa or MasterCard logos.

Payments in US Dollars

You may pay by one of the following methods:

1. Method available for residents of the United States and Canada only. Make a wire transfer or a direct deposit/electronic payment of the required amount in US Dollars direct to the Birdquest (not Wild Images) account at Wells Fargo, 10900 Research Boulevard, Austin, TX 78759.

Our US bank account number is 3368433078

Our US bank’s routing number for domestic wire transfers is 121000248

Our US bank’s routing number for direct deposits and electronic payments is 111900659

If you are sending the payment from Canada please use the following bank SWIFT code: WFBIUS6SXXX

Alternatively, providing you live in the US, you can make a payment into our account by means of a check made out to Birdquest at any branch of Wells Fargo. You will need our account number and also the second of the routing numbers.

2. Method available to all. Have your bank make a wire transfer of the required amount in US Dollars direct to the Birdquest (not Wild Images) US Dollar account in the United Kingdom at the National Westminster Bank PLC, 11 Spring Gardens, Manchester M60 2DB.

The international bank identifier code (IBAN-BIC/SWIFT) for our UK bank is NWBKGB2L

The international bank account number (IBAN) for our US Dollar account is GB54NWBK60730106015654

If making a transfer from overseas, please ensure that you cover the bank charges levied at both ends of the transaction, otherwise there will be a shortfall.

Please note that we can only bill debit or credit cards in Pounds, so if you wish to use a card you must opt to pay in Pounds.

Payments in Euros

You may pay by the following method:

Have your bank make a wire transfer of the required amount in Euros direct to the Birdquest (not Wild Images) Euro account at the National Westminster Bank PLC, 11 Spring Gardens, Manchester M60 2DB, United Kingdom.

The international bank identifier code (IBAN-BIC/SWIFT) for our UK bank is NWBKGB2L

The international bank account number (IBAN) for our Euro account is GB79NWBK60720208512922

If making a transfer from overseas, please ensure that you cover the bank charges levied at both ends of the transaction, otherwise there will be a shortfall.

Please note that we can only bill debit or credit cards in Pounds, so if you wish to use a card you must opt to pay in Pounds.

Payments in Australian Dollars

You may pay by the following method:

Have your bank make a wire transfer of the required amount in Australian Dollars direct to the Birdquest (not Wild Images) Australian Dollar account at the National Westminster Bank PLC, 11 Spring Gardens, Manchester M60 2DB, United Kingdom.

The international bank identifier code (IBAN-BIC/SWIFT) for our bank is NWBKGB2L

The international bank account number (IBAN) for our Australian Dollar account is GB67NWBK60730166158648

If making a transfer from overseas, please ensure that you cover the bank charges levied at both ends of the transaction, otherwise there will be a shortfall.

Please note that we can only bill debit or credit cards in Pounds, so if you wish to use a card you must opt to pay in Pounds.

Payments in other currencies

Tours priced in Canadian Dollars, New Zealand Dollars or Japanese Yen may be paid for in those currencies, but only by bank transfer. When sending a bank (wire) transfer, please pay the amount due in any of these currencies to the Birdquest (not Wild Images) Pound account (see details under Payments in Pounds). Our bank will convert your payment to Pounds on arrival, but you will be credited by us with the full payment you sent in the currency concerned.

Mixing Currencies

Please note that mixing currencies is not possible. You will need to settle the balance of the tour charges in the same currency in which you paid the initial deposit. The same applies to any interim deposits/payments.

Our Exchange Rate Policy

If you elect to pay for the tour in a currency other than the tour pricing currency, we will convert the amount due on your tour invoice to the equivalent amount in your elected currency at the applicable bank exchange rate at the time of invoicing.

Cancelling or Transferring a Booking

Why are Cancellation Charges necessary?

There are a number of reasons why cancellation charges are a standard feature in the travel industry. The most common reasons for group tour operators like ourselves are as follows:

1. We typically have to make payments to local agents or other suppliers far in advance of any tour, otherwise we cannot hold accommodation for an entire group. As a tour gets closer, we have to pay out more and more. In most instances, we are not able to recover these payments, or only part of them, in the event someone cancels.

2. Cancellations made in the last 6 months before a tour starts have especially severe consequences. For a start, replacement bookings in the final 6 months are uncommon. In the second place, in a small group context, and if there were no cancellation charges, even one or two cancellations could cause a tour to become economically unviable and have to be cancelled, or cause other group members to have to pay a small party supplement. This is something we strive to avoid.

