Terms & Conditions

Policy

These Terms & Conditions govern all bookings, reservations, travel arrangements, quotations, itineraries, and services facilitated by Serenes Sojourns Tours (“the Company”). By confirming a booking, making payment, or utilizing any services arranged by the Company, the client, travel agent, tour operator, or representative (“the Client”) acknowledges acceptance of these terms in full.

Serenes Sojourns Tours operates as a professional Destination Management Company (DMC) providing inbound tourism services across Southern Africa, East Africa, and the Indian Ocean region, including but not limited to South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda.

The Company acts as an intermediary and coordinator between the Client and various third-party suppliers including hotels, lodges, airlines, transport providers, excursion operators, restaurants, and tourism service providers.

All reservations are subject to availability at the time of confirmation. Quotations provided by Serenes Sojourns Tours are based on prevailing supplier rates, exchange rates, park fees, taxes, fuel surcharges, and operational conditions at the time of issue.

Booking terms
Cancellation policies
Liability
Terms & Conditions
Serenes Sojourns Tours
Website: Serenes Sojourns Tours
Booking Terms & Confirmation

A booking shall only be considered confirmed once

The required deposit or full payment has been received and cleared.

The Company reserves the right to decline or cancel any reservation prior to confirmation without liability where availability, operational feasibility, supplier limitations, or force majeure conditions affect the proposed services.

Travel agents and trade partners are responsible for verifying all passenger names, travel dates, passport details, rooming lists, and special requests before confirmation. Any amendments after confirmation may attract additional costs.

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, all bookings are payable in full prior to travel commencement. Certain services including gorilla permits, internal flights, rail journeys, peak-season accommodation, and luxury properties may require immediate full payment at the time of booking.

Payments may be made through approved banking channels or authorized payment gateways as communicated by the Company.

Written confirmation has been issued by the Company; and
Payments & Financial Terms

The Client acknowledges that

Bank charges and international transfer fees remain the responsibility of the sender;

Delayed payments may result in automatic release of provisional reservations by suppliers.

Serenes Sojourns Tours utilizes commercially reasonable security measures to protect client data and financial information. While secure systems are employed, the Company shall not be held liable for unauthorized cyber incidents beyond reasonable operational control.

Client information shall not be sold, distributed, or knowingly disclosed to unrelated third parties except where operationally necessary to facilitate confirmed travel services.

Currency conversion fluctuations may affect final invoiced amounts;
Pricing, Exchange Rates & Supplier Adjustments

Tourism pricing across Africa remains dynamic and subject to

Currency exchange volatility.

As such, all quotations are subject to change until final confirmation and payment receipt.

Where substantial supplier-driven cost increases occur after quotation but prior to payment confirmation, the Company reserves the right to revise pricing accordingly.

Should government authorities introduce mandatory tourism levies, conservation fees, VAT adjustments, tourism taxes, or statutory charges after confirmation, such increases may be passed to the Client.

All cancellations must be submitted formally in writing and shall only become effective upon written acknowledgment by Serenes Sojourns Tours.

Due to contractual obligations with hotels, lodges, airlines, transport operators, and conservation authorities, the following cancellation policy shall apply unless otherwise stated within a specific itinerary or supplier contract:

Cancellations made 56 days or more prior to travel commencement shall attract a refund of 75% of the total booking cost.

Cancellations made between 55 and 49 days prior to travel commencement shall attract a refund of 50% of the total booking cost.

Cancellations made between 48 and 42 days prior to travel commencement shall attract a refund of 25% of the total booking cost.

Cancellations made 41 to 35 days prior to travel commencement shall not qualify for refund.

Cancellations made less than 35 days prior to travel commencement shall not qualify for any refund whatsoever.

Seasonal fluctuations;
Government tax revisions;
National park fee adjustments;
Airline and fuel surcharges;
Supplier revisions;
Cancellation Policy & Refunds

No refunds shall be issued for

Unused transfers or excursions.

Certain services including gorilla permits, flights, visas, event tickets, rail services, and special contractual rates may carry 100% cancellation penalties immediately after booking confirmation.

Refund processing timelines may vary depending on supplier reimbursement cycles and international banking procedures.

Requests for itinerary amendments after confirmation are subject to operational feasibility and supplier acceptance.

The Company reserves the right to charge administrative fees and pass through supplier-imposed amendment penalties where changes involve:

Upgrade or downgrade requests.