Cancellation charges are a necessary fact of life for a group tour operator. We need standard cancellation terms both for our protection and for the protection of the other group members.

If the reason for your cancellation falls within the terms of your travel insurance the cancellation charges will normally be refunded by your insurance company (less any excess applicable). For this reason, we strongly recommend taking out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover you adequately for unexpected cancellation.

Cancellation Charges for Wild Images Tours

Any cancellation by you of a definite booking (other than default cancellation owing to failure to settle the tour invoice within 28 days) must be notified to us in writing (email is acceptable) and will take effect on the day that this is received by us. The following scale of cancellation charges will, unless a different scale of charges is specified in the tour description, be applied:

More than 4 months before the tour start: 100% of the total payment made to date (including both initial deposit and any interim payment required).

4 months or less before the tour start, or after the start: 100% of the total tour price.

Kindly note that some tours involving cruises/boat charters have different cancellation conditions: any such variations will be detailed in the individual tour description.

Please note that payment is due within 7 days of the date of tour invoicing. We will treat your booking as cancelled by you if your payment due has not been received by us 14 days after the date of tour invoicing. Standard cancellation charges will apply.

Why are Cancellation Charges necessary?

There are a number of reasons why cancellation charges are a standard feature in the travel industry. The most common reasons for group tour operators like ourselves are as follows:

1. We typically have to make payments to local agents or other suppliers far in advance of any tour (often a year or more ahead), otherwise we cannot hold the arrangements for an entire group. As a tour gets closer, we have to pay out more and more. In many instances, we are not able to recover these payments, or only part of them, in the event someone cancels.

2. Cancellations also have additional consequences. Replacement bookings are very unpredictable and we cannot count on receiving them even if cancellations occur far ahead of a tour. In a small group context, and if there were no cancellation charges, even one or two cancellations could cause a tour to require a small party supplement, when otherwise it would not have been necessary, or in a worse case scenario cause the tour to be cancelled.

Air Ticket Cancellation

If you have had us arrange air tickets for you, to/from the joining/ending points of a tour, and you subsequently have to cancel your booking, you will be charged the cancellation fee(s) applied by the airline(s) concerned. Most air tickets we supply are completely non-refundable. If there is any refund available, kindly note that it can take up to six months or more to obtain refunds from some airlines.

Travel Insurance

If the reason for your cancellation falls within the terms of your travel insurance the cancellation charges will normally be refunded by your insurance company (less any excess applicable). For this reason, we strongly recommend taking out comprehensive travel insurance before or immediately after booking that will cover you adequately for an unexpected cancellation. The scope of cover offered by travel insurers varies greatly. The most comprehensive coverage is, needless to say, usually provided by the more expensive policies. You will, however, be glad of the wider coverage in the event something less routine causes you to claim. Better policies cover a wider range of possible causes for cancellation by you and also offer good cover for things like travel delays and disruption to your planned travel. Unfortunately, we are not allowed by law in the United Kingdom to recommend particular insurers, so we are unable to give advice. You can, however, find out about the best kind of travel insurance policies that give the widest coverage by searching the internet.

Consecutive Tours

Please note that you cannot cancel a booking on a tour that will operate, just because another tour that you are booked on has to be cancelled through insufficient participants or for some other good reason (for example, natural disaster or increased security concerns), without incurring our normal cancellation charges. Each tour is treated as a separate and autonomous booking, including situations where two tours follow each other in close succession.

Transfers

If you wish to transfer your booking to another tour less than 12 months before the current tour starts, this will normally be treated as a cancellation and rebooking, and the relevant cancellation charges will apply.

Substitution

Should you be prevented by reasonable cause (such as illness) from proceeding with your tour you are free to find a substitute, provided we receive written notification. Within two months of the tour departure date we may not be able to accept a substitution as within this period there may not be sufficient time for the substitute to complete visa, health or other travel requirements. Any additional costs incurred as a result of a substitution (such as airline cancellation and reticketing charges) are your responsibility. We reserve the right to reject any substitute should we have reasonable grounds for doing so.

Unused Services

No refund can be given for any unused accommodation, meal, flight or other service provided as part of the tour.

Price Alterations

Price Reductions

We reserve the right to reduce the price of any tour, at our discretion.

General Price Increases

For each tour on our website, we state the currency in which the tour is priced. Most of our tours are priced in US Dollars, with a minority in other currencies. Amounts shown in currencies other than the tour pricing currency are only indicative, as exchange rates vary over time.

Provisional tour prices are published far in advance of the date of operation of most tours (up to two years or more ahead). Usually, confirmed tour prices do not differ greatly from the provisional prices, but on occasion, the confirmed price is significantly higher (for example, because inflation has been higher than expected). Provisional prices are simply indicative.

We undertake not to increase the confirmed price of any of our tours, in the currency in which the tour is priced, owing to changes in exchange rates.

However, we do reserve the right to increase the confirmed price of any tour, in the currency in which the tour is priced, in the event of cost increases incurred by us that stem directly or indirectly from increases in fuel costs or increases in government taxes, fees, dues or levies. Such price increases are uncommon, but they do occur from time to time.

We will absorb cost increases stemming from any of these reasons so far as we can (at the least up to an amount equivalent to 2% of the total tour price, excluding any single supplement), but in the event of more significant price increases, we may have to increase the tour price.

No price increase for any of the above reasons will be made less than 20 days before departure

If any price increase to you for any of the above reasons, after the absorption of at least 2% by us, exceeds 10% of the total confirmed price of the tour/holiday you have booked in the indicated pricing currency, as shown in the tour description on our website, you may either opt to pay the increase or you may opt to cancel your booking and receive a full refund or transfer your booking to another of our tours, provided we receive written notification (email is acceptable) within 14 days of the date of despatch of the price increase notification.

Kindly note that normal cancellation charges will apply if you decide to cancel your booking following notification of a price increase that falls below the threshold outlined above.

Small Party Supplements

In order to maintain the prices advertised in our tour descriptions, we are dependent on reaching a certain level of support for each tour (including any extension(s)). Most tour prices are based on a minimum of 5 participants, although some tours, especially those involving boat or aircraft charters where there are very high fixed costs, have higher minimum levels.

The great majority of our tours achieve the required minimum level, but some do not. We appreciate that it is very frustrating to have a long-anticipated tour cancelled, so it has long been Wild Images policy to do everything possible to ensure that our tours operate and that our guests are not disappointed. We regularly operate tours with just a few participants, and we will even do so at a loss rather than disappoint our guests.

In the event that the required level of bookings for standard operation is not reached, either for the whole tour or part of the tour, we will still go ahead and operate the tour if we possibly can. We face considerably increased costs per head in such situations (especially as regards leader/guide and transport costs per head) and so we may have to charge a small party supplement in order to cover part of the increased costs per head. The rest of the additional costs we will absorb, usually amounting to far more than 2%  of the total tour/holiday price.

If any small party supplement to you exceeds 10% of the total confirmed price of the tour/holiday you have booked in the indicated pricing currency, as shown in the tour description on our website, you may either opt to pay the increase or you may opt to cancel your booking and receive a full refund or transfer your booking to another of our tours, provided we receive written notification (email is acceptable) within 14 days of the date of despatch of the price increase notification.

Kindly note that normal cancellation charges will apply if you decide to cancel your booking following notification of a small party supplement that falls below the threshold outlined above.

 

Tour Alterations

The tour descriptions are prepared up to two years or more before the date of operation of the tours they feature and subsequent variations may sometimes be made to published details, either voluntarily by us or involuntarily.

We frequently make changes to our tour itineraries to keep up to date with ever-changing photographic knowledge and developments, with the aim of improving your tour. Occasionally we may have to make involuntary changes when access situations at particular venues deteriorate, or where they become closed or otherwise inaccessible for some reason. We reserve the right to modify our itineraries where we deem it desirable or necessary.

We also reserve the right to substitute an alternative leader for a published leader where we deem it either desirable or necessary (for example owing to illness, accident or other valid reason), although we will always do our best to minimize leader changes.

Other examples of changes that can be expected from time to time include changes to the tour dates. Naturally, we will notify you as soon as possible in the event of changes to the tour dates. Very rarely major alterations to the tour dates become necessary, through circumstances outside our control that amount to Force Majeure (see Tour Cancellation for some examples). In such rare situations, we will do our very best to modify your tour in a manner that minimizes necessary disruption, but this may not be possible, depending on the particular circumstances.

Please note that we will have no liability to make refunds or offer credits in any of the above circumstances. If you decide to cancel your reservation in such an event, our standard cancellation charges will apply.

If an alteration is made by us to a tour itinerary that results in a substantial increase in costs (i.e. over 10%), we will absorb whatever we can of the cost increases and only pass any remaining balance to you. In the event of such an alteration, you will have the option to either agree to proceed with the tour as modified and accept the price increase we specify or, if you prefer, you may cancel your booking and receive a full refund or transfer your booking to another of our tours, provided we receive written notification (email is acceptable) within 14 days of the date of despatch of our notification.