While every effort shall be made to maintain confirmed itineraries, Serenes Sojourns Tours reserves the right to substitute hotels, vehicles, excursions, or operational elements with comparable alternatives where necessary due to operational, weather, safety, or supplier-related reasons.

No-shows;
Unused services;
Late arrivals;
Early departures;
Missed activities;
Voluntary itinerary reductions;
Refused entry by immigration authorities;
Unused accommodation nights;
Amendments & Changes
Date revisions;
Name corrections;
Accommodation changes;
Routing modifications;
Reduction in group size;
Travel Documentation & Entry Requirements

The Client bears sole responsibility for ensuring possession of

Immigration compliance requirements.

Serenes Sojourns Tours shall not be held liable for denied boarding, visa refusal, deportation, missed flights, or financial losses arising from incomplete or invalid travel documentation.

Entry requirements vary between African countries and may change without notice. Clients are strongly advised to consult relevant embassies and official authorities before travel.

Comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended for all travelers and should include:

Adventure activity coverage where applicable.

The Company shall not be liable for losses that would otherwise have been recoverable through adequate travel insurance.

Serenes Sojourns Tours acts as an intermediary between the Client and independent third-party suppliers. While the Company exercises reasonable care in selecting reputable service providers, it shall not be held liable for:

Delays caused by circumstances beyond reasonable control.

African travel occasionally involves remote regions, wildlife areas, developing infrastructure, and unpredictable environmental conditions. Clients participate in activities at their own risk and acknowledge the inherent risks associated with safari, adventure, and expedition travel.

The Company’s liability, whether arising in contract, negligence, or otherwise, shall in no circumstance exceed the total amount paid by the Client for the specific services giving rise to the claim.

Serenes Sojourns Tours shall not be considered in breach of its obligations where performance is prevented or delayed due to events beyond reasonable control including but not limited to:

Adverse weather conditions.

In such circumstances, refunds, credits, postponements, or amendments shall remain subject to supplier terms and recoverability.

Clients are expected to behave respectfully toward guides, staff, suppliers, local communities, wildlife, and fellow travelers.

The Company reserves the right to terminate services without refund where a Client’s conduct is deemed:

Harmful to operations or reputation.

Certain safari and adventure activities involve physical exertion and environmental exposure. Clients are responsible for assessing their personal fitness and medical suitability before participation.

Serenes Sojourns Tours supports responsible tourism practices that promote:

Respect for local cultures and heritage.

The Company encourages responsible traveler behavior and partners with suppliers aligned with sustainable tourism principles wherever operationally feasible.

All website content, itineraries, destination write-ups, marketing materials, proposals, graphics, branding elements, and operational documentation remain the intellectual property of Serenes Sojourns Tours unless otherwise stated.

No material may be reproduced, copied, distributed, or commercially utilized without prior written consent.

These Terms & Conditions shall be governed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Africa.

Any disputes arising from services provided by Serenes Sojourns Tours shall be subject to the jurisdiction of competent South African courts unless otherwise mutually agreed in writing.

By making payment, confirming a booking, or utilizing any services arranged by Serenes Sojourns Tours, the Client confirms that they have read, understood, and accepted these Terms & Conditions in full.

Valid passports;
Applicable visas;
Vaccination certificates;
Travel insurance;
Health documentation;
Parental consent documents;
Travel Insurance
Medical emergencies;
Evacuation coverage;
Trip cancellation;
Personal liability;
Loss of luggage;
Flight interruptions;
Liability Disclaimer
Supplier insolvency;
Airline delays or cancellations;
Mechanical failures;
Weather disruptions;
Natural disasters;
Political unrest;
Government restrictions;
Border closures;
Wildlife incidents;
Accidents;
Illness;
Theft;
Personal injury;
Loss of property;
Force Majeure
Acts of God;
Pandemics;
Floods;
Fires;
Civil unrest;
Terrorism;
Government actions;
Airline shutdowns;
Border closures;
Epidemics;
Industrial strikes;
Health, Safety & Conduct
Dangerous;
Disruptive;
Abusive;
Illegal;
Reckless;
Sustainable Tourism Commitment
Environmental conservation;
Community empowerment;
Wildlife protection;
Ethical tourism operations;
Intellectual Property
Governing Law & Jurisdiction
Acceptance of Terms