Very rarely major alterations to the tour itinerary become necessary, through circumstances outside our control that amount to Force Majeure (see Tour Cancellation for some examples) after the start of the tour. In such rare situations, we will do our very best to modify your tour in a manner that minimizes necessary disruption, but this may not be possible, depending on the particular circumstances. Please note that we will have no liability to make refunds or offer credits in such circumstances.

Please note that we cannot take responsibility for any additional costs or losses that you may face, including any airline amendment charges you may suffer, as a result of either minor or major itinerary alterations that are caused by circumstances outside our control.

Tour Cancellations

Under exceptional circumstances, we may have to cancel, rather than alter, a tour in the event of unusual or unforeseen circumstances outside our control (including all situations considered to represent Force Majeure) including (but not restricted to) technical or maintenance problems with transport, changes imposed by rescheduling or cancellation by air or sea carriers, government action or legal stipulation, industrial dispute, war or threat of war, civil strife, terrorist activity, riot, natural or man-made disaster, medical emergency or death, or severe weather conditions. In the event that we have to cancel a tour due to such circumstances outside our control, we may be able to offer you an alternative tour. Alternatively, we will provide you with a credit or a refund.

Alternatively, we may have to cancel a tour if there are insufficient bookings to make the tour economically viable, even with a small party supplement. We want to stress that the vast majority of our tours operate as planned, with only a small minority failing to do so. If a tour cannot go ahead because of insufficient numbers it will be cancelled by us not less than 20 days prior to departure, and we will inform you of this decision as early as we can. In this case you may either transfer your booking to another of our tours or you may opt to receive a full refund.

As regards tour extensions that cannot operate, for the most part, the same situation applies (i.e. you may cancel your booking for the entire tour and receive a refund or opt to transfer your booking to another tour. Please note that there are very exceptional instances where the booking for the main tour cannot be cancelled if the extension does not operate. Such exceptional cases are always mentioned in the individual tour description.

Please note that we cannot take responsibility for any additional costs or losses that you may face, including any airline cancellation charges you may suffer, if a tour is cancelled. Consequently, we suggest you do not make any air travel commitments that could result in significant cancellation fees until you have checked with our office that the required number of participants has been reached. Even then, please bear in mind that subsequent cancellations or events can, on very rare occasions, result in a tour being cancelled, so we do not recommend purchasing air tickets that are non-refundable.

Airfares

It is not possible for us to give accurate airfare information far in advance of tour departure dates, as airlines continually change their prices and booking class availability, and may impose fuel surcharges or pass on tax increases, and we have no control whatsoever over any of these factors. In consequence we can only give a very approximate airfare indication far in advance of travel.

Other Information

Group Size Limits and Number of Leaders

The normal group size limit for each tour is specified in the tour description. The limit is usually somewhere between 5-8 participants plus leader(s), but there are exceptions. In rare instances, where we have one place left on a tour and we receive a booking from a couple or two friends, we reserve the right to increase the maximum group size by one in order to accommodate them. We also reserve the right to alter the group size limit in unusual and exceptional circumstances.

Where two leaders are listed, we may only send both leaders if the tour is sufficiently well supported; alternatively we may elect to send both regardless of group size. Where only one leader is listed, we may elect to send an additional leader with the group, and in such an instance we may elect to increase the group size limit by up to two or three for tours in more open habitats.

Wildlife

The species mentioned in the tour descriptions are meant as a guide to what you might see and photograph. You should not expect to see and photograph everything mentioned, although you should see and photograph a high proportion if you participate fully in the tour.

Airlines, Airports and Aircraft Types

As all flights in connection with our tours are arranged on an individual basis, we are not in a position to state in the tour descriptions the airlines or airports to be used by our clients. If you book air travel with us, details will be provided in your flight schedule, which will be sent out well in advance of your travel. We are not in a position to state the aircraft types which will be used.

Passports, Visas and Vaccinations

You are responsible for ensuring that you bring with you a valid passport (which should have at least 12 months left to run at the commencement of the tour) plus, where necessary, a valid visa and/or a valid Yellow Fever vaccination certificate. Remember, if your passport is getting full, that any visa will require a full blank page plus space on the opposite page for entry and exit stamps. The tour information we will send you will provide information about any visa or vaccination certificate requirements known to us at the time the information is issued, but, as regulations can change, you are normally responsible for checking visa requirements yourself and, if a visa is necessary, obtaining your visa direct from the appropriate embassy or consulate.

Privacy Policy

All names and addresses on our mailing list are stored on computer files. These files will most definitely not be passed to any other party, for advertising purposes or for any other reason, but should you object to having your name and address stored in this way please inform our office and we will remove your entry. We do not store credit card details nor do we share customer details with any third parties.

Complaints

In the unlikely event that you have cause for complaint you should notify one of the leaders (or our office where appropriate) as soon as possible so that we may do our best to assist you. If a problem remains unresolved in spite of prompt notification then you should make a complaint in writing to our office within 28 days of the completion of the tour.

Restrictions on Participation

We reserve the right to remove from the tour any person unable or unwilling to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with the satisfactory operation of the tour. In this event we will make no refund, nor be liable to pay any compensation, and any additional travel costs involved in returning home are your own responsibility. We also reserve the right to cancel participation on future tours. In his event we will make a full refiund of the payment to date.

Liability

We have taken all reasonable steps to ensure that the tours described in the tour descriptions have been properly arranged and that the airlines, ship operators, vehicle operators, travel agents, hotels, restaurants and other organizations we use are reputable. We will accept liability for matters which arise as a direct result of our negligence and/or breach of our contractual duty to exercise care in making arrangements for you, including acts or omissions by our employees or agents. Further we will accept liability for any negligent act or omission by our suppliers, who may operate elements of your tour arrangements (other than air, sea or land carriers, or hotels, as specified below). We will accept full liability for death, personal injury or illness arising out of our negligence or that of our employees, agents or suppliers (other than air, sea or land carriers, or hotels, as specified below). In the case of any other loss or damage suffered as a result of our negligence or that of our employees, agents or suppliers (other than air, sea or land carriers, or hotels, as specified below) we limit the maximum extent of our liability to twice the amount paid for the tour in question.

However, we cannot accept responsibility for claims arising out of carriage by air, sea or land, or provision of hotel accommodation. We have no control over the carriers or providers concerned and you are subject to their terms and conditions, which are governed by international conventions, which exclude or limit liability in respect of death, injury, delay, loss or damage to baggage, etc. It is also important to note that operational decisions may be taken by air, sea or land carriers, or their regulatory authorities, that result in delays, diversions, rescheduling or cancellations. We have no control over such decisions and are therefore unable to accept responsibility for them.

Your Financial Protection

Our ATOL number is 2937. When you buy an ATOL protected flight or flight inclusive holiday from us you will receive an ATOL Certificate. This lists what is financially protected, where you can get information on what this means for you and who to contact if things go wrong.

We, or the suppliers listed on your ATOL Certificate, will provide you with the services listed on the ATOL Certificate (or a suitable alternative). In some cases, where neither we nor the supplier are able to do so for reasons of insolvency, an alternative ATOL holder may provide you with the services you have bought or a suitable alternative (at no extra cost to you). You agree to accept in those circumstances the alternative ATOL holder will perform those obligations and you agree to pay any money outstanding to be paid by you under your contract to that alternative ATOL holder. However, you also agree that in some cases it will not be possible to appoint an alternative ATOL holder, in which case you will be entitled to make a claim under the ATOL scheme (or your credit card issuer where applicable).

If we, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL Certificate, are unable to provide the services listed (or a suitable alternative, through an alternative ATOL holder or otherwise) for reasons of insolvency, the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust may make a payment to (or confer a benefit on) you under the ATOL scheme. You agree that in return for such a payment or benefit you assign absolutely to those Trustees any claims which you have or may have arising out of or relating to the non-provision of services, including any claim against us, the travel agent (or your credit card issuer where applicable). You also agree that any such claims may be re-assigned to another body, if that other body has paid sums you have claimed under the ATOL scheme.

If your tour with us is not covered by the United Kingdom’s ATOL scheme, all monies paid for your tour are 100% protected under the UK’s Package Travel Regulations, regardless of your country of residence, so your payment to us is always completely safe.

Travel Insurance

It is very important that you obtain insurance cover against the usual risks associated with travel, from the time of booking your tour until the time you return home. If you are in a position to take out travel insurance you would be very ill-advised to travel without it. Please ensure that your insurance provides adequate protection against the two major concerns: medical/repatriation expenses while abroad and cancellation/curtailment charges in the event that you, or a travelling companion or close relative, fall ill either before or during the tour. Most of those travelling abroad more than once a year will find that taking out an annual travel insurance policy is the simplest and most cost-effective option.

Photographers often carry a lot of expensive optical and photographic equipment. Regular travel insurance does not provide sufficient cover and so, if you are not already covered under your household contents policy, we recommend you take out specialist insurance cover for your equipment